NO COMMENT: We asked, they refused to answer
TRANSPARENCY is the cornerstone of keeping people, companies and the government honest.
Our role as the media is to ask questions -- sometimes uncomfortable or confronting -- in our quest to reach the truth on an issue.
In the pursuit of this truth, journalists are finding companies, community members and politicians think they can avoid scrutiny by keeping quiet.
By refusing to answer our questions, they are also refusing to be upfront with the public.
Inspired by a similar project created by the US Center for Public Integrity, all of our newspapers and websites are now recording those times when we are told a version of, "No Comment".
When you read that a politician "could not be reached for comment", "declined to comment" or even "did not respond to calls", we will put them in here.
In time, we hope to shine a light on those who prefer their particular truth to stay in the shadows.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14:
WHO: Chris Trevor and Associates
WHAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT:
Their recent success in claiming $300,000 in damages for client Matthew Jason Carlyon
WHO ASKED:
WHO: LNP Member for Hervey Bay, Ted Sorensen
WHAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT:
WHO ASKED: Fraser Coast Chronicle
WHO: Iwasaki Sangyo Co. Pty Ltd, developers behind a Queensland resort plan
WHAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT:
WHO ASKED:
WHO: Independent candidate for Gladstone Craig Butler
WHAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT:
He said he would prefer not to say anything because "the numbers that are coming through aren't correct".
WHO ASKED:
WHO: Management of Daydream Island in the Whitsundays.
WHAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT:
The sale of Daydream Island to China Capital Investment Group
WHO ASKED:
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1:
WHO: QVS, distributors of Saints Row IV Re-Elected for PlayStation 4 in Australia
WHAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT
Whether a version of the game they had distributed was illegal for customers to hold.
WHO ASKED:
WHO: Palmer Coolum Resort management and owner Clive Palmer
WHAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT
Claims from television legend Ray Martin that the resort was now "sad, empty ghost town" after Mr Palmer took over.
WHO ASKED:
SATURDAY JANUARY 24
WHO: Woolworths on Kirkwood Drive, Gladstone.
WHAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT
They didn't want to talk about the storm hitting Gladstone, and refused to say if they had any rain coming into the shop.
WHO ASKED:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17
WHO:
BP Australia and United Petroleum
WHAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT:
Findings by the ACCC that regional motorists were paying too much for petrol, when compared to city drivers.
WHO ASKED:
The Coffs Coast Advocate
WHO: Woolworths
WHAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT:
Whether they would change their trolley systems to help avoid car damage, following Aldi's lead.
WHO ASKED:
The Sunshine Coast Daily
WHO: John Manzelmann - Mackay horse trainer
WHAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT:
Manzelmann declined to talk about a failed drug test for a horse he trained, racing in Rockhampton.
WHO ASKED:
The Daily Mercury
