General Press Release No. 283 (November 2008)

FoI changes applauded

The Australian Press Council congratulates the Rudd government on the Bill for reform of Freedom of Information law introduced into the Senate today. In particular, the Press Council is pleased to see that the Bill abolishes the power of Ministers to issue conclusive certificates that forestall the release of information without the need to explain why.

The Bill fulfils in part the government's undertakings to amend the laws and practices related to the availability of information. Journalists have become reluctant to use Freedom of Information requests on matters of public concern because of the costs involved, delays in provision, and the large number of exemptions that allow governments to minimise the release of material.

While today's legislative reform is a positive step towards open and accountable government, laws alone cannot make government information freely available to the public. In order to achieve openness it is necessary to address the culture that predominates in government departments and which acts to obstruct the release of information even where laws require that it be accessible. The challenge for the government will be to see that the policy of openness embodied in today's legislation is fully implemented and that the officers who have responsibility for overseeing FoI decisions are truly committed to the philosophy of open government.

[ return to top ]

Documents with the icon require the Acrobat Reader, a Free Utility from Adobe. Click here for more information.