Information Consultants Pty Ltd

What's New?

September 28th is the international Right To Know Day, celebrated by FOI advocates around the globe. As of 2011, at least ninety countries throughout the world have legislation giving people the right to ask public bodies for information.

To celebrate Right To Know Day, on the evening of September 27 the Queensland Office of the Information Commissioner is again presenting the Solomon lecture by Dr Nicholas Gruen: "Government in the age of Web 2.0: Connect, Engage, Innovate". Entry is free and open to the public. For details click here.

In Australia, 2009/2011 have been historic years for reviewing and introducing new FOI laws.

• Queensland's Right to Know Act and Information Privacy Act were implemented on 1 July 2009, replacing the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Click here for more information.
• In New South Wales, the Government Information (Public Access) Act commenced on 1 July 2010, replacing the Freedom of Information Act 1989. The new NSW Information Commissioner has been active in establishing a website with guidance material for agencies and the public. Click here for more information.
• The Commonwealth government has passed the Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Act 2010 and the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010. All of the provisions have commenced. Click here for more information.
• Tasmania's Right to Information Act commenced on 1 July 2010. Click here for more information.

As part of the consultation process, submissions were sought on the proposed legislation, most of which are available online. My submissions to the review processes are available by clicking on the following links:

• Queensland: Submission to the Solomon Review
• Queensland: Submission on consultation draft bills
• NSW: Submission to the Ombudsman Review
• NSW: Submission on consultation draft bills
• Commonwealth: Submission on consultation draft bills

The review processes have produced a number of useful discussion papers and reports containing findings, proposals and recommendations. Below are links to the sites with the reports.

• Australian Law Reform Commission: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/alrc/publications/reports/77/
• Queensland: Discussion Paper of the Independent Review Panel: http://www.foireview.qld.gov.au/Discussion-paper.htm
• Queensland: Report of the Independent Review Panel: The Right to Information: http://www.foireview.qld.gov.au/
• NSW Ombudsman Discussion Paper: Review of the FOI Act 1989: http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/show.asp?id=494
• NSW Ombudsman Report Opening Up Government: Review of the FOI Act 1989: http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/foi%20review.htm?id=457
• Tasmania: Directions Paper: Strengthening trust in Government...everyone’s right to know: http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/legislationreview/foi_act_1991/foireview