Media companies call for independent FOI commissioner to ‘champion’ accountability

Australian news publishers are urging significant reforms to freedom of information laws to address systemic delays and a growing culture of secrecy within government agencies. They propose establishing an independent FOI commissioner, separate from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, specifically tasked with championing government transparency and accountability. This separation aims to ensure the role focuses entirely on openness rather than being overshadowed by privacy concerns, thereby strengthening public access to information. The coalition advocates for strict statutory timeframes to prevent bureaucratic stalling, including mandatory 21-day limits for agencies to provide statements and 56-day deadlines for commissioner decisions. Failure to meet these deadlines would result in automatic access to requested documents. These measures are designed to curb the "incessant clogging" of the appeals process and enforce a more efficient, accountable system that prevents documents from being withheld without valid justification. This issue is critical to open data because it highlights the political and structural barriers that hinder the release of public sector information. Without robust legal frameworks and cultural shifts within government departments, even technically available data may remain inaccessible due to politicization and poor resourcing. Ensuring timely, mandatory disclosure of government records is essential for maintaining democratic oversight and enabling civil society to utilize open data for scrutiny and innovation.

Source: crikey.com.au
Published on 2023-08-29

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