THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
Attorney-General
Minister for Emergency Management
Special Minister of State
Minister for the Public Service and Integrity
MEDIA RELEASE
HAWKE REPORT ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAWS TABLED
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC MP today tabled the report on freedom of information laws prepared by former senior public servant and diplomat Dr Allan Hawke AC.
Dr Hawke's report follows his review of the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 and the extent to which these and related laws provide an effective framework for access to government information.
This is an important report which finds that recent changes to freedom of information law are broadly working well to improve transparency but it also identifies areas requiring fine-tuning for further reform, Mr Dreyfus QC said.
The report highlights the need to ensure that the right of access to government held information remains as comprehensive as possible.
The report makes forty recommendations, covering a wide range of aspects of freedom of information law, including:
- the effectiveness of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner;
- the two-tier system of merits review;
- the operation of the FOI exemptions;
- the coverage of agencies subject to FOI law;
- the effectiveness of the FOI fees and charges scheme; and
- minimising regulatory and administrative burden, including costs.
In conjunction with the report, Dr Hawke has also developed an FOI Better Practice Guide to assist Australian Government agencies better manage FOI requests.
This Guide supplements the FOI Guidelines, issued by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, which also include material on FOI processing.
It provides practical advice and strategies, with the aim of promoting and encouraging positive FOI outcomes for both applicants and agencies.
The Government is examining Dr Hawke's recommendations carefully and will respond once it has had an opportunity to give them appropriate consideration, Mr Dreyfus said.
The Labor Government remains committed to openness and access to government information, the principles which drove these reforms. That is why I am pleased to table this report ahead of the statutory timeframe.
Dr Hawke's report was provided to the Attorney-General on 1 July and presented to the President of the Senate today.
The report and the FOI Better Practice Guide are available on the Attorney-General's Department website at http://www.ag.gov.au/Consultations/Pages/ReviewofFOIlaws.aspx
FRIDAY, 2 AUGUST 2013
