Public Sector In Australia Embraces Open Government
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has been busy since it commenced operations on 1 November 2010.
The OAIC has a range of functions relating to freedom of information (FOI), privacy and government information policy, and is a key component of the Australian Government’s open government reform process.
The Australian Information Commissioner, Professor John McMillan, said he is impressed by how Australian Government agencies have embraced the notion of government information as a national resource.
“I’m delighted that Australian Government agencies are increasingly adopting a pro-disclosure culture,” Professor McMillan said.
A preliminary challenge in the Office’s first few months has been to integrate FOI, privacy and government information policy into a single office and define a philosophy that reflects their integration.
“The core privacy message is focused on protecting personal information, whereas the FOI message is focused on promoting open government. The challenge for the OAIC is to foster a culture of openness that also protects the privacy of individuals,” Professor McMillan said.
The OAIC has also released new guidance material to assist government agencies to implement changes to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).
From 1 May, an Information Publication Scheme will commence requiring agencies to publish a range of information about the agency.
They will also be required to publish a register of information known as a ‘disclosure log’.
Disclosure logs will be available from an agency’s website and contain information that has been released in response to freedom of information access requests.
The Office has just published a discussion paper on disclosure logs and is inviting comments until 28 March 2011 at http://oaic.govspace.gov.au.
“The purpose of the disclosure log is to provide the public with ready access to information that has already been publicly released by an agency or minister. Disclosure logs, together with the Information Publication Scheme, will facilitate a pro-disclosure culture across government,” said Professor McMillan.
In the three months to 31 January 2011, the Office responded to 5,542 phone enquiries and 673 written enquiries. It received 290 privacy complaints, 22 FOI complaints, 15 requests for FOI decisions to be reviewed and 256 requests for extensions of time to process FOI requests.
“These statistics show that Australians care about, and are willing to enforce, their information rights,” Professor McMillan said.
For more information about the OAIC, please see www.oaic.gov.au.
Topics: 2011, accountability, Asutralia, disclosure log, economic development, economic growth, Economy, FOI, Freedom of Information, Governance, government, information, John McMillan, moniter, monitor, news, OAIC, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, open government, policy, privacy, reform, register, transparency
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