Qld Govt backs FOI overhaul
Posted
Updated
Anna Bligh says her government will become the most accountable in Australia. (ABC News: file photo)
The Queensland Government says it supports all but two of the 141 recommendations in a report overhauling the state's Freedom of Information (FOI) laws.
The 400-page report was prepared by David Solomon, former journalist, barrister, and a member of the Australian Law Reform Commission's national review of FOI laws.
Dr Solomon has recommended a new model where FOI laws are a last resort and government processes are structured to routinely and proactively release information.
The review recommended sweeping changes so more information is made available more quickly and cheaply.
Cabinet documents will be released in full after 20 years rather than 30 and some Government-owned corporations will be covered for the first time by the new Right to Information laws.
The two recommendations the Government has rejected are that the Information Commissioner should charge people to use a room with computer access when making a request for information, and that some secrecy laws should be repealed.
The Government says computer access facilities should be provided free of charge and that the secrecy laws relate to areas such as the witness protection program and adoption information, and there needs to be an absolute guarantee of confidentiality.
Premier Anna Bligh says her Government will become the most accountable in Australia.
"My Government is very serious about open, accountable government and we intend to legislate for it," she said.
"I as Premier intend to drive that cultural shift right across every Government department.
"The reason that I undertook this review and took it to my first Cabinet was my personal belief supported by a number of my ministers that the pendulum had swung too far away from the public's right to information."
But Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg says all documents should be released after 10 years.
"[It] won't be until Anna Bligh is 68 that the people of the state of Queensland will actually know what she's getting up to today and I don't think her commitment to accountability is anywhere near proper, is anywhere near true or otherwise she would have implemented what has been recommended in the review," Mr Springborg said.
In June an independent review called for sweeping changes, including making more information available more quickly and cheaply.
Experts said then that if the Queensland Government accepted the recommendations, the state would become a world leader in providing access to government information.
