Jano Gibson SMH May 9, 2008
GOVERNMENT agencies will be encouraged to adopt a pro-disclosure culture under changes aimed at giving the public – and journalists – greater access to secret documents, the Prime Minister has pledged. Speaking at the official opening of Fairfax Media’s new headquarters in Pyrmont, Kevin Rudd said he was committed to reforming the much-derided Freedom of Information Act. Under the changes, which were pushed by an alliance of media organisations including Fairfax, ministers would no longer be able to overrule FOI laws. An FOI commissioner would be appointed to promote a pro-disclosure culture across government agencies and fees would be reviewed “to ensure they are compatible with a culture of disclosure and transparency,” Mr Rudd said. “Labor is committed to a culture of greater disclosure and transparency in government by implementing each and every one of the commitments we made in response to the Right to Know Coalition.” Read more here
