PIAC made a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs to assist its review of the Freedom of Information Amendment (New Arrangements) Bill 2014 (New Arrangements Bill).
FOI underpins transparent and accountable government, which is central to the proper functioning of Australia’s democracy. We noted that the changes proposed in the New Arrangements Bill will have far-reaching consequences. We explained why we believe that many of the proposed changes will ultimately act as a deterrent to those who seek to exercise their right to information under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) and will undermine the broader objectives of the Act.
PIAC opposed many of the radical changes proposed by the Bill, particularly in the absence of a strong evidence-based case for these changes and without a proper process of public consultation. However, we recognised that the Committee may consider that the New Arrangements Bill should be passed and made a number of recommendations that would go some way to mitigating its impact on open and transparent government should that happen.
