The Federal Government has opened a new watchdog that it says will gradually eliminate unnecessary secrecy in the bureaucracy.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor launched the Office of the Information Commissioner today to mark a "new era of transparency and accountability".
Parliament created the office earlier this year when it approved an overhaul of Australia's Freedom of Information Act.
The new law forces public servants to presume that the work they produce is a national resource that will be published, rather than information for their minister only.
Some documents - particularly those with sensitive information that could undermine national security - will remain exempt from disclosure.
But government agencies can no longer charge application fees for FoI requests and must also reduce their processing charges.
Australia's first Information Commissioner, former Commonwealth Ombudsman Professor John McMillan, will oversee disputes about access to documents and work with public servants to ensure they publish more of their research and reports.
Mr O'Connor said, "The reforms apply the principle that government information is a national resource - just like our water, our minerals and our beaches.
"Information is an asset for all to share in, wherever possible. It is not the possession of one agency or individual."
See tomorrow's Public Sector Informant for analysis of the new Act.
Source: The Canberra Times
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