PREMIER BLIGH ANNOUNCES OVERHAUL OF FOI LAWS
Published Monday, 17 September, 2007 at 02:53 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Premier Anna Bligh today announced an independent overhaul of Queensland’s Freedom of Information Laws.
Ms Bligh said she wanted to provide the public with greater accessibility to information and better transparency.
She said Cabinet had approved the appointment of former chair of the Electoral and Administrative Review Committee (EARC) Dr David Solomon AM to chair a three-member panel to look at the existing system.
“Queensland boasts a healthy democracy with strong accountability mechanisms, checks and balances - one of the most important of these is our FOI legislation.
“As Premier, I want to assess whether these laws are working effectively and what improvements can be made.”
Ms Bligh said the FOI Act in Queensland was 15 years old.
“Rapid advances in information and communication technologies have led to the creation of millions of government documents each year. In turn this can mean that it takes many hours to search and examine documents for an FOI application resulting in lengthy timeframes and high processing charges,” Ms Bligh said.
“We need to be smarter about how we operate in the information age.
“The panel will prepare a discussion paper to be released for public consultation and then a final report on changes to FOI legislation for Cabinet consideration.
“The panel terms of reference include the time and cost of providing access to government documents, and the appropriateness of the fees and times that apply.
“The panel will also assess existing and proposed FOI laws and practices across the country as well as internationally.
Dr Solomon is barrister, author and journalist. He served as chair of EARC in 1992-93. He is an respected commentator on Australian government, politics and constitutional law.
In addition, Dr Solomon has served as a Professor of School of Political Science at University of Queensland, as a member of the Judges Salaries and Allowances Tribunal and as a contributing editor of The Courier-Mail newspaper.
Dr Solomon will be supported by the former Deputy Director-General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Ms Simone Webb and Mr Dominic McGann, a partner at law firm McCullough Robertson.
Ms Bligh said Attorney-General Kerry Shine would finalise the terms of reference for the independent review.
“I expect an information paper to be released for community consultation in January and any necessary legislative amendments prepared by the middle of next year,” she said.
Mr Shine said the independent review by Dr Solomon would be an important barometer on how the Act operated and whether it needed modification or improvement.
“Applications for documents under Queensland FOI laws are being granted at rates – almost 90% - comparable with other States,” Mr Shine said.
“Nevertheless, the Government is determined to ensure our laws are working effectively and as intended through an independent review.”
Mr Shine said he was also currently undertaking a review of the privacy regime in Queensland.
“Freedom of information and privacy provisions are not incompatible. Freedom of information promotes transparency and openness in government, and protects the privacy of personal information and affairs from disclosure that is not in the public interest,” he said.
17 September, 2007
Further inquiries: Premiers Office (07) 3224 4500
Attorney-General’s Office (07) 3239 6400
Ms Bligh said she wanted to provide the public with greater accessibility to information and better transparency.
She said Cabinet had approved the appointment of former chair of the Electoral and Administrative Review Committee (EARC) Dr David Solomon AM to chair a three-member panel to look at the existing system.
“Queensland boasts a healthy democracy with strong accountability mechanisms, checks and balances - one of the most important of these is our FOI legislation.
“As Premier, I want to assess whether these laws are working effectively and what improvements can be made.”
Ms Bligh said the FOI Act in Queensland was 15 years old.
“Rapid advances in information and communication technologies have led to the creation of millions of government documents each year. In turn this can mean that it takes many hours to search and examine documents for an FOI application resulting in lengthy timeframes and high processing charges,” Ms Bligh said.
“We need to be smarter about how we operate in the information age.
“The panel will prepare a discussion paper to be released for public consultation and then a final report on changes to FOI legislation for Cabinet consideration.
“The panel terms of reference include the time and cost of providing access to government documents, and the appropriateness of the fees and times that apply.
“The panel will also assess existing and proposed FOI laws and practices across the country as well as internationally.
Dr Solomon is barrister, author and journalist. He served as chair of EARC in 1992-93. He is an respected commentator on Australian government, politics and constitutional law.
In addition, Dr Solomon has served as a Professor of School of Political Science at University of Queensland, as a member of the Judges Salaries and Allowances Tribunal and as a contributing editor of The Courier-Mail newspaper.
Dr Solomon will be supported by the former Deputy Director-General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Ms Simone Webb and Mr Dominic McGann, a partner at law firm McCullough Robertson.
Ms Bligh said Attorney-General Kerry Shine would finalise the terms of reference for the independent review.
“I expect an information paper to be released for community consultation in January and any necessary legislative amendments prepared by the middle of next year,” she said.
Mr Shine said the independent review by Dr Solomon would be an important barometer on how the Act operated and whether it needed modification or improvement.
“Applications for documents under Queensland FOI laws are being granted at rates – almost 90% - comparable with other States,” Mr Shine said.
“Nevertheless, the Government is determined to ensure our laws are working effectively and as intended through an independent review.”
Mr Shine said he was also currently undertaking a review of the privacy regime in Queensland.
“Freedom of information and privacy provisions are not incompatible. Freedom of information promotes transparency and openness in government, and protects the privacy of personal information and affairs from disclosure that is not in the public interest,” he said.
17 September, 2007
Further inquiries: Premiers Office (07) 3224 4500
Attorney-General’s Office (07) 3239 6400