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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Federal Parliament back in the spotlight

Plenty of big issues on the agenda but....

Update: Oops! Thanks to the watchful soul in Canberra who tells me I was looking at the 2013 program not 2014.  

The correct list (pdf) of proposed legislation for the spring sitting includes The Freedom of Information Amendment (New Arrangements) Bill 2014:
-establish new arrangements for the exercise of privacy and freedom of information (FOI) functions, including: disbanding the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner; arrangements for an Office of the Privacy Commissioner; making external merits review of FOI decisions only available at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal following compulsory internal review; and providing for the Ombudsman to take over responsibility for investigation of FOI complaints.
As I was saying before thankfully corrected:

Labor, The Greens, PUPS, DLP, Family First and independent senators particularly senators Xenophon and Leonhjelm who have a strong interest in transparency and accountability should look closely at how the changes will benefit FOI applicants as claimed by the Attorney General in the only public words uttered in announcing the decision in May or since.

Quite apart from leaving the cause of FOI virtually orphaned in the hands of the Attorney General's Department, the 'administrative efficiencies' that will see merits review back exclusively with the AAT will mean applicants aggrieved face a charge of $861 (currently) for the pleasure. 

Abolishing the information commission runs completely counter to good practice access to information here or anywhere else in the world.

And I'd wondered what had happened to this proposed cut back on contract disclosures in the name of 'red tape' that emerged in February. The Canberra Times reports today that Labor won't support it, so another issue to add to the cross bench chat list.  

.............. 
Continuation as originally published:  
.....no sign on the published legislative program(pdf) for this sitting of a bill to abolish the Office of Australian Information Commissioner and deal with the flow on effects. 

Labor, The Greens, PUPS, DLP, Family First and independent senators particularly senators Xenophon and Leonhjelm who have a strong interest in transparency and accountability should look closely at how the changes will benefit FOI applicants as claimed by the Attorney General in the only public words uttered in announcing the decision in May or since.

Quite apart from leaving the cause of FOI virtually orphaned in the hands of the Attorney General's Department, the 'administrative efficiencies' that will see merits review back exclusively with the AAT will mean applicants aggrieved face a charge of $861 (currently) for the pleasure. 

Abolishing the information commission runs completely counter to good practice access to information here or anywhere else in the world.

And I'd wondered what had happened to this proposed cut back on contract disclosures in the name of 'red tape' that emerged in February. The Canberra Times reports today that Labor won't support it, so another issue to add to the cross bench chat list.  

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