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Monday, December 01, 2014

Bill to abolish office of information commissioner up tomorrow

The Freedom of Information Amendment (New Arrangements) Bill is listed as the first item in the Draft Legislative Programme for the Senate tomorrow 2 December, but it's helter skelter week there with only a few days before parliament rises for the year. How the timetable looks tomorrow after a long list of speakers today on the government's higher education reform bills is anyone's guess.

Labor and The Greens remain staunchly opposed. Contact with the crossbenchers has been encouraging. 

The government may decide to hold the bill back until later in the week, or preferably later, later, later..........

Abolishing the Office of Australian Information Commissioner without proper inquiry didn't make sense when announced on Budget night in May. 

The government has produced nothing to advance the case for this retrograde step since. 

Meanwhile Labor speakers and The Greens Adam Bandt in the House, the Bills Digest, submissions to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, testimony at the public hearing and the committee's report ( other than the two pages the three government senators take to brush aside the evidence) all outline compelling reasons why the bill should be defeated.

To those anxious open transparent and accountable government supporters who have been in touch with me from Canada, the US, UK and elsewhere, common sense is in with a chance in the Australian Senate this week.


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