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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 9h

“No supporter outside the government was to be found,” they wrote. The Australian Public Service Commission, Services Australia and the Attorney-General’s Department were the only three stakeholders that appeared to endorse the bill.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 9h

As Catherine Williams and Gabrielle Appleby of the Centre for Public Integrity noted in a piece for The AFR on Tuesday, the Senate inquiry into the bill received “virtually unanimous damning assessments” in its submissions inbox, which closed last week.

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#auspol

Crikey @crikey.com.au · 12h

BREAKING: Crikey understands both the opposition and the crossbench, including the Greens, are opposed to Labor's bill, meaning it will struggle to get through the Senate.

Barely anyone except Labor supports the government's FOI reforms

Those opposed to the tightening of Australia's freedom of information regime are gathering force, meaning Labor will struggle to drag its bill through the Senate.

www.crikey.com.au

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 13h

Read the full CPI analysis here:

publicintegrity.org.au/research_pap...

Submission: Inquiry into the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025

CPI warns the FOI Amendment Bill 2025 weakens transparency. Read our blueprint for genuine Freedom of Information reform.

publicintegrity.org.au

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 13h

What to do instead of this proposal?

Conduct a thorough review. Take into consideration the needs of the public and the needs of the government. Review best practice in other jurisdictions. Do not weaken the pro-disclosre approach.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 13h

4. Cherry-picked reforms:

The proposed amendments have cherry-picked previous proposals and ignored other proposals that are directly relevant.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 13h

3. Cont

These reverse the 2010 amendments, which were intended to level the playing field for applicants.

As former FOI Commissioner John McMillan said, make ‘public requests for documents … a more routine and accepted part of the daily business of government agencies.’

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 13h

3. Damaging consequences:

Re-introducing fees and the removal of the ability to make anonymous requests are likely to discourage the use of FOI, particularly by vulnerable and marginalised groups.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 13h

2. No evidence to substantiate changes:

When asked to provide evidence to justify claims of vexatious requests by AI, other non-human actors or by criminal gangs, the gov tabled two articles from the US and (ironically) claimed Cabinet confidentiality for the rest of the docs.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 13h

1. Not addressing structural reform:

Structural reform is required. Repeated reviews recommend it. But it needs to be comprehensive and structural and take input from the public and the government.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 13h

The Centre has four key problems with the FOI reform. A that lacks evidence for justification despite repeated requests.

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www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Lack of clarity as government pushes for FOI reforms - ABC listen

The Attorney-General's Department has been unable to say how many Freedom of Information (FOI) requests come from anonymous or automated sources. The revelation came this week in Senate estimates hea...

www.abc.net.au

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 2d

In opposition, the prime minister talked a big game on transparency. It’s about time he walked the walk on open government.

~ Opinion piece by the Centre's ED Dr Catherine Williams and Research Director Professor Gabrielle Appleby

#auspol

www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Labor must drop flawed and friendless freedom of information bill

In opposition, the prime minister talked a big game on transparency. It’s about time he walked the walk on open government.

www.afr.com

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

Read the press release in full here

publicintegrity.org.au/joint-statem...

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JOINT STATEMENT CALLING FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FOI AMENDMENT BILL

As voters, the Australian people must know what governments are doing. Without transparency, corruption remains hidden and public interest journalism goes unreported.

publicintegrity.org.au

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

Professor Peter Greste, Executive Director, Alliance for Journalists' Freedom

“FOI has been a critical but deeply flawed tool for journalists wanting to get behind the curtain of government. We all welcome better transparency, but this is not the way forward.”

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

Cont:

"This bill is bad news for every Australian and should be withdrawn or tossed out by the Parliament.”

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

Madeleine Burkitt, Senior Campaigner, Grata Fund

"FOI absolutely needs reform, but this takes us backwards. Absurdly, the Government is pointing to Robodebt to justify these changes, but the Royal Commission called for the exact opposite of what’s proposed.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

Cont:

"Information is to democratic participation as water is to life. People often take water for granted, until it stops flowing."

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

Rex Patrick, Founder, Whistleblower Justice Fund (
@mrrexpatrick.bsky.social) :

"Albanese called for greater transparency whilst in opposition, but his Secrecy Bill does the exact opposite, entrenching secrecy in government. The Opposition and Crossbench must unite to block this bill."

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

Cont.

"The FOI Amendment Bill shifts Australia's FOI regime away from disclosure, transparency and a right of access. It contains measures that would make it harder to access information and create more secrecy in government, undermining the objectives of a modern FOI regime."

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

The Hon Michael Barker KC, Board member, the Centre for Public Integrity:

"Freedom of information is a critical feature of any democracy. giving effect to the public’s fundamental right to know and enabling the transparency that makes accountability possible."

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

The groups described the process behind the legislation as a “grave integrity failure”, noting the absence of public consultation, the failure to address long-standing issues facing applicants, and the lack of evidence provided by Gov to justify its move towards secrecy.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

“This Bill makes it harder to access information and creates more secrecy in government, not less,” the organisations said in a joint statement.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

The Centre, Human Rights Law Centre, Whistleblower Justice Fund, Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom and Grata Fund today called for the immediate withdrawal of the FOI Amendment Bill and the urgent establishment of a comprehensive, independent review of the FOI system.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 3d

Australia’s leading integrity, human rights and media freedom organisations have united to denounce the Government’s Freedom of Information Amendment Bill, warning the reforms will lead to greater government secrecy and less accountability.

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#auspol

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 5d

Overall, Partlett believes the problems affecting the NACC can be addressed. “Hopefully now the commissioner and those around him will be even more responsive, because the criticism they are getting is constructive. It is not trying to tear this thing down.”

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 5d

“No one’s claiming that he himself is actually biased,” Partlett says. “But what he seems to fail to understand is that he is now in a position that is an important trust institution. He needs to get the trust of the Australian people and he does not seem to understand how to do that.”

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