The Commonwealth's top bureaucrats have been told to improve their officers' attitudes to making information public. The Special Minister of State, John Faulkner, wrote to agency heads last week to ensure they understood his plans to improve freedom of information laws.
The Senate is expected to approve a Bill this month that will abolish ''conclusive certificates'', which allow ministers to suppress documents without giving reasons why.
Senator Faulkner also unveiled a wider range of draft changes to the FoI Act in March, which, if passed, will cut the cost of FoI applications and encourage a ''pro-disclosure culture'' among public servants. The proposed laws prevent officials from denying requests on the grounds that the information may cause ''confusion or unnecessary debate'' or ''embarrassment to the government''. The Government also plans to appoint an independent FoI commissioner to ensure the laws are administered fairly.
Senator Faulkner's letter reminded departmental secretaries that the Government's policy was to increase the public's access to information.He urged them to take a lead role in creating ''a culture of disclosure across agencies''.
For more, pick up a copy of today’s Canberra Times.
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