The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has joined with its State and Territory counterparts to issue a public statement on the importance of transparency during the current Coronavirus pandemic.
According to the OAIC, it did so because the work of Government was essential for ensuring public health and safety during the crisis and it recognised the severe impact of the current COVID-19 outbreak on our community and around the world.
“We acknowledge that delivering Government services in the current environment poses many difficulties,” the OAIC said.
“It is also critical that we continue to recognise the importance of the right to access information.”
The OAIC has signed up to a statement released by the by International Conference of Information Commissioners.
“The impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) brings unprecedented challenges for our society, both nationally and globally,” the statement says.
“As a global community, we recognise that resources may be diverted away from usual information rights work.
“Public organisations will rightly focus their resources on protecting public health, and we recognise our role in taking a pragmatic approach, for example around how quickly public bodies respond to requests.
“But the importance of the right to access information remains.”
The statement calls on public bodies to recognise the value of clear and transparent communication and of good record-keeping, in what it says will be a much analysed period of history.
“As an international network, the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) supports a flexible approach that takes into account the compelling public interest in the current health emergency, while safeguarding the values of the right to access information. We ask governments to support this vision.
“We add our support and gratitude to those who are dedicated to tackling the current pandemic,” it said.
The Australian statement was signed by the Australian Information Commissioner, Angelene Falk; the NSW Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Tydd; Queensland Information Commissioner, Rachael Rangihaeata; ACT Ombudsman, Michael Manthorpe; Victorian Information Commissioner, Sven Bluemmel, Western Australian Information Commissioner, Catherine Fletcher; Tasmanian Ombudsman, Richard Connock; Northern Territory’s Deputy Information Commissioner, Brenda Monaghan; and South Australian Ombudsman, Wayne Lines.
The international statement can be accessed at this PS News link.
