The International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) has endorsed a resolution co-sponsored by the Victorian Information Commissioner, Sven Bluemmel to support the proactive publication of information relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ICIC is a global forum which connects Information Commissioners responsible for the protection and promotion of access to information laws around the world.
Following the adoption of the resolution, put forward by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), the ICIC membership published a joint statement to promote the value of proactive publication of information.
In signing his name to the joint statement, Mr Bluemmel said that as the global pandemic continued, the importance of transparency and the right to access information remained.
“The impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to bring unprecedented challenges for our society, both nationally and globally,” Mr Bluemmel said.
“Governments around the world continue to face significant challenges in responding to the pandemic to protect public health, civil liberties and individual prosperity,” he said.
“Recognising the role that access to information has in building trust in our global community during times of crisis and beyond, Information Commissioners around the world highlight the importance of the proactive disclosure of information held by Government or public institutions.”
Mr Bluemmel said Governments should observe principles on the proactive and prompt disclosure of information; public engagement in Government decision making; the critical importance of right of access to information related to the pandemic; and information held by Government to be managed for a public purpose and considered a national resource.
The ICIC resolution was also co-sponsored by the Western Australian Information Commissioner, Catherine Fletcher; the NSW Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Tydd; the Queensland Information Commissioner, Rachael Rangihaeata; as well as Information Commissioners from New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The six-page ICIC resolution can be accessed at this PS News link and the two-page joint statement at this link.
