A new national body to free up Government data for easier access by the public is to be established as part of the Government’s response to recommendations of the Productivity Commission.
Announced by the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Transformation, Michael Keenan, the new Office of the National Data Commissioner will have the role of implementing a simpler and more efficient data sharing and release framework across all Government entities.
Mr Keenan said the new Commissioner would also work with the Australian Privacy Commissioner to ensure that the protection of individual privacy remained paramount under the new data sharing arrangements.
He said data was an important national resource which, when used correctly, could greatly assist consumers, researchers, Government Agencies and industry to better understand the world and to make sound investment decisions based on evidence.
However, he said, the Productivity Commission had found that too often unnecessary barriers to data access were stifling innovation, competition, development and even important research opportunities that could benefit the entire community.
“The Commission identified more than 500 different secrecy provisions and regulations that exist within Government Agencies that regulate the use and release of data,” Mr Keenan said.
He said that as a result of that complexity, many Agencies had adopted a default position of saying “no” to requests for data access — even when the request had come from another Government Department.
“The Data Commissioner will make it easier for that data to be shared … delivering enormous benefits to the Australian population,” Mr Keenan said.
“Increased access to multiple data sets will give researchers the ability to see very quickly whether policies were working as intended, or if they needed to be adjusted or abandoned altogether.”
He said new legislation would be drafted to streamline data sharing and release arrangements within Government.
“The Data Commissioner will be assisted in its oversight role by a new National Data Advisory Council (and) accredited Data Authorities will also be established to manage which data sets are made public, as well as who can access them,” the Minister said.
The Government’s full 15-page response to the Productivity Commission’s recommendations can be accessed at this PS News link.
