The ACT Ombudsman has launched a new Freedom of Information (FOI) newsletter for practitioners, releasing the first edition and hoping it will become a quarterly publication.
Director of ACT Strategy and FOI in the Ombudsman’s Office, Suseela Durvasula said the newsletter will share information about the Ombudsman’s work as the independent oversight body for FOI in the ACT.
“This edition focusses on the new FOI Ombudsman guidelines, extension applications, the FOI annual report for 2020–21 and our open access monitoring activities,” Ms Durvasula said.
“It highlights some common themes identified in our recent review matters—including consultation processes and public interest disclosures,” she said.
“We would like to use future editions to share examples of best practice, lessons learned from recent cases or potentially new processes being trialled within your organisation, to streamline the access application processes.”
Ms Durvasula said the Office would like to hear people’s ideas as well as any topics they’d like included in future editions.
“I would like to acknowledge the contribution of Cathy Milfull, the former ACT Strategy and FOI director, who finished up with the Ombudsman’s Office on 24 July 2020,” she said.
“Along with Anika Khwaja, the Assistant Director responsible for ACT FOI and the rest of the FOI team, I am looking forward to continuing a productive and collaborative relationship with our ACT FOI practitioners,” Ms Durvasula said.
The Office’s FOI newsletter, as well as information on how to submit an idea can be accessed at this PS News link.
