The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has released a new toolkit to help Freedom of Information (FOI) decision makers in Australian Government Agencies and Ministers’ Offices understand the principles of FOI, the benefits of releasing government-held information and how the OAIC can assist.
Launching the toolkit FOI Essentials, the OAIC said it would also help FOI decision makers navigate the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) and uphold the requirements of the Information Publication Scheme (IPS).
“Freedom of information recognises that an informed community is vital for the full and effective operation of a democracy,” the OAIC said.
“Proactive release of information increases transparency and can help Agencies manage resources more efficiently,” it said.
“This is achieved through the IPS, Agency FOI disclosure logs and administrative access arrangements.”
The OAIC said the IPS required Government Agencies to publish information proactively.
“It encourages greater openness and transparency in government and reflects the pro-disclosure objects of the FOI Act.
“The IPS requires all Agencies subject to the FOI Act to publish a range of information about what the Agency does and the way it does it, as well as information dealt with or used in the course of its operations.”
The new FOI Essentials is broken into eight sections covering what freedom of information is; proactive release of information; legislation and guidance; deciding a FOI request; timeframes and extensions; reviews and complaints; Agency performance; and resources and support.
The toolkit can be accessed at this PS News link.
