Senator John Faulkner
03/2009
4 February 2009
Today I have tabled the 2007–08 Annual Report on the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
In 2007–08 Australian Government agencies received 29,019 FOI access requests. The majority of requests were directed to Centrelink (9,849), the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (7,912) and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (6,491).
Eighty five per cent of the requests received by agencies were for personal information about the applicant or other people. The remaining 15 per cent were for documents containing other information, such as documents concerning policy development and government decision-making.
Some 96 per cent of FOI requests finalised in the reporting period were granted in full or in part. Thirty eight per cent of the FOI requests for non personal information were granted in full, 53 per cent in part and nine per cent were denied.
The Australian Government spent $29.5m processing FOI requests at an average cost of $940 per request processed. Only 2% of the total cost was recovered in fees and charges. FOI fees and charges have not increased since November 1986.
The Government is committed to enhancing access to information under FOI, consistent with its view that the best way to enhance government accountability is through greater openness and transparency. It has also committed to undertaking the most significant overhaul of the FOI Act since it began in 1982. The first step is to abolish the power of Ministers to issue conclusive certificates which prevent document disclosure. This Bill is already before the Parliament.
The second step is through wide ranging reforms designed to foster and promote a more pro-disclosure culture across government and deliver on our commitment to introduce an FOI Commissioner. These second stage reforms will be included in exposure draft legislation which will be released shortly for public comment.
These measures complement the FOI Annual Report as evidence of the Government’s commitment to transparency in its decision-making.
The FOI Annual Report 2007–2008 is available on the FOI website at http://www.pmc.gov.au/foi. The website also contains a range of FOI reference material to help people who want to make an FOI request.
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