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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (24 September) . . Page.. 3190 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

in general. While I was highly critical in the Assembly last year regarding initial teething problems that closing the central office had caused, I still consider that both of these moves were a step in the right direction. However, as the Government itself freely admits, these two changes did not equate to a comprehensive review of the everyday application of the Act.

During 1995, the Australian Law Reform Commission and the Administrative Review Council conducted such a review and, in 1996, tabled their joint report in Federal Parliament. The commission and council recommended a wide range of changes to freedom of information law and policy in general to give full effect to the Australian people's right of access to government-held information. These recommendations included making the application process easier to use for both the public and the government agencies concerned; reducing the cost of requests; rationalising exemptions so that they applied only to information for which there was an overriding public interest in withholding it; changing the objects of the Act to promote an attitude of pro-disclosure; reducing the power of Ministers to veto disclosures; and, finally, increasing the awareness on both sides that members of the public have a legal right of access to government-held information.

Mr Moore: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: It amazes me that, in such a serious situation, the state of the house is as it is. So, I draw your attention to it. I can understand why both Labor and Liberal members would be embarrassed by Mr Osborne tabling this legislation.

Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I think the member is limited to just drawing your attention to the state of the house.

MR SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.

(Quorum formed)

MR OSBORNE: Mr Speaker, I thank Mr Moore for that. I know that, in that point of order, he probably should not have mentioned the attitude of both parties; but I certainly can in my speech, and I will.

All of these recommendations, Mr Speaker, along with a number of others, I have sought to include in this Bill. The president of the commission, Alan Rose, said at the time of tabling the report:

The culture of secrecy that still pervades much of the Australian public sector must be dismantled if our government is to become truly transparent and accountable.

In other words, there are still too many secrets without there being a good reason. While this report and related comments were mainly directed towards the Commonwealth Public Service, they nonetheless apply just as much to the ACT.

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