Government-held information is a vital public resource. In the spirit of open, transparent and accountable government, this information should be readily accessible to enable the community to find the information they need, understand how government operates, and actively participate in democratic processes.
In today’s digital age, government websites and social media platforms provide efficient and effective channels for agencies to deliver accurate and timely information to the public. This flow of information not only enhances digital service delivery, but also fosters public trust in government.
On 2 June, the Chair of the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee tabled the Information Commissioner’s Report No. 3: Let’s get digital: a review of online proactive disclosure practices by government agencies in the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
The review examined the practices of 20 Queensland government agencies in using online platforms to meet their proactive disclosure and administrative access obligations under the Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld) (RTI Act), and their commitment to proactively disclosing government-held information. The review also assessed whether the information published by agencies was easy to find, user-friendly, up-to-date, and meaningful.
Key findings included:
- Proactive disclosure strategies: Most agencies demonstrated a reasonable range of strategies for proactive disclosure.
- Leadership in online practices: None of the agencies exhibited innovative or exemplary practices in demonstrating leadership commitment to proactive disclosure.
- Administrative access arrangements: While 75% of agencies met or exceeded the minimum standard for administrative access arrangements, many failed to effectively promote these arrangements on their websites, missing opportunities to reduce formal right-to-information applications.
- Publication schemes: 75% of agencies had not updated their publication schemes to align with amendments to the RTI Act that took effect on 1 July 2025.
The report includes five recommendations aimed at helping Queensland government agencies enhance their online proactive disclosure practices.
In a time of misinformation and disinformation, government‑held information is a critical public resource. Ensuring this information is accurate, meaningful, and readily accessible through digital platforms is fundamental to fostering open and accountable government, and supports an informed community and strengthens public trust in government.