The Association of Information Access Commissioners (AIAC) met in Perth on 3 November 2023 for its second bi-annual meeting, hosted by the Office of the Information Commissioner, Western Australia.
The AIAC is comprised of independent information commissioners and ombudsmen of Australia and New Zealand who have oversight responsibilities for access to government information laws under their respective state and national jurisdictions.
Common themes and issues that emerged from the AIAC’s discussions were:
AIAC members call upon all governments to appropriately respect and resource the right to information.
Collectively members also recognise many contemporary challenges and risks to information access that can jeopardise trust in government and undermine our democratic freedoms and way of life. In the digital information age, robust information governance and reliable government information are now more important than ever.
Challenges include providing appropriate transparency and reviewability for automated decision-making or decisions that involve the use of other modern technology. There are also heightened risks of misinformation and disinformation, particularly where access to government information is inadequate.
Finally, members observe that the right to access government-held information encompasses governments being pro-active with the release of non-sensitive information as well as responding in a timely way, with integrity and openness, to requests for access to more sensitive information.
This communique is endorsed by:
New Zealand | Peter Boshier Emma Leach |
Commonwealth | Angelene Falk |
Australian Capital Territory | Iain Anderson |
New South Wales | Elizabeth Tydd Sonia Minutillo |
Queensland | Stephanie Winson Anna Rickard |
Victoria | Joanne Kummrow |
South Australia | Wayne Lines |
Tasmania | Richard Connock |
Western Australia | Catherine Fletcher |
Northern Territory | Brenda Monaghan |