International Access to Information Day
International Access to Information Day (formerly RTI Day) is celebrated annually across Australia and around the world on 28 September.
Access to information can play a key role in saving lives and mitigating the impact of crises such as the current pandemic or natural disasters. Timely access to accurate information helps citizens follow responses to the crisis, such as restrictions on movement, access to services, work and schooling, virus testing, medical supplies, and economic aid or stimulus.
For this reason, the theme for International Access to Information Day (IAID) 2020 is 'Building trust through transparency'. The Right to Information (RTI) can empower citizens and hold governments accountable in times of crisis, when critical decisions about health or public safety, the economy and human rights are being made. RTI and transparency ultimately build trust, unity and can lead to better decision-making.
IAID is designed to raise awareness of every individual's right of access to government-held information; and the public sector’s responsibility to release information, if it is in the public interest to do so. It is a day on which citizens and governments from around the world can support this fundamental human right and promote open, democratic societies in which there is full citizen empowerment and participation in government.
#AccessToInfoDay #RightToKnow
Virtual events:
- Webinars hosted by UNESCO
- Webinar hosted by the Office of the Information Commissioner Western Australian involving Queensland's Information Commissioner and Right to Information Commissioner
- IAID launch in Victoria with Victorian Information Commissioner, Sven Bluemmel, and Victorian Attorney-General, The Hon. Jill Hennessy
- AI Transparency in Digital Government – OVIC will participate in a panel discussion hosted by Information Governance ANZ with Information and Privacy Commission New South Wales. Victorian Information Commissioner Sven Bluemmel, NSW Information Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd and Senior Research Fellow, University of Cambridge Dr Jat Singh
- Information Access Series (IAS) – OVIC will host a special IAS webinar featuring a panel discussion on best practices in providing information and negotiating positive outcomes with applicants, and will include panel members Lisa Scholes, DHHS, and Cameron Montgomery, City of Ballarat.
IAI Day resources
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Other website resources for government
- Admin access checklist
- Administrative release of information
- How to review and measure your agency's progress in implementing RTI
- What citizens’ legal rights to information and privacy mean for CEOs (PDF, 112.15 KB)
- What does the RTI Act mean to me as a public sector employee?
Other jurisdictions
Check out other events listed on the below sites:
