Review questions cabinet secrecy rule (Aus)

Review questions cabinet secrecy rule

 
 

January 30, 2008 - 1:54PM

A review of Queensland's Freedom of Information (FOI) laws will consider relaxing the controversial 30-year cabinet secrecy rule.

Premier Anna Bligh last September announced an independent review of the laws in a bid to make the state government more accountable and make use of the latest technology.

Dr David Solomon, who is leading the review, presented Ms Bligh on Wednesday with a 200-page discussion paper on changes to the laws.

He said the FOI Act was well intentioned when it was introduced 15 years ago - to enable public access to government information - but had become too complicated.

"It's become much more restrictive than was the original intention, particularly through the use of the cabinet exemption," Dr Solomon said.

"It was changed by the parliament on a number of occasions, and each change made it more difficult to get information out."

In most Westminster-style governments, official records of cabinet decisions and submissions are kept secret for around 30 years.

The discussion paper explores whether a time limit should be imposed on how long cabinet matters can be exempt from FOI requests, and if a "public interest test" should be introduced for documents that would otherwise be exempt.

Dr Solomon said it was difficult to justify the purpose of the cabinet exemption rule, which allows ministers to take documents into the cabinet room "for no purpose other to avoid them being accessible through FOI".

"The very existence of this bolt hole sends the wrong message to public servants about the desirability of openness," the paper says.

Other issues explored include whether access rights to documents are "stuck in a time warp" with the advent of new technology like the internet and email.

The paper also questions whether Queensland should move towards the "Swedish FOI approach", where most official documents are publicly available, and whether the costs of making FOI requests are reasonable.

Ms Bligh said Queensland already granted nearly 90 per cent of applications for documents sought through FOI.

"That is comparable with other states, but I want to provide even greater accessibility and transparency," she said.

"The challenge is to deliver on that commitment without compromising personal privacy or essential government functions."

The public has until March 7 to comment on the paper.

Dr Solomon is due to submit his final report and recommendations for cabinet consideration by the end of May.

Changes to the laws are expected to be in place before the end of the year.

 
 

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