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New FOI laws commence: Keneally should champion
Thursday 29 April 2010
In welcoming news that NSW's new freedom of information laws will commence on July 1, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said their success depends on Premier Kristina Keneally backing the new regime with resources to educate the public about the changes and directing state agencies to release more information to the public so as to reduce the need for FOI applications.
"These are excellent new laws, but their strength will be largely determined by how well they are championed from on high," Ms Rhiannon said.
"Since the new Act was passed last June implementation has been slow. An Information Commissioner was appointed six months later than promised and the laws that were originally to start early in 2010 are now starting in July.
"The project has also been downgraded by shifting responsibility for the laws from the Premier's Department to the Attorney-General's.
"One of the strengths of this new legislation is its potential to change the culture of secrecy in state and local government agencies by requiring the proactive release of information.
"Premier Keneally must play a key role in driving this reform, or the public will suffer the same frustration as it did under NSW's shoddy old laws.
"A strong public awareness campaign is critical to educate people about how to use the new system. So far the Office of the Information Commissioner has produced a few fact sheets and an interim training strategy for the public and journalists.
"While former Premier Nathan Rees drove these changes to NSW's freedom of information regime, Kristina Keneally has been silent on the issue since taking office.
"Premier Keneally could garner a lot of good will in the eyes of the public by putting her energies into championing openness and accountability.
"Committing significant resources to turn the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 from words in a statute book to a useful tool for the public should be priority for this government," Ms Rhiannon said.
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