Data sharing reforms are taking shape and federal agencies need to get up to speed. Expect new powers, new responsibilities and cultural change

The data sharing and release scheme aims to stake out a patch of middle ground between locking up government information and releasing it on data.gov.au for all the world to see, according to a discussion paper that doubles as a reform manifesto. Draft legislation is expected in early 2020 but new rules will just be the start; public servants are expected to change their attitudes.

“A much larger part of the journey is changing the Australian public service culture to achieve the paradigm shift from ‘need to know’ to ‘responsibility to share’ where there is clear public benefit.