access to information

Ombuds and information commissioners have issued a joint statement encouraging agencies to implement best practice for proactive disclosure. 

There are ways to make it easier for government agencies to provide you with access to information, says Victoria’s information commissioner.

‘Readability’ just means how easy a piece of text is to read and understand. Content developers are sometimes asked to write for a certain ‘readability level’, as determined by readability checkers. The readability level is usually provided as the level of schooling required to read the text – for example, ‘grade 9 readability’. The Australian Government’s […]

The Office of the New South Wales Premier did not breach the Government Information (Public Access) Act when a staffer destroyed records related to the $252 million Stronger Communities Fund, the state Information Commissioner has found.

Queensland’s corruption watchdog has called for tougher penalties for public servants who misuse confidential information, following nine public hearings conducted in November.

Even if people are motivated to understand something fundamentally new to their worldview, it doesn’t necessarily translate into how they behave. It is easier to improve something than change it. Pia Andrews provides some food for thought to encourage greater collective urgency for reforming the public sector to reflect the changing world and what sort of future we need and want as a society.

Australia submits its Open Government action plan in the nick of time, securing membership in the international Open Government Partnership. A last minute addition commits to more work on combating corporate crime.