Issue No 48
 

Freedom of Information- where to now ?

Madeline Campbell and John Eyers

Given the ever increasing trend towards privatisation, corporatisation and private/public sector ventures in Australia, the authors explore what such a move entails with respect to Freedom of Information legislation. Issues explored include the following: 1)whether there is now an expectation that FoI legislation be extended to the private sector (especially in regard to personal information of the applicant), 2) if FoI were to be expanded, what the reasons for doing so would be, 3) the effect of FoI on the public sector, 4) whether the dichotomy between public and private institutions is still justifiable as we move into the 21st century and 5) whether there has been any recognition of the need to expand administrative law principles (in particular FoI principles) to the private sector. The authors conclude that the application of FoI to the public sector has had a positive on the operations on government and that the public's right to know should no longer be restrained by artificial distinctions as to the character of the holder of information.
 
 

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