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The Ombudsman strikes back: A special report as the NSW Ombudsman exits the scene
Rick Snell
Summarises the report Freedom of Information: The Way Ahead released
by the NSW Ombudsman, which suggests avenues for reform to the NSW FOI
Act. A summary of the following suggested amendments is included ; Joint
Parliamentary Committee on Freedom of Information, Objects of the NSW FOI
Act, Adoption of the Information Commissioner Model, Delays in Determining
applications, Public Interests tests, Internal working documents, Fees
and charges.
Journey from the Comfort Zone: a few steps toward open government
Rick Snell
The author starts with the proposition that given the democratic objectives
of the FOI Act, and in view of a number of incidents (recent proposed changes
to the Tasmanian FOI Act, examination of the annual FOI State and Commonwealth
reports) reforms (both administrative and legislative) are required in
each FOI jurisdiction to ensure that open and accountable government is
maintained. Such reforms include the evaluation of FOI in terms of non-personal
rather than personal information, presumptions in favour of the disclosure
of information, increasing external scrutiny through the establishment
of an independent FOI Research Unit and an increased standard of statement
of reasons given for decisions.
FOI in NSW: Wrong Way go Back
Bruce Smith
The author criticises the reform suggestions to the NSW FOI Act put forward by the NSW Ombudsman in FOI- The Way Ahead. The article suggests additional areas for reform by amendment to the Act, such as viewing FOI as a right, FOI in relation to court records and law enforcement, FOI keeping pace with technology and the establishment of an Administrative Appeals Tribunal for NSW.