Freedom of Information in Australia: A Comparative Analysis

Rosemary Norgate and Imogen Goold

1994 (Tas) 8 PPL

This paper provides a comparative analysis of FOI legislation in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and the Commonwealth. It attempts to trace the developments of each in terms of costs, voluminous and vexatious requests and local government and cabinet documents in order to demonstrate how each has gained from the experience of the others and how successful the achievement of the FOI objectives has been. The authors conclude that in general the ideals of the state legislation are being met, but that nevertheless reforms are needed in certain areas; such as Cabinet document exemptions.