Introduction
Part 1
Legislative Reforms to Improve the Freedom of Information Act 1991
1. Restoration of Section
48(5).
2. Section 24 (3) removed - Conclusive
Certificate
3. Fees - No Charge for first five hours
search, location and processing.
4. Time Limits on Agencies enforced
and improved.
5. Reporting of statistics
6. Sunset clauses for all Sections except
Section 30 (Personal Affairs)
7. Constitutional Protection of Freedom
of Information Act 1991
8. Joint Parliamentary Committee on
Freedom of Information be appointed.
9. Amendment of Section 27 (Internal
Working Documents)
Part 2
Administrative Reforms to Improve Freedom of Information Act 1991
1. Directive to Agencies
2. Greater publicity for Act
3. Extra budget allocations to high
performing agencies
4. Monitoring agencies' processing
of requests
5. Alternative Suggestion
Creation of an Information Commission
Part 3
Current Administration of the Act
Summary
1.0 Crippling the Guardian
1.1 Reasons for Decisions
1.2 Time Limits
1.3 Bowing before reality
1.4 Still Scoring Points for Accountability
2. Inadequate statement
of reasons
3. Sitting on sensitive or troublesome
requests
4. Frankness and Candour smokescreens
Part 4
Critique of Justifications for Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 1994
Summary
Preparing the Ground with no regard
for reality
Creative Accounting and No Concern
for Value for Money
Why user pays is a myth
The costs of tardy administration
Hunting for the Abusers
Part 5
Critique of Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 1994
Summary
Section 17 changes.
Section 24 changes.
Section 27 changes.
Schedule 1
Section 28 changes.
Section 36 (Secrecy provisions) changes
Other Amendments
Attachment 1
Timetable Leading Up to the Freedom of Information Amendment
Bill 1994
Attachment 2
A Special Report as the NSW Ombudsman Exits the Scene
Attachment 3
Government Costing of FoI
Attachment 4
Charges for non-personal applications in Western Australia