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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 1d

"We know from the experience in NSW that it's only when upper houses flex their constitutional muscle and perform their constitutional obligations to hold the executive to account that the government has reason to comply."

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 1d

"The government has got to know the parliament has teeth or it will just ignore you," she said.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 1d

Professor Appleby pointed to the landmark case of the NSW upper house flexing its muscle in the 1990s when it suspended then-treasurer Michael Egan and removed him from the chamber for refusing to comply with an order to produce documents.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 1d

"If you haven't got parliament also performing its integrity role, then you have lost the coach because parliament is still where it matters," she told AAP.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 1d

Centre for Public Integrity research director Gabrielle Appleby said parliament needed to lead on government oversight rather than purely leaving it to integrity bodies.

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#auspol

thewest.com.au/politics/law...

Senators urged to flex muscles to stop Labor inaction

A Greens senator has offered an olive branch to form an unlikely alliance to hold Labor to account as it fails to comply with document production orders.

thewest.com.au

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 2d

Join Us Live Online (Now): Anti-Corruption Commissions
Why they are undermined and towards best practice.

eventbrite.com/e/anti-corru...

#auspol

Anti-corruption Commissions conference (online event)

An Accountability Round Table (ART), Centre for Public Integrity (CPI) & Deakin University conference.

eventbrite.com

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 2d

The parliament should conduct an independent and comprehensive review of FOI and develop a best practice approach for the access of information that meets the needs of Australia in 2025.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 2d

Opposition Leader, Sussan Ley MP, has written strongly today opposing the FOI reform. The Centre welcomes this position.

This is now an opportunity to reset.

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#auspol

www.canberratimes.com.au/story/908628...

www.canberratimes.com.au

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 6d

“No supporter outside the government was to be found,” they wrote. The Australian Public Service Commission, Services Australia and the Attorney-General’s Department were the only three stakeholders that appeared to endorse the bill.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 6d

As Catherine Williams and Gabrielle Appleby of the Centre for Public Integrity noted in a piece for The AFR on Tuesday, the Senate inquiry into the bill received “virtually unanimous damning assessments” in its submissions inbox, which closed last week.

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#auspol

Crikey @crikey.com.au · 6d

BREAKING: Crikey understands both the opposition and the crossbench, including the Greens, are opposed to Labor's bill, meaning it will struggle to get through the Senate.

Barely anyone except Labor supports the government's FOI reforms

Those opposed to the tightening of Australia's freedom of information regime are gathering force, meaning Labor will struggle to drag its bill through the Senate.

www.crikey.com.au

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 6d

Read the full CPI analysis here:

publicintegrity.org.au/research_pap...

Submission: Inquiry into the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025

CPI warns the FOI Amendment Bill 2025 weakens transparency. Read our blueprint for genuine Freedom of Information reform.

publicintegrity.org.au

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 6d

What to do instead of this proposal?

Conduct a thorough review. Take into consideration the needs of the public and the needs of the government. Review best practice in other jurisdictions. Do not weaken the pro-disclosre approach.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 6d

4. Cherry-picked reforms:

The proposed amendments have cherry-picked previous proposals and ignored other proposals that are directly relevant.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 6d

3. Cont

These reverse the 2010 amendments, which were intended to level the playing field for applicants.

As former FOI Commissioner John McMillan said, make ‘public requests for documents … a more routine and accepted part of the daily business of government agencies.’

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 6d

3. Damaging consequences:

Re-introducing fees and the removal of the ability to make anonymous requests are likely to discourage the use of FOI, particularly by vulnerable and marginalised groups.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 6d

2. No evidence to substantiate changes:

When asked to provide evidence to justify claims of vexatious requests by AI, other non-human actors or by criminal gangs, the gov tabled two articles from the US and (ironically) claimed Cabinet confidentiality for the rest of the docs.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 6d

1. Not addressing structural reform:

Structural reform is required. Repeated reviews recommend it. But it needs to be comprehensive and structural and take input from the public and the government.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 6d

The Centre has four key problems with the FOI reform. A that lacks evidence for justification despite repeated requests.

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www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Lack of clarity as government pushes for FOI reforms - ABC listen

The Attorney-General's Department has been unable to say how many Freedom of Information (FOI) requests come from anonymous or automated sources. The revelation came this week in Senate estimates hea...

www.abc.net.au

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 8d

In opposition, the prime minister talked a big game on transparency. It’s about time he walked the walk on open government.

~ Opinion piece by the Centre's ED Dr Catherine Williams and Research Director Professor Gabrielle Appleby

#auspol

www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Labor must drop flawed and friendless freedom of information bill

In opposition, the prime minister talked a big game on transparency. It’s about time he walked the walk on open government.

www.afr.com

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 9d

Read the press release in full here

publicintegrity.org.au/joint-statem...

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JOINT STATEMENT CALLING FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FOI AMENDMENT BILL

As voters, the Australian people must know what governments are doing. Without transparency, corruption remains hidden and public interest journalism goes unreported.

publicintegrity.org.au

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 9d

Professor Peter Greste, Executive Director, Alliance for Journalists' Freedom

“FOI has been a critical but deeply flawed tool for journalists wanting to get behind the curtain of government. We all welcome better transparency, but this is not the way forward.”

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 9d

Cont:

"This bill is bad news for every Australian and should be withdrawn or tossed out by the Parliament.”

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 9d

Madeleine Burkitt, Senior Campaigner, Grata Fund

"FOI absolutely needs reform, but this takes us backwards. Absurdly, the Government is pointing to Robodebt to justify these changes, but the Royal Commission called for the exact opposite of what’s proposed.

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 9d

Cont:

"Information is to democratic participation as water is to life. People often take water for granted, until it stops flowing."

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publicintegrity.bsky.social @publicintegrity.bsky.social · 9d

Rex Patrick, Founder, Whistleblower Justice Fund (
@mrrexpatrick.bsky.social) :

"Albanese called for greater transparency whilst in opposition, but his Secrecy Bill does the exact opposite, entrenching secrecy in government. The Opposition and Crossbench must unite to block this bill."

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