A controversial government proposal to introduce fees for Freedom of Information (FoI) requests and restrict document releases has been met with fierce condemnation from opposition and crossbench senators, who have labelled the move "undemocratic" and evidence of an "addiction to secrecy".
Crossbench and Coalition Unite in Condemnation
The Albanese government's proposed amendments to the FoI system, which were the subject of a Senate inquiry, have sparked a rare show of unity among its political opponents. While the Labor-chaired committee recommended the bill be passed on Wednesday, the Coalition, the Greens, and independent senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie all submitted dissenting reports slamming the plans.
Senator David Pocock argued the changes would be "damaging for transparency and our democracy", stating that "Freedom of information should be accessible to all Australians, not just those who can afford it." The opposition senators described the proposals as "ill-informed" and expressed concern they were "unwarranted and undemocratic".
Key Changes and Government Justification
The proposed legislation includes several significant alterations to the current FoI regime:
- Introducing application fees for requests, which are currently free unless they require substantial work.
- Imposing a strict 40-hour time limit for processing each request.
- Changing the mandated 30-day response period from calendar days to business days.
- Granting FoI officers new powers to refuse or further redact documents related to the drafting and discussion of government policies and ideas.
The government, represented by Attorney General Michelle Rowland, claims the reforms are necessary to combat a rise in "anonymous, frivolous, and automated requests", including those generated by AI chatbots, which they say waste public resources. However, no concrete evidence detailing the scale of this issue has been publicly presented.
A 'Dysfunctional' System and the Path Forward
The backlash occurs against a backdrop of long-standing criticism of the FoI system. A separate inquiry in December 2023 described the regime as "dysfunctional and broken", citing years of funding cuts and a lack of pro-disclosure culture within the public service.
For the bill to pass the Senate, the government will need to secure support from either the opposition or the Greens, both of which have indicated they will not back it in its current form. The Coalition has demanded the government provide evidence to substantiate its claims about automated requests.
Greens senator David Shoebridge accused Labor of ignoring committee evidence and rejecting amendments, calling it a "case study in how hubris and an addiction to secrecy guides their politics." The bill, initially listed for debate in the final sitting week, was subsequently dropped from the parliamentary notice paper, indicating the government may be reconsidering its approach.
