Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) there is widespread community support for broad freedom of information laws and transparency in government,

(ii) the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 are currently under review,

(iii) the Prime Minister, Ms Julia Gillard, on taking office in September 2010 stated 'we will be held more accountable than ever before, and more than any government in modern memory. We will be held to higher standards of transparency and reform, and it's in that spirit that I approach the task of forming a government', and

(iv) the OpenAustralia Foundation has developed a new website 'Right to Know' to improve the ease with which Australians can lodge freedom of information requests and to make the whole request and response process public;

(b) recognises the new 'Right to Know' website;

(c) congratulates the Foundation for its 'Right to Know' initiative which will further improve access to government held information; and

(d) urges the Government to use the site, provide feedback and support the Foundation in its aim of encouraging effective citizen access to government information.