Access to Information (AU0020)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Australia Action Plan 2018-2020
Action Plan Cycle: 2018
Status: Active
Institutions
Lead Institution: Information and Privacy Commission NSW on behalf of Commonwealth. State and Territory Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen. and supported by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Support Institution(s): Information Commissioner Accountability Round Table, Australian Open Government Partnership Civil Society Network
Policy Areas
OGP, Right to Information, SubnationalDescription
Engage States and Territories to better understand
information access
Commitment Start and End Date
September 2078-August 2020
Lead implementing agency/actor
Information and Privacy Commission NSW on behalf of Commonwealth. State and Territory Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen. and supported by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Commitment description
What is the public problem that the commitment will address?
Under Australia's federal system of government. responsibilities are shared between different levels of government. To date. participation in the Open Government Partnership has occurred primarily at the federal government level.
There is significant work underway at the state and territory level that contributes to the development of a culture of government openness. enhanced levels of transparency and greater public accountability. The right to access government information is independently oversighted by the Commonwealth. State and Territory Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen.
Currently, there is no consistent mechanism to enable an assessment of awareness of the right to access government information and experiences in exercising that right at each level of government.
What is the commitment?
This commitment will better provide for subnational participation in the Open Government Partnership process to build understanding of information access frameworks. We will achieve this by:
l. facilitating administrative arrangements between state and territory governments and Australian Government officials responsible for Australia's Open Government commitments to support collaboration and learning on open government matters (including highlighting the opportunity for formal subnational cooperation and membership in the Open Government Partnership). and
2. engaging with Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen to seek agreement to conduct surveys to measure citizens· awareness of the right to access government information. and their experiences and outcomes in exercising that right. These surveys will inform activities to promote and support the right to access government information
How will the commitment contribute to solve the public problem?
Wewill promote fuller participation in the Open Government Partnership by Australian states and territories (providing greater opportunities to enhance government transparency and accountability), and, in particular, enhance understandings of how the right to information access is experienced by Australians.
Why is the commitment relevant to OGP values?
By facilitating greater participation in the Open Government Partnership process by state and territory governments, this commitment will advance all the OGP values.
In particular, by better measuring the value citizens place on the right to access government information, and their awareness of, and their experiences and outcomes in exercising that right. This commitment will advance the OGP value of access to information.
Milestone Activity with a verifiable deliverable
Administratively engage state and territory governments to raise awareness of the Open Government Partnership, support collaboration and learning on open government matters, and highlight the opportunity for formal cooperation and subnational membership.
7/1/2018 – 12/31/2018
Engage with state and territory information commissioners to: agree to the design of a survey to measure the value citizens place on the right to access to information and their awareness of, and their experiences and outcomes in exercising that right.
7/1/2018 – 12/31/2018
Conduct survey
1/1/2019 – 9/30/2019
Analyse and publish results of survey
7/1/2019 – 12/31/2019
Contact Information
Contacts: information and privacy commission NSW
Email and phone
Elizabeth.tydd@ipc.nsw.gov.au
Other Actors
State and Territory Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Accountability Round Table, Australian Open Government Partnership Civil Society Network
Australia's Commitments
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Strengthen anti-corruption framework
AU0016, 2018, Anti-Corruption Institutions
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Political Donation Transparency
AU0017, 2018, Legislation & Regulation
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Data sharing
AU0018, 2018, E-Government
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Improve Public Service Practice
AU0019, 2018, Capacity Building
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Access to Information
AU0020, 2018, OGP
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Enhance public engagement skills in the public service
AU0021, 2018, Capacity Building
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Independent Review of the Australian Public Service
AU0022, 2018, Capacity Building
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Expand open contracting
AU0023, 2018, E-Government
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Whiste-blower Protections
AU0001, 2016, Legislation & Regulation
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Beneficial ownership transparency
AU0002, 2016, Beneficial Ownership
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Extractive industries transparency
AU0003, 2016, Beneficial Ownership
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Combating corporate crime
AU0004, 2016, Anti-Corruption Institutions
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Data Innovation
AU0005, 2016, E-Government
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Public Trust in Data Sharing
AU0006, 2016, Capacity Building
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Digitization of Government Services
AU0007, 2016, Capacity Building
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Information Management and Access Laws
AU0008, 2016, Capacity Building
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Freedom of Information
AU0009, 2016, Capacity Building
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Access to Government Data
AU0010, 2016, Capacity Building
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Electoral System and Political Parties
AU0011, 2016, Public Participation
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National Integrity Framework
AU0012, 2016, Anti-Corruption Institutions
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Open Contracting
AU0013, 2016, Capacity Building
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OGP NAP
AU0014, 2016, OGP
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Public Participation
AU0015, 2016, Capacity Building