Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2010

Type: Government
Portfolio: Cabinet Secretary
Originating house: House of Representatives
Status: Act
Parliament no: 42
Summary: Introduced with the Australian Information Commissioner Bill 2010, the bill amends: the
Freedom of Information Act 1982
  to: establish a statutory framework for an information publication scheme for certain Commonwealth agencies; remove fees for applications under the Act; enable the Australian Information Commissioner to extend time periods for processing requests in certain cases; provide for consultation processes when responding to onerous requests; provide that documents held by certain contracted service providers are subject to the Act; and limit access to certain intelligence agency information and documents of the Department of Defence; the
Archives Act 1983
  to reduce open access periods for certain Commonwealth records; the
Archives Act 1983
,
Freedom of Information Act 1982
  and
Privacy Act 1988
  to: amend exemption provisions; and provide for a public interest test; the
Freedom of Information Act 1982
  and
Ombudsman Act 1976
  to provide that the Australian Information Commissioner has: a merits review and an investigatory function; and the power to declare a person to be a vexatious applicant; and 17 Acts consequent on the establishment of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Also makes consequential and transitional amendments.

Progress

House of Representatives
26 Nov 2009	Introduced and read a first time
26 Nov 2009	Second reading moved
11 May 2010	Second reading debate
12 May 2010	Second reading debate
12 May 2010	Second reading agreed to
12 May 2010	Consideration in detail debate Amendment details: 20 government amendments agreed to
12 May 2010	Third reading agreed to

Senate
13 May 2010	Introduced and read a first time
13 May 2010	Second reading moved
13 May 2010	Second reading debate
13 May 2010	Second reading agreed to
13 May 2010	Committee of the Whole debate
13 May 2010	Third reading agreed to

13 May 2010	Text of bill as passed both Houses
31 May 2010	Assent Act no.: 51 Year: 2010

Documents and transcripts

Text of bill

First reading
Third reading
As passed by both houses

Explanatory memoranda

Supplementary explanatory memorandum
Supplementary explanatory memorandum
Explanatory memorandum
Revised explanatory memorandum

Transcript of speeches

Proposed amendments

Senate
Australian Greens [sheet 6106] LUDLAM, Sen Scott

House of Representatives
Government [sheet CD222]

Schedules of amendments

No documents at present

Committee Information

No documents at present

Bills Digest

Notes

Referred to Committee (30/11/2009): Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee
Committee report (16/03/2010)

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Helpful information

Text of bill

First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament
Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house.
As passed by both houses: Final text of bill agreed to by both the House of Representatives and the Senate which is presented to the Governor-General for assent.

Explanatory memoranda

Explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and provides an explanation of the content of the introduced version (first reading) of the bill.
Supplementary explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains amendments proposed by the government to the bill.
Revised explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains the amended version (third reading) of the bill. It supersedes the explanatory memorandum.

Proposed amendments

Circulated by members and senators when they propose to make changed to the bill. For details about the outcome of proposed amendments please refer to either the Votes and Proceedings (House of Representatives) or the Journals (Senate).

Schedules of amendments

Schedules of amendments list amendments agreed to by the second house are communicated to the first house for consideration. Subsequent action by either house may also be included in a schedule.

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