Second Reading Speeches

Freedom of Information Legislation Amendment (Improving Access and Transparency) Bill 2018

Type
Private
Sponsor(s)
PATRICK, Sen Rex
Originating house
Senate
Status
Not Proceeding
Parliament no
46

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Summary

Amends the:

Archives Act 1983
to require the reporting of external legal expenses incurred by the National Archives of Australia;
Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010
to: ensure that the Information Commissioner holds specified qualifications; and require the separate appointment of the Australian Information Commissioner, the Privacy Commissioner and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Commissioner; and
Freedom of Information Act 1982
to: enable the transfer of Information Commissioner reviewable decisions to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT); require the consistent application of exemptions by decision makers in the context of a review by the Information Commissioner; prevent the Information Commissioner from making FOI decisions if he or she does not hold specified qualifications; prevent agencies from publishing FOI information until at least 10 days after the applicant has received his or her copy of the information; and require the reporting of external legal expenses for each Information Commission or AAT FOI matter that has concluded.

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