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Queensland Government response to FOI review

Premier Anna Bligh has released the Queensland Government?s response to Dr David Solomon?s report into Freedom of Information.

Ms Bligh said the Government supported in full or part 139 of the 141 recommendations.

The response to the recommendations will form the basis of new Right to Information legislation.

Changes include:

• Waiting times for the complete release of Cabinet documents would be cut from 30 years to 20 years.
• the removal of specific exemptions in relation to Government Owned Enterprises ? primarily Government Owned Corporations (GOCs) and Local Government Owned Corporations (LGOCs). Limited exemptions in relation to those GOCs engaged in commercially competitive activities will be retained.
• the maximum period for supplying documents for application will be cut from 45 calendar days to 25 working days (unless permission is sought from the applicant for an extension) and fees refunded if the deadline is not met;
• Development of separate, complementary Privacy Bill that will deal with access and amendment rights for personal information;
• Appointment of a Privacy Commissioner.

The two recommendations not supported were the imposition of new fees by the Information Commissioner and repealing of certain secrecy provisions such as the confidentiality of the witness protection program, adoption information, child protection notifications and personal tax information.

Draft Right to Information and Privacy Bills will be released for public consultation by December in order to commence by mid 2009.

Full post as published by Australian Regulatory Compliance Review on August 19, 2008 (boomark / email).