Media Release - NSW Information Commissioner leads state and territory commitment on Open Government information access initiatives
The NSW Information Commissioner, Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) CEO and Open Data Advocate, Ms Elizabeth Tydd, today released an update on her work on open government initiatives under Australia’s second Open Government National Action Plan 2018-20 (OGNAP 2).
Under the OGNAP 2, eight focused commitments have been secured from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.
As the lead on one of these commitments – to Engage States and Territories to better understand information access – and in support of Open Government Week 2019, Ms Tydd noted that her work aims to better provide for subnational participation in the OGP process and to build an understanding of information access frameworks.
“I am pleased to highlight the work already completed as part of the states and territory Information Commissioners/Ombudsmen commitment, including measuring access and use of FOI laws; and producing a national dashboard together with a national compendium to highlight citizens’ rights under information access legislation.
“Our commitment to the OGNAP 2 will now continue with a citizen survey to understand the experience of people exercising their right to access government information. This survey will be conducted via Information Commissioners/Ombudsmen throughout a number of states and territories and the Commonwealth. It will provide important insights to help us understand the experience of citizens and outcomes in exercising that right,” said Ms Tydd.
According to Ms Tydd, the planned surveys will inform activities to promote and support the right to access government information and will include questions on knowledge about and use of access to information laws. The survey will run in April 2019 for the first time.
“Such a survey brings a citizen lens one of the central elements of open government – the right to government information.”
In 2017 the OGP opened membership to sub-jurisdictions providing an opportunity for states and territories to consider developing their own OGP Action Plan. Encouraging and supporting collaboration and learning on open government matters between state, territory and Australian open government officials will also promote membership in the OGP. This work is also an important part of the commitment to information access under Australia’s second national action plan.
For more information about Australia’s second National Action Plan 2018-20 go to ogpau.pmc.gov.au (link currently not available).
For further information, please contact:
IPC media team on 0435 961 691 or email communications@ipc.nsw.gov.au
For further information about Ms Tydd’s work on Open Government initiatives visit www.ipc.nsw.gov.au/information-access
About the NSW Information Commissioner and Open Data Advocate
The NSW Information Commissioner’s statutory role includes promoting public awareness and understanding of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act); providing information, advice, assistance and training to agencies and the public; dealing with complaints about agencies; investigating agencies’ systems, policies and practices; and reporting on compliance with the GIPA Act.
About the Information and Privacy Commission NSW
The Information and Privacy Commission NSW (IPC) is a separate agency. It supports the functions of the Information Commissioner and the Privacy Commissioner in respect of privacy and information access laws in NSW. For further information about the IPC visit our website at www.ipc.nsw.gov.au
