Right to Information and Information Privacy laws
Closing date for feedback: 31 March 2009
The Queensland Government invites comment on the release of consultation drafts of the Right to Information Bill, Right to Information Regulation and Information Privacy Bill.
On 10 June 2008, the Independent Review Panel (the Panel), chaired by Dr David Solomon released The Right to Information: Reviewing Queensland's Freedom on Information Act 1992 (the Report). The Report made 141 recommendations for information policy and legislation reform.
On 20 August 2008, the Government released its response to each of the 141 recommendations contained in the Report, supporting in full 116 of the Report's recommendations and either partially or in principle supporting another 23 recommendations. Only 2 recommendations were not supported (recommendations 45 and 70).
The RTI Report made recommendations for a new legislative framework for access to information; namely:
- a Right to Information Act, with a clearly stated object of providing a right of access to information held by the government unless, on balance, it is contrary to the public interest to provide that information; and
- privacy legislation to provide for access and amendment rights for personal information and to codify the current Information Privacy Principles.
In its response, the Government gave a commitment to provide exposure drafts of the Right to Information Bill, to replace the current Freedom of Information Act 1992, and the Information Privacy Bill for consultation. The Right to Information Bill governs access to non-personal information while the Information Privacy Bill governs access to and amendment of a person's own personal information.
The Queensland Government invites comment on the two consultation draft Bills and the draft Regulation either by email to RTIfeedback@premiers.qld.gov.au or in writing to the address below.
For more information about this consultation
| Web site: | http://www.qld.gov.au/righttoinformation/ |
| Email address: | RTIFeedback@premiers.qld.gov.au |
| Postal address: | Information Policy and Legislation Reform PO Box 15185 Level 5 100 George St CITY EAST QLD 4002 |
| Telephone: | (07) 3235 4838 |
| Fax: | (07) 3405 6234 |
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