The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) released new guidance material to assist government agencies to implement changes to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).

 

From 1 May, an Information Publication Scheme will commence requiring agencies to publish a range of information about the agency.

 

They will also be required to publish a register of information known as a ‘disclosure log’. Disclosure logs will be available from an agency’s website and contain information that has been released in response to freedom of information access requests.

 

“The purpose of the disclosure log is to provide the public with ready access to information that has already been publicly released by an agency or minister. Disclosure logs, together with the Information Publication Scheme, will facilitate a pro-disclosure culture across government,” said the Australian Information Commissioner, Professor John McMillan.

 

The Office has just published a discussion paper on disclosure logs and is inviting comments until 28 March 2011 at http://oaic.govspace.gov.au