The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) welcomes the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) and Auditor-General's independent performance audit, Administration of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 by selected entities.
As an independent agency within the Attorney-General's portfolio, the OAIC's functions include regulatory oversight of the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 1985 (the Act), and review of decisions made by agencies and ministers under the Act.
In this regard, the OAIC is committed to transparent and effective regulation, and to provide systemic insights publishes FOI performance metrics in yearly and quarterly formats to provide vital insights into overall trends.
Accordingly, the ANAO's report will be reviewed and considered as a vital tool in shaping the OAIC's regulatory strategy, guidance, priorities, posture, procedures and capabilities.
Good administration of the FOI Act requires identifying better and more effective ways of practically meeting the objects of the Act, and in its response to the Auditor-General, the OAIC has supported the 4 recommendations and 2 opportunities outlined for the OAIC.
These recommendations and opportunities, which include advising on the development of a Commonwealth-wide case management system for FOI requests, represent an opportunity to promote timely access to government information while improving information and data handling practices and FOI compliance in line with the OAIC's regulatory priorities.
This commitment to information access is highlighted in the development and endorsement of a new, national information access icon by Information Commissioners throughout Australia, which will provide a readily identifiable and central point through which the community and agencies can engage more effectively. It is also evident in the OAIC's recently launched Disclosure Log Hub .
The OAIC considers the ANAO's report as complementary to the OAIC's regulatory work under the Act and looks forward to continuing this productive working relationship, as well as considering any further contributions the ANAO can provide to our regulatory landscape.
