Discussion Paper on FOI Disclosure Logs
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has released for public comment, a discussion paper on disclosure logs.
From 1 May 2011 agencies and ministers need to publish on their websites information which has been released in response to freedom of information access requests (s 11C of the Freedom of Information Act 1982). This publication is proposed to be known as a ‘disclosure log’.
The discussion paper provides guidance and invites comments about the disclosure log requirements. We invite you to read the paper and add your thoughts and comments. Is the guidance helpful? Do you have any comments on specific issues raised? Do you need more information? Comments are open for 3 weeks until 28 March.
Over the next few weeks we’ll also discuss some of the key issues and concerns about publishing disclosure logs and will invite your thoughts.
Comments are closed.
The Australian Information Commissioner, Professor John McMillan, today issued guidelines on the OAIC’s public website (http://www.oaic.gov.au/publications/index.html).
FOI Guidelines issued under s 93A of the FOI Act
• Part 13: Information Publication Scheme
• Part 14: Disclosure Log
Following consultation with agencies and stakeholders on the Information Publication Scheme (IPS) and Disclosure Log discussion papers, the Information Commissioner has now formally issued guidelines under s 93A of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) about these requirements.
Please find my comments on the Discussion Paper at
http://ramin.com.au/itgovernance/Au-FOI-Disclosure-Log-discussion-paper.shtml
If you would like to discuss further, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Marghanita da Cruz
Ramin Communications
Seems the Office of the Information Commissioner is an ideal client for common shared Online Information Publishing services.
See my comments at
http://agimo.govspace.gov.au/2011/02/25/discussion-paper-on-data-centre-as-a-service-dcaas/comment-page-1/#comment-2398
Marghanita
Hello Fiona,
Is there a reason, the OAIC is not able to publish their document for public comment in HTML?
At the very least, you should be able to cut and paste it into this blog. I cannot open either PDF or RTF in my browser, without downloading special software, which I am not prepared to do.
To elaborate on my earlier comment “Accessibility and Interoperability should be intrinsic to the Disclosure Log.”, this is acheived by adopting open standards such as HTML and avoiding proprietary formats such as PDF, RTF, MSWord etc.
Marghanita
Given # Issues Paper 1: Towards an Australian Government Information Policy (1 November 2010) was published as HTML as well as PDF
Is there a particular reason, the Commissioner has chosen to publish this discussion paper in PDF only?
Accessibility and Interoperability should be intrinsic to the Disclosure Log.
Hi Marghanita,
Our general policy is to publish simultaneously at least two formats of our documents to maximise accessibility. A RTF version of the paper is now available from our website.