Albanese’s department among those blocking 80% of FoI requests, scathing report finds
Summary
A government audit found that nearly 80% of freedom of information (FoI) requests to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s department and other key departments in Australia were denied or delayed. The report said these departments lacked proper procedures and records, leading to poor transparency and slow replies to public requests for information.Key Facts
- Almost 80% of FoI requests to Albanese’s department, Treasury, and the infrastructure department were rejected fully or partly.
- Over 43,000 FoI requests were made to the Albanese government in 2024-25.
- 57% of FoI requests led to no documents being given out.
- Many departments had incomplete disclosure logs and failed to meet the legal 30-day response deadline, with 63% of requests delayed.
- 62% of decisions reviewed by the Australian Information Commissioner were changed or overturned, showing officials often withheld information improperly.
- There was a 25% rise in FoI applications across the government last financial year.
- The FoI system suffers from poor record-keeping, resistance to disclosure, and slow responses, as stated by the auditor and transparency experts.
- Labor dropped plans to change FoI laws, which would have added fees and reduced transparency after facing criticism.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.