by jmsthornton | May 28, 2015 | Federal Government, Freedom of Information, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
This article was published in The Canberra Times. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/government-denies-starving-foi-watchdog-of-funds-even-though-he-works-from-home-20150528-ghbiju.html It has direct relevance to our concern about the recent...
by jmsthornton | May 28, 2015 | Federal Government, Freedom of Information, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
The stage was set for the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to not only manage access to government information but also change the culture in the public sector and give independent advice to the government on Freedom of Information matters. Instead,...
by jmsthornton | May 25, 2015 | Code of Conduct, Constituency Development Funds, Corruption, Federal Government, Political Funding
This article was published in The Conversation https://theconversation.com/budgets-45m-slush-fund-for-mps-is-an-unethical-use-of-public-money-42116Ken Coghill is Associate Professor at Monash University, and a member of ART Budget’s $45m slush fund for MPs is an...
by jmsthornton | May 12, 2015 | ART Publications, Federal Government, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
This article is one of an occasional series of opinions by our members. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) Saga. Will it end with the 2015 Budget? Author: Tim Smith (The Hon Tim Smith QC, former Supreme Court Judge and former Commissioner of...
by jmsthornton | Apr 14, 2015 | Federal Government, Freedom of Information, News
ART is very concerned that Freedom of Information (FOI) provisions at the Federal level are under threat and a dangerous precedent subverting the Senate’s constitutional position may be being set. We have previously made a submission to the Senate Committee...
by jmsthornton | Nov 27, 2014 | ART Publications, Federal Government, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, Open Government, Submissions
Accountability Round Table is a proponent of strong Freedom of Information provisions at every level of government. We were concerned at the apparent watering down of FOI provisions at the Federal level by amendment to the Freedom of Information Act. The Bill in...