faulker03

Dear Neglected Reader, I've been otherwise occupied for large chunks of this year in my role as interim Convener of the Australian Open Government Partnership Network. Postings in this our tenth year suffered I'm afraid.   Loads of things I planned to bring to your attention... but alas, 140 characters was sometimes the best I could manage. (Follow @FOIguru) The good news is that after a a bumpy, frequently interrupted less than perfect process, Australia now has a national action plan with 15 commitments that constitute a broad program of reforms.  Some of those commitments will be of particular interest to you: 1.3 Extractive industries transparency Australia will enhance disclosure of company payments and government revenues from the oil, gas and mining sectors. We will do this by implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Standard (including working to enhance company disclosure of payments to governments for the sale of petroleum and minerals)

On 2 December 1766 Sweden enacted what is regarded as the first freedom of information law. The most recent translation into English was done by Ian Giles and Peter Graves, Scandinavian Studies, University of Edinburgh and released on 7th October 2016 in Edinburgh. The Australian information commissioners and the New Zealand Ombudsman have issued the  statement below to mark the occasion. From the Australian perspective as we wait for release of the government's first Open Government Partnership National Action, thought to be next week, let's hope for a commitment to necessary reforms that truly recognises the right to access government information "is a cornerstone of modern democratic society."  Cornerstone- a foundation stone, mainstay, linchpin, centrepiece, core, heart, backbone, anchor. Submissions on this aspect of the draft commitment released by the government for public comment on 31 October suggested the cornerstone is in need of close inspection, fundame