Inquiry into the Freedom of Information Bill 2025

RACS’s submission to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee refers to and heavily builds on our contribution to the 2023 inquiry into the Operation of Commonwealth Freedom of Information (FOI) Laws. We continue to advocate for evidence-based reform that increases transparency, accountability and trust within the FOI scheme.

The clients we support are repeatedly marginalised, which amplifies their need for a functional and efficient FOI system. And so, while we welcome government action to advance FOI reform, we note that the Bill risks exacerbating the issues identified by several civil society organisations and the Senate Committee which frustrate the proper functioning of the scheme. We are concerned that the Bill and its proposed reform maintains this ‘mindset of first resisting disclosure and seeking to justify non-disclosure through whatever means available’.