Submission on the Freedom of Information (Removal of Conclusive Certificates and Other Measures) Bill 2008 Alternative formats available on request to PIAC - Contact PIAC
PIAC, in its brief submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration, commends the Federal Government on implementing its commitment to remove Ministerial conclusive certificates from the freedom of information (FOI) regime at a federal level. However, PIAC identifies serious concern with proposed subsection 7(2B) to remove from the scope of FOI access documents in the hands of Government Ministers where such documents originated within or were received from certain defence or security agencies. A further area of concern identified in the submission is the proposed section 60A in respect of documents claimed to be exempt on the basis of impact on international relations or confidential information and the role of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security in relation to such exemption claims.