We have found it much harder to elicit information, sometimes even banal and innocuous facts, from such institutions. The private sector makes the public sector look like the epitome of openness and accountability. We have been told that staff in private prisons have been threatened with disciplinary action if they reveal information. In the child jails, for example, there is no protocol on whistleblowing. As commercial interests take on more state functions, it is essential that freedom of information legislation makes these companies accountable.
Information is power.
Confidentiality, allegedly in the public interest, is all too often used by those in authority to avoid discomfort, inconvenience, and any potential challenge to that power. The justification for secrecy should be subject to rigorous testing, and openness should be the rule rather than the exception. We support the campaign. In particular we should very much like to see the advice on which the government today states that there are legal obstacles preventing it from raising the issue of compensation for former civilian internees from Japan. We are particularly concerned that the government is promising greater openness whilst making sure that secrecy for its own actions is generally increased.