A final report is due in December 1995. The FOI Act should include a preamble stating that access to government held information is a right that is integral to our democratic system. The Act should be amended to make it explicitly pro-disclosure. An independent person should be appointed to oversee and monitor the administration of the Act. This will encourage agencies to give FOI a higher priority than it is accorded at present.
Legislation dealing with government information practices needs to be rationalised.
Eventually the FOI Act, Privacy Act and Archives Act should be combined into a single Act. The FOI Act should not be extended to the private sector. If there is a need for disclosure in a particular area it should be required by specific legislation. The Privacy Act should be extended to cover the private sector by way of industry specific codes. The highest priority should be given to developing such a code for the private medical and health industry.