FOI a problem for Labor

October 15, 2025

It is a truism of so-called Australian politics that accurate information for the public constrains political skullduggery. It is interesting to see that Labor, who have campaigned over the decades on ensuring an informed public, tend to change their tune when in government.

My own experience is revelatory.

In a recent role running a state charity, a consultant employed by the Department of Health engaged with that Department in an underhanded and possibly illegal conspiracy to take over that charitable body and used public funds to further that design.

FOI was crucial in enabling that body to protect itself from these devious intentions and ensuring that the public became aware of the misuse of public funds under the guidance of a senior public official. These matters were then referred to the Australian National Audit Office and to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The findings of the auditor-general against the department were damning and the yet-to-be-published report of the anti-corruption body is likely to produce a similar conclusion.

None of this would have been possible without a strong FOI Act. It is necessary to strengthen the Act as a considerable amount of highly relevant information was withheld.