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Who: |
Senator Fatima Payman supported by other independent Senators |
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When: |
Tuesday 3 February at 9:00am |
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Where: |
Mural Hall, Parliament House |
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Contact: |
Ash Telford: 0424 375 160 |
Independent Western Australia Senator Fatima Payman will today move a motion discharging the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025 and I calling for her colleagues in the Senate to support the motion.
The FOI legislation was introduced into the House of Representatives at the end of last year despite little public support.
The committee inquiry into the Bill received 70 submissions and the only two submissions of support came from Government organisations.
Senator Payman said the legislation was a cynical attempt to further decrease transparency, which would further undermine trust in public institutions and the Government.
“This double whammy of a Bill raises revenue and lowers accountability,” Senator Payman said.
“Requiring identification for FOI requests is an added burden and another data breach waiting to happen.”
“While there is an argument that the legislation needs a refresh, particularly in the context of emerging technologies, however, this Bill is poorly thought out and needs to completely redone.
“Furthermore, this legislation is a direct contravention of Labor party platform, which says ‘Labor aims to strengthen freedom of information laws and foster compliance throughout government’.”
The motion is cosigned by crossbench Senators David Pocock, Tammy Tyrrell, Lidia Thorpe, and Jacqui Lambie.
ENDS
Contact details:
Ash Telford
Chief-of-staff
0424 375 160
ashleigh.telford@aph.gov.au
