International Access to Information Day (IAID) is celebrated around the world on 28 September every year. It’s a day to raise awareness of every individual’s right of access to government-held information; and the public sector’s responsibility to release information if it is in the public interest to do so.
This year’s IAID theme is Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector.
Proactive release of information by government to the community helps build trust and confidence, while also empowering the public to take an active role in civil society. Giving the public opportunities to provide input into government decision-making also leads to more effective governance, improved public service delivery, and more equitable outcomes.
These fundamental principles underpin mainstreaming access to information and require participation at all levels of the public sector.
Queensland’s Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI Act) is based on a push model. This means information is released proactively, unless there is a good reason not to, while protecting and respecting personal information.
The push model promotes pro-disclosure to assist the community with accessing government information, decreasing the number of formal requests for information made under the RTI Act, while also upholding human rights (in particular the right to information).
Together, let’s celebrate IAID 2024 across the Queensland public sector and the importance of information access rights and public participation in government. You can support the IAID campaign and build on your knowledge by: