Open Gov Week is a global celebration held from 27 to 31 May 2024, involving government and civil society aiming to make their communities stronger, more open, participatory, inclusive and accountable.
Open Gov Week also raises awareness around things like protecting the right to information, fighting corruption, improving digital governance, expanding access to justice and enhancing public participation.
The Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) is Queensland’s integrity agency focusing on upholding the right to information and information privacy rights. The agency works with departments, local government, public universities and statutory authorities to ensure they meet their obligations under the Right to Information Act and Information Privacy Act.
Together these things help to build trust between the community and public sector, while promoting openness, transparency and accountability, which are all important facets of Open Gov Week. To help mark this year’s campaign, staff at OIC recently sat down with Queensland’s new Information Commissioner Joanne Kummrow for a Q&A.
Ms Kummrow started her three-year tenure as Information Commissioner (IC) in April, and prior to joining OIC, she served as Public Access Deputy Commissioner in Victoria. She brings a wealth of experience in information privacy and public sector integrity to the position. Read on below to learn more about her thoughts on why information access and privacy rights are important, her vision for OIC, and her interests outside of work.
Q. Joanne, why do you believe information access and privacy rights are important in open government?
Information access and privacy rights are human rights. Together, I see them as information rights that are fundamental in a democratic society. They support public trust in government by ensuring transparency and accountability.
Citizens have a right to know about the decisions and actions of government. Information access rights allow the community to fully participate in a democracy and policy making by government. For example, where there is a public interest in an issue that impacts citizens’ lives or involves the expenditure of public funds.
The personal data of citizens is sensitive and needs to be collected, used and managed by government in accordance with the law, particularly with the rise of digital government services. The protection of personal information forms part of OIC’s work through our proactive engagement and oversight with government agencies, to ensure that privacy is respected and front of mind in day-to-day business and when introducing new services and systems.
Q. What’s your vision for OIC?
My overarching vision is for OIC to have a clear focus on its future to ensure it’s an effective and resilient organisation that continues to deliver its statutory functions under the RTI Act and IP Act into the next five to 10 years – and beyond.
The last few years have seen major changes in the way we work, and in an environment where we are seeing increasing demands on OIC services and our people. We have also seen the rapid adoption of new technologies by government, which requires greater awareness of government-held personal information as an asset, and vigilance to ensure it’s fairly and lawfully collected, used and managed.
Joining OIC at this time with the recent legislative reforms under the IPOLA Act (Information Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023) means we’re preparing for the introduction of the Mandatory Notification Data Breach scheme, which will roll-out across the public sector in two stages in July 2025 and July 2026. It provides OIC with a timely opportunity to review the way we work and how we can optimise the skills, experience and dedication of our people.
Q. Can you tell us about your background?
I was born and raised in Melbourne and moved to Queensland at the start of April to take up my new role. In terms of my career, I haven’t travelled a linear path. I studied an Arts/Law degree, and my original plan was to work in immigration law combining my Mandarin and law studies.
I’ve worked as a Visa Officer at the Australian-Consul General in Shanghai. After completing my degree, I worked in corporate law, but my passion was in working with people and the law. In particular, the intersection between the citizen and the exercise of government power and decision making. I also worked at the Law Institute of Victoria, the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office and for the past six years I served as the Public Access Deputy Commissioner at the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner, where I oversighted compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.
Q. As a new Queenslander, what are you looking forward to the most?
Brisbane is a wonderful city with a vibrant energy. Beyond Brisbane and south-east Queensland, I’m looking forward to exploring the variety of landscapes and towns around the state. Cape York is on my list of places I’d like to visit. Along with rainforests, islands, and rural and regional towns. I’m looking forward to learning more about the history of Queensland and its First Nations people to better understand its past and what makes it unique.