Great Australian FOI news

Special Minister for State, Senator John Faulkner, has delivered the first concrete action on reform of federal FOI in Australia. The papal-like powers given to ministers called conclusive certificates will be scrapped. The certificates allowed ministers to effectively block the release of any information they deemed ’not to be in the public interest’. Former treasurer Peter Costello used this power when he blocked the release of documents outlining discussion on tax bracket creep.

This is a very important first step. However, more extensive reforms to the law is needed. Furthermore, there is great need for a change of culture and attitudes towards FOI both within the public service and among leading politicians.

Sweden and public service

Back in the country of the midnight sun and vivid green summers.

One of the current media debates in Sweden focus on a new report into public service broadcasting. After a quick read it’s clear that the Swedish government is still struggling with what the core of public service is. The report suggests that production of entertainment programs should be mandated into the agreement between the broadcaster and the government. In most other countries with a strong public broadcaster, public service is usually asked to produce what the commercial media don’t. In Sweden this concept still does not seem to be well understood.

There is also considerable debate re regional production. The report suggests that the 55% regional production directive should be abolished. This may be one way of saving money, but public service should also be a way to provide quality media that goes beyond the big cities.

One reason for the un-clear role of public service in Sweden could be that commercial broadcasting only started in Sweden in the early 1980s and because public broadcasters need the commercials to define themselves, it may be some time still until the role of public service becomes clear in Sweden.

I’m sure the public service issue will be part of the Media and Global Divides conference that starts next Monday in Stockholm.

Welcome to the FOI International blog

This blog will report and comment on international developments in Freedom of Information (FOI) legislations and systems.

I am a lecturer and researcher in journalism at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia.

FOI has the potential to be a very potent tool to keep politicians and government officials accountable. In short FOI is a law, or a set of laws, that allows the public to request that government agencies hand over information that they hold. In some countries, very few, FOI laws also applies to the private sector. For more information on FOI and to view my research, please visit my research homepage.

Tomorrow I’m off to Sweden for a week of research and between July 20-25, I’ll participate in the ‘Media and Global and Divides’ conference in Stockholm. I’ll finish the paper that I’m presenting during the next week. I’ll tell you more about it when I’m finished.

Johan