Freedom of Information (Review of Secrecy Provision Exemption) Amendment Bill 1994 (Qld)

Queensland

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (REVIEW OF SECRECY PROVISION

EXEMPTION) AMENDMENT BILL 1994

Queensland

wat ee

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (REVIEW OF SECRECY PROVISION EXEMPTION) AMENDMENT BILL 1994

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Section Page 1 Short title 20.6... 5 2 Commencement ....... 6... eee eee nee 5 3 Actamended ....... 0... cece cnet tte ees 5 4 Amendment of s 39 (Matter relating to investigations by

Parliamentary Commissioner or audits by Auditor-General) ............ 5 5 Replacement of s 48 (Matter to which secrecy provisions of

enactments apply) ..... 6... 6c eee ccc eee 5

48 Matter to which secrecy provisions of enactments apply......... 6 6 Insertion of Schedule... 0.0.6... cece cece 6

SCHEDULE

SECRECY PROVISIONS GIVING EXEMPTION

A BILL

FOR

An Act to amend the Freedom of Information Act 1992 about the exemption for matter to which a statutory secrecy provision

applies, and for other purposes

Freedom of Information (Review of Secrecy Provision Exemption) Amendment

Parliament's reasons for enacting this Act are—

1. In order to balance openness against legitimate claims for secrecy in the interest of people about whom the Government holds information and

in the public interest, the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (the "FOI Act") allows exemptions from access to certain matters.

2. Section 48 of the FOI Act makes matter exempt if it falls within the terms of a specified type of secrecy provision (a "section 48 secrecy provision") and its disclosure would, on balance, be contrary to public interest.

3. The exemption in section 48 operates only for 2 years from the FOI Act's date of assent on 19 August 1992.

4. On a reference from the Government, the Queensland Law Reform Commission has reviewed existing secrecy provisions in Queensland legislation identified by Government departments.

5. The purpose of the review was to— (a) identify section 48 secrecy provisions; and