Surge in refusals for freedom of information undermines trust in Australian government, watchdog warns

The Australian government's refusal rate for FOI requests has surged to 27%, the highest in a decade, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is monitoring this increase, which has led to criticism from advocacy groups like Transparency International Australia. Despite efforts to improve FOI processes—such as speeding up decision-making and releasing more information than state and territory agencies—the government has also introduced measures to reduce processing costs. Additionally, OAICSpokesperson emphasized the importance of FOI as a tool for holding government accountable and maintaining public trust.