Back in 1972-1973 when the idea of freedom of information legislation was first floated in Australia, a decision was made — and never seriously challenged — that our legislation should be modelled on the United States Freedom of Information Act. The result, as Professor Robinson points out, is that a remarkable parallel exists between the Australian and United States legislation.

In another respect too United States experience became relevant to Australia at an early date. Proponents of FOI in Australia learned from a close study of United States experience that legislation might not be received enthusiastically nor readily by some key Ministers and public servants. Legislation, particularly strong and workable legislation, would be enacted only if a vigorous and unyielding public campaign was undertaken. Indeed, the fact that an Act exists in Australia owes much to the campaign waged or supported by groups like the Freedom of Information Legislation Campaign Committee, Rupert Public Interest Movement. the Australian Council of Social Services, the Library Association of Australia, the Administrative and Clerical Officers’ Association, the Australian Consumers’ Association, and by a small number of parliamentarians and sympathetic senior public servants.

The opening words of s 3(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (“FOI Act”) state that the object of the Act is “to extend as far as possible the right of the Australian community to access to information in the possession of the Government of the Commonwealth”. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of s 3(1) indicate that this object is to be achieved in two main ways, that stated in s 3(1)(b) being:

[B]y creating a general right of access to information in documentary form in the possession of Ministers, departments and public authorities, limited only by exceptions and exemptions necessary for the protection of essential public interests and the private and business affairs of persons in respect of whom information is collected and held by departments and public authorities.