Australia’s information watchdogs have urged public sector leaders to treat access to information as a cornerstone of innovation, environmental sustainability and democratic accountability, following a bi-annual meeting of the Association of Information Access Commissioners (AIAC) in Sydney this week.
The two-day gathering, held from 2 to 3 October, coincided with the 10th anniversary of UNESCO’s International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI). Marking the milestone, UNESCO set this year’s theme as “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age”, underscoring the role transparency can play in tackling environmental issues via digital tools and data-driven approaches.
In line with that focus, commissioners and ombudsmen from across Australia and New Zealand discussed how making environmental information more readily available can spur innovation, support evidence-based policy and deepen public participation. They argued that open access to reliable data helps hold governments to account while enabling new digital solutions and collaborative responses to environmental challenges.
The regulators reaffirmed that the legal right to obtain government-held information should be underpinned by a presumption in favour of disclosure. Such a presumption, they said, shifts the onus to agencies to justify withholding material and fosters a culture of openness. They described this safeguard as vital to giving effect to the human right recognised in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
AIAC members called on public sector leaders to back practical measures that would make access to information easier and more effective. That includes recognising government information and data as a resource that can drive innovation across government, business and civil society, and investing in tools and platforms that streamline requests, improve responsiveness and entrench a pro-disclosure mindset.
The association comprises integrity bodies with independent oversight roles under state, territory, national and New Zealand laws, responsible for protecting and promoting the public’s right to access official information. Members said accelerating access to environmental data would support smarter decision-making and help create healthier environments for current and future generations.
The communiqué from the Sydney meeting was endorsed by oversight agencies from the Commonwealth, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and New Zealand, with the Northern Territory providing virtual endorsement.
The intervention comes as governments across Australasia face increasing scrutiny over environmental decision-making and heightened public expectations around transparency in the digital era. Regulators maintain that lowering barriers to information—particularly environmental datasets—can catalyse new technologies, bolster community engagement and reinforce democratic values.
