Australians overwhelmingly believe they should be able to access government information, with 96% saying the right is important, according to a new national study released to mark International Access to Information Day.
The 2025 Cross-jurisdictional Information Access Study, commissioned by information commissioners across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, the ACT Ombudsman and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), found support for access rights has risen five percentage points since 2023. The research, conducted for the fourth time since 2019, tracks awareness of access rights and public experiences with obtaining government information.
The release coincides with Alice Linacre commencing as Australia’s new freedom of information Commissioner this week.
“The right to access information is a fundamental pillar of accountable, open and responsible government – these essential elements of democracy are demonstrably important to the community,” Australian Information Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd said.
“The national survey figures show the community is highly engaged in this right, and that it is much more than a ‘nice to have’. It also shows how, in this digital age, we must ensure that access to government information is not only upheld but continually improved and secured.
“An overwhelming 97% of national respondents view having an independent regulator report on an agency’s performance in meeting the community’s right to access information as important.”
Transparency around the use of technology in decision-making is also a strong public expectation, with 86% agreeing government should publicly report on tools used to inform decisions, including AI and automated decision-making. The study found 68% of respondents considered Australian federal agencies helpful or quite helpful in assisting with information requests.
However, fewer than half (44%) expressed confidence that the federal Freedom of Information Act enables access to information about how decisions are made by the Commonwealth and its agencies.
“The survey also highlights the continuing efforts we must make to educate the community about their rights and how to better use the system, particularly in the younger demographic,” FOI Commissioner Linacre said.
“The right to access information is less familiar for people in the 18-34 age group. However, this group is more likely to access information across topics such as the environment (35% compared to the average of 22%).”
The study’s findings align with this year’s International Access to Information Day theme set by UNESCO, focusing on ensuring access to environmental information in the digital age as a pillar of transparency, accountability and sustainable development.
“There are other gaps in knowledge, with many in the community unaware of their rights to access information from specific government agencies, and this needs to be addressed,” Commissioner Linacre said.
Commissioner Tydd said the OAIC would tailor guidance and education materials based on the results. “The survey reinforces commitments under the Open Government National Action Plans to better measure and understand the value citizens place on the right to access government information, and their experiences and outcomes when exercising that right,” Commissioner Tydd said.
The Information Access – Community study report is available via the OAIC website.
