29.07.2011

Secrecy Laws and Open Government Report—An Update

Professor Rosalind Croucher,** President, Australian Law Reform Commission. 7th Annual Public Sector In-House Counsel Conference 2011, 29 July 2011Abstract: This paper discusses the inquiry conducted by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) into Commonwealth secrecy laws: Secrecy Laws and Open Government in Australia (ALRC Report 112) tabled in March, 2010. It considers how, from a

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24.03.2011

Secrecy Provisions: Policy and Practice

Justice Susan Kenny, Federal Court of Australia, Part-time Commissioner, Australian Law Reform Commission, addressing the National Information Law Conference in Canberra, on 24 March 2011  Introduction James Madison, sometimes called the Father of the United States Constitution, once said that: … I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the

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24.03.2011

Secrecy Provisions: the Law Reform Project

Professor Rosalind Croucher** President, Australian Law Reform Commission, National Information Law Conference 2011, 24 March 2011Abstract: This paper discusses the inquiry conducted by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) into Commonwealth secrecy laws: Secrecy Laws and Open Government in Australia (ALRC Report 112) tabled in March, 2010. It considers how, from a law reform perspective,

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11.03.2010

ALRC reforms strike a blow to the old culture of secrecy

Secrecy laws, and the prosecution of public servants for the unauthorised disclosure of Commonwealth information, can sit uneasily with the Australian Government’s commitment to open and accountable government. The final report of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s comprehensive review of Commonwealth secrecy laws, Secrecy Laws and Open Government in Australia (ALRC Report 112) was tabled

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18.06.2009

Media Briefing – Review of Secrecy Laws: Discussion Paper 74

Introduction This briefing provides an overview of the ALRC’s Discussion Paper, Review of Secrecy Laws (DP 74). On 5 August 2008, the Attorney-General of Australia, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, asked the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to conduct an Inquiry into options for ensuring a consistent approach across government to the protection of Commonwealth information

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18.06.2009

ALRC proposals to wind back federal secrecy laws

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today released a Discussion Paper for its current inquiry into federal secrecy laws—Review of Secrecy Laws (DP 74, June 2009)—which makes 65 proposals for reform.The ALRC is seeking community feedback about how to balance a growing commitment to increased openness and transparency in government with the legitimate need to maintain the

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09.02.2009

National phone-in and blog on Commonwealth Secrecy Laws

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today announced a national two day phone-in and new online discussion forum as part of its commitment to engaging in widespread community consultation on reform of Commonwealth secrecy laws. Anyone who has ever been involved in handling Commonwealth information will have the chance to speak out about their personal experiences

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09.12.2008

Do we need secrecy laws in an open society?

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today released a community consultation paper for its current inquiry into Commonwealth Secrecy laws.—Review of Secrecy Laws (Issues Paper 34)—which seeks ideas and feedback about how we balance the need to maintain the secrecy and confidentiality of some government documents with a commitment to increased openness and transparency. ALRC

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05.08.2008

ALRC to tackle government secrecy laws

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) welcomed the announcement today by the Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, of new Terms of Reference for the ALRC to review secrecy provisions in federal legislation. The Terms of Reference ask the ALRC to focus on: ‘the importance of balancing the need to protect Commonwealth information and

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