Association of Information Access Commissioners (AIAC)

This network consists of Australian and New Zealand information access authorities who administer freedom of information legislation. Members meet twice a year to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and resources, foster cooperation and innovation in proactive disclosure, information access, related information policy and open government initiatives and promote best practice among the authorities.

Open by design principles - joint statement by members of the AIAC

On 24 September 2021 members of the AIAC issued a Statement of Principles to support proactive disclosure of government-held information.

Research on Information Access

Compendium of information access laws across Australian states and territories (Updated October 2023)

The NSW Information Commissioner has led the coordination of a Jurisdictional Compendium prepared by the Association of Information Access Commissioners. The Compendium was prepared to assist in the development of the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan, particularly the Plan's draft commitment to review information access laws and to be available as a resource for each jurisdiction. The Compendium identifies the similarities and differences of Australian legislative arrangements at a high level and does not purport to represent a detailed analysis of these arrangements.

Joint statements by members of the AIAC

• 28/11/2024: Information Commissioners and Ombudsman urge public sector leaders to invest in data governance and proactive disclosure practices - Association of Information Access Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand (AIAC) meeting communiqué - 01 November 2024, Adelaide, Australia

• 09/04/2024: Information Commissioners and Ombudsman look to the future: embracing innovation and strengthening independence - Association of Information Access Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand (AIAC) meeting communique - 15 March 2024, Melbourne, Australia

• 16/11/2023: Association of Information Access Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand (AIAC) meeting communique - 3 November 2023, Perth, Australia

• 28/09/2023: Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen recognise importance of the online space in accessing information

• 27/09/2023: Results on Cross-Jurisdictional Community Attitudes Survey on Information Access 2023

• 24 July 2023: Association of Information Access Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand (AIAC) meeting communique - 2 June 2023, Sydney, Australia
• 20 December 2022: Communiqué of the Association of Information Access Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand (AIAC) meeting 7 – 8 December 2022, Wellington, New Zealand
• 28 September 2022: Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen hail importance of enabling digital access
• 26 May 2022: Joint statement by Australian Information Access Commissioners and Privacy Authorities: Principles for nationally consistent approaches to accessing Stolen Generations records
• 30 September 2021: Information Access Commissioners and Commonwealth Ombudsman release survey results on community attitudes
• 24 September 2021: Information Access Commissioners and Ombudsmen in Australia make recommendations to support Open by Design Principles
• 28 September 2020: International Access to Information Day 2020
• 6 May 2020: COVID-19: The duty to document does not cease in a crisis, it becomes more essential
• 17 April 2020: Transparency and access to information in the context of a global pandemic
• 30 September 2019: Information Access Commissioners and Ombudsman release survey results on community attitudes
• 26 September 2019: Right to Know essential to democracy in a digital world
• 21 September 2018: Australia and New Zealand’s Information Access Commissioners join together in support of International Right to Know Day
• 27 November 2017: Australian Information Access Commissioners and Ombudsmen release national metrics on FOI access rights
• 21 September 2017: Australia and New Zealand Information Access Commissioners unite for citizens’ Right to Know
• 2 December 2016: 250th Anniversary of Global Freedom of Information - 2 December 2016