FOI and Building Trust

The theme of Building Trust was the focus of the FOI in WA conference recently.  Trust was explored in two ways. Firstly, considering how Freedom of Information (FOI) can build public trust in government; and secondly, advice and inspiration to help practitioners trust themselves and the FOI process to meet the objects of the FOI Act (WA): to enable the public to participate more effectively in governing the State’ and to make the persons and bodies that are responsible for State and local government more accountable to the public. Emeritus Professor Geoff Gallop AC gave the keynote presentation. He discussed the role of openness as a foundation for democracy. This is based on the view that information held by government is a public resource which should be used for public benefit; and that the community has a right to be informed about government operations. FOI and information governance FOI is […]