In a Stateline interview on the 23 May 2008 see transcript the Tasmanian Ombudsman, Simon Allston, and the Australia’s Right To Know Coalition spokesperson Lucinda Duckett supported a review and updating of Tasmania’s Freedom of Information laws.
The Tasmanian Ombudsman announced that it was only his limited resources that had prevented him from undertaking a similar review as the one announced by the NSW Ombudsman.
It was pleasing to see the ARTK making a very positive contribution to the debate.
The Tasmanian Government refused to comment on air but in a background document it took the line that there was little need to reform the Act because it was roughly similar to other state Acts.
However with the sudden resignation of the Premier Paul Lennon on 26th May the new Premier David Bartlett may decide to embrace a series of possible reforms. It would be certainly a major boost to Australian reform efforts if the Bligh reform program was not the only one being seriously considered. Indeed it might cause the WA and Victorian governments to reconsider both their proposals and approaches to reform.
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