Australia's corporate regulator slugs for use of public database

Michael West in the business pages of The Australian on Saturday (Freedom of Information) writes that the Australian Securities and Investment Commission raised $40million last year from charging the public for public information - information about companies, directors and shareholders in the public domain but only available to those who pay. West did a quick survey of overseas practice and finds New Zealand, the US, the UK and Canada all provide similar information free or cheaper than our corporate watchdog.