NSW FOI 20 years on

Former Premier Nick Greiner

The Sydney Morning Herald today has published my opinion piece on the Greiner government's grand ambitions in introducing Freedom of Information legislation in NSW 20 years ago - to reduce corruption, strengthen democracy, increase accountability, encourage a more active citizenry, help the public make more informed judgments at election time, and improve government decision making. All very worthy goals, but largely unrealised 20 years later primarily because of the not so benign neglect of the leaders of government who followed Greiner following his departure from office in 1992.