The Albanese government's contentious plan to overhaul Australia's freedom of information (FOI) laws is on the brink of a significant parliamentary defeat, with opposition senators and crossbenchers uniting to block its passage.
Broad Coalition Opposes 'Secrecy Bill'
In a damning report published on Wednesday, December 4, 2025, a Senate committee revealed deep fractures over the proposed legislation. The Coalition formally rejected the bill, with South Australian Liberal senator Leah Blyth declaring that freedom of information is a right, not a government privilege. The Greens and key independents, including ACT's David Pocock and Tasmania's Jacqui Lambie, echoed this opposition, leaving the government without the numbers needed in the upper house.
The proposed changes, which sparked widespread criticism, included banning anonymous FOI requests, expanding cabinet-in-confidence exemptions, and introducing new fees for journalists and whistleblowers. Critics argued these measures would severely weaken public accountability.
Critics Decry Attack on Public's Right to Know
Shadow attorney-general Andrew Wallace labelled the bill "friendless for a reason," pledging to fight for an independent review instead. Greens justice spokesperson David Shoebridge accused the government of fetishising secrecy, stating, "Only a government that fetishises secrecy could have looked at the FOI system and thought the problem is that the public is getting too much information."
Senator Pocock pointed out that of the 69 submissions to the inquiry, explicit support came only from government departments. The overwhelming majority highlighted significant flaws, including the expansion of cabinet secrecy and the neutering of the public-interest test.
Government Defends 'Broken' System, But Path Forward Unclear
A spokesperson for Attorney-General Michelle Rowland defended the push for reform, stating the current FOI system is "broken." They cited figures showing public servants spent over a million hours processing requests at a cost of nearly $100 million to taxpayers in 2024-25 alone.
Despite this, the government's attempt to negotiate passage in the final sitting week of the year failed. All major non-government parties are now calling for a comprehensive, independent review to modernise FOI laws and restore public trust, rather than the current proposal.
Senator Lambie invoked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's own words from 2019, when he was opposition leader, quoting: "We don't need a culture of secrecy. We need a culture of disclosure." Transparency advocate and former senator Rex Patrick condemned the bill as effectively "a secrecy bill designed to make it harder for the public to access information."
The government has stated it will carefully consider the committee's report, but with a united crossbench and Coalition firmly opposed, the legislation appears destined for a humiliating defeat when it eventually reaches the Senate floor.
