Government Agencies Defend FOI Reforms as Necessary Protection
Two of Australia's most targeted government agencies are throwing their support behind the Albanese government's controversial changes to freedom of information laws, arguing the reforms are essential to protect staff from harassment and abuse. Services Australia and the Department of Home Affairs, which together receive more than 24,000 FOI requests annually, have told a Senate inquiry that the current system is being weaponised against public servants.
Staff Safety Concerns Take Center Stage
In submissions to the inquiry examining the government's FOI bill, both agencies detailed disturbing patterns of harassment targeting employees. Services Australia reported that staff, including FOI officers, have faced doxxing, stalking, and direct threats. Incidents included letters placed on vehicle windscreens, social media abuse, and threats to release information about employees' children and home addresses.
The Department of Home Affairs raised similar concerns, revealing that disgruntled members of the public have obtained employee details through FOI requests and then contacted staff on personal mobile numbers or via social media platforms. Some staff received threats of physical harm extending to family members.
Proposed Changes and Political Battle
The legislation, which passed the House of Representatives last week but faces fierce debate in the Senate, would implement several key changes:
- Banning anonymous FOI requests
- Making it easier to redact names of junior staff in released documents
- Allowing agencies to charge application fees
- Expanding grounds to deny requests based on cabinet confidentiality
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the reforms as necessary for the government to "be able to function," while critics across the political spectrum have labeled the proposed fees a "truth tax" and argued the changes undermine democratic principles.
The government will need to negotiate with crossbenchers to pass the legislation through the Senate, having faced opposition from the Coalition, Greens, and independents in the lower house. Shadow Attorney-General Andrew Wallace condemned the bill, noting that "every single stakeholder apart from the public service has condemned this bill."
Impact on Frontline Services
Services Australia, which delivers welfare payments and holds personal information for millions of Australians, received 5,135 FOI requests in 2024-25. The agency highlighted that staff "routinely engage with customers under heightened levels of personal pressures and stress" and make decisions that "have a direct and considerable impact on the lives of customers."
Home Affairs processed a staggering 19,296 requests in the same period, predominantly relating to visa and citizenship processing. Both agencies emphasized that the psychological impact on staff processing harassing requests can be "prolonged and significant," risking workplace injury and psychosocial harm.
The Attorney-General's Department and Australian Public Service Commission have also submitted their support for the bill, setting the stage for a contentious parliamentary debate over the balance between government transparency and employee protection.
