Legislative Council Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1) 53 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Freedom of Information Freedom of Information The Hon. M.C. PARNELL Legislative Council Freedom of Information The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (15:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government, representing the Premier, a question about freedom of information. Leave granted. The Hon. M.C. PARNELL Legislative Council The Hon. M.C. PARNELL: I refer the minister to the annual report of the Ombudsman, which was tabled less than an hour ago. I note on page 12 of the report that the Ombudsman says: …in my view, the jurisdiction needs an independent FOI champion who can not only conduct reviews, but also provide training and monitor agencies' compliance with information disclosure. I address this issue in my audit which I have referred to above. I make the point that the audit that he refers to was presented to the government in May this year. My question of the minister is: what steps is the government taking to give effect to this recommendation and other recommendations by the Ombudsman for freedom of information law reform? The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:22): I thank the member for his question and will refer those questions to the relevant minister in the other place and bring back a response. But I would like to say that the situation would be alleviated significantly if the process of FOIs was not abused by some persons. We have seen the number of applications rise in an exponential way and we see that many of them are just purely fishing expeditions. It is obvious that it is just a way of going fishing. It requires an extraordinary amount of— The Hon. D.W. Ridgway Legislative Council The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Sneaky, secretive government! The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —hard work and effort by officers to process those. If honourable members were really genuinely concerned they would limit their applications to those that are genuine.