Freedom of Information

In reply to the Hon. M.C. PARNELL (27 February 2019).

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): The Premier and the Attorney-General have provided the following advice:

Changes were recently made to the way that investigative agencies access cabinet documents. As part of these changes the Auditor-General, subject to the approval of the Premier, will be permitted access to cabinet submissions and attachments to cabinet submissions.

The government recently released Premier and Cabinet Circular PC047—Disclosure of documents to investigative agencies which more comprehensively outlines these changes.

In relation to the question as to whether the government will consider providing increased access to cabinet documents through legislative changes to the Freedom of Information Act, the Attorney-General has advised that the Attorney-General's Department is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of all aspects of the Freedom of Information Act 1991, including the provisions relating to access to cabinet documents.