Why do we have a Right to Information Act?

Section 3 of the Act includes this statement of the objects of the Act:

(1)    The object of this Act is to improve democratic government in Tasmania -

(a)  by increasing the accountability of the executive to the people of Tasmania; and
(b) by increasing the ability of the people of Tasmania to participate in their governance; and
(c) by acknowledging that information collected by public authorities is collected for and on behalf of the people of Tasmania and is the property of the State.

 (2)   This object is to be pursued by giving members of the public the right to obtain information held by public authorities and Ministers.

 (3)   This object is also to be pursued by giving members of the public the right to obtain information about the operations of Government.

 (4)   It is the intention of Parliament -

(a) that this Act be interpreted so as to further the object set out in subsection (1); and
(b) that discretions conferred by this Act be exercised so as to facilitate and promote, promptly and at the lowest reasonable cost, the provision of the maximum amount of official information.