Transparency in government

This submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) in response to Australia's first Open Government Action Plan 2016-2018 discusses the role of public, academic, research and special libraries in supporting open data and digitial transformation, citizen engagement and access to government information, the provision of data management and researcher support services, and the societal benefits of access to high-value datasets within Trove.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) emphasises the role of public libraries in support of open government and digital tranformation through helping users to discover, access and use data. Libraries are trusted places, promoting equity and freedom of access to information and resources.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) welcomes the federal government’s commitment to open government policies and freedom of information and agrees that public sector information should be recognised as a national resource to be developed and preserved in the public interest. ALIA asserts that this information should be publicly available except where restricted by law, privacy considerations or is business in confidence.