Feds appoint new Information Commissioner

James Riley
Monday, 01 March 2010 21:51

IT Policy - Regulation

The Rudd Government is to appoint Commonwealth Ombudsman and Australian National University professor John McMillan to the newly created role of information commissioner to oversee its freedom of information and privacy regimes.

Professor McMillan was appointed as Commonwealth Ombudsman in 2003 and reappointed in 2008 for a further five year term. He is currently on leave from the ANU, where he is a Professor of Administrative Law.

Cabinet Secretary and Special Minister of State Joe Ludwig said as the Information Commissioner Designate, Prof McMillan would be responsible for establishing Government's planned Office of the Information Commissioner.

The Office of the Information Commissioner will be an independent agency with oversight of freedom of information and privacy matters.

"Assuming the Parliament supports the Bill, as soon as the Information Commissioner Bill is enacted, I will recommend to the Governor-General in Council that she appoint Professor McMillan as the Information Commissioner," Senator Ludwig said.

"The Rudd Government has acted early in appointing Professor McMillan, who will be responsible for ensuring the Office of the Information Commissioner is fully operational as soon as practical after the passage of legislation."

"As the Information Commissioner Designate, Professor McMillan will have a significant role in implementing the Government's information policy reforms and in promoting and leading a pro-disclosure culture across government," Senator Ludwig said.