Full Story Newsroom edition: does the Albanese government have a transparency problem?
Oct 30, 2025
Lenore Taylor, an experienced political editor at Guardian Australia, and Mike Ticher, head of the Guardian's newsroom, dive into the Albanese government's alleged transparency issues. They discuss a report claiming the government favors secrecy, spotlight proposed FOI changes that may limit public access, and critique the unreleased 'jobs for mates' report. The duo emphasizes how investigative journalism relies on transparency and warns of the cumulative risks reduced openness poses for democracy.
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Majority Fuels A Complacent Secrecy Risk
- The Centre for Public Integrity judged the Albanese government poorly on transparency, urging a reset to promised standards.
- Lenore Taylor warns the government's large majority may breed complacency and a dangerous secrecy impression over time.
FOI Reforms Could Render The System Useless
- Proposed FOI changes would let public servants refuse releases taking over 40 hours to assess and expand exemptions widely.
- Lenore Taylor says those changes could make FOI practically pointless for getting usable government deliberations.
FOI Disclosure Rates Have Collapsed
- Full FOI disclosures have dropped sharply from 59% in 2011 to 25% in 2023–24 while refusals nearly doubled.
- Mike Ticher highlights the system was already in poor health even before the new proposals.