Secret cabinet documents to be revealed under new laws

The rapid release of secret state government documents is a step closer after new laws were introduced to Queensland parliament on Thursday.

Queenslanders will no longer have to wait decades to see what State Cabinet has deliberated on, with new laws introduced to Parliament setting the stage for the rapid release of the normally secret documents.

The legislation paves the way for the changes proposed last year by Professor Peter Coaldrake’s landmark review of government integrity culture by putting in place protections for the public release of the sensitive information.

The Coaldrake review said voters would have more trust in their government if decisions were “made in the open, and subject to scrutiny”.

Currently State Cabinet documents are kept secret for 20 years.

The suite of measures included in the Bill also include making it mandatory that the government inform someone when their private information has been obtained in a data breach.

Peter Coaldrake conducted a landmark integrity and transparency review into the gov.

This change to the Privacy Act is another recommendation from the Coaldrake review, which called for citizens’ privacy rights to be protected through such a measure.

Cabinet minister Leeanne Enoch – who introduced the Bill to Parliament on Thursday in the absence of Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath – said the proposed legislation was the third Bill to act on recommendations made by the Coaldrake review.

“The Bill implements critical reforms which go to the heart of Queensland’s integrity framework,” Ms Enoch told Parliament.

“The Right to Information Act and Information Privacy Act have important roles in our democratic society.

“The Palaszczuk government’s implementation of the important measures in the Information Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill will ensure transparency, accountability and privacy protections for individuals that accord with the Queensland community’s expectations.”

Yvette D'Ath, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.

Ms D’Ath said the creation of a mandatory data breach notification scheme was a significant aspect of the Bill.

“Recent high-profile data breaches demonstrate that loss or unauthorised access or disclosure of personal information has the potential to result in serious harm to individuals,” she said.

“That’s why we are establishing this scheme so there are clear, consistent requirements to notify individuals of data breaches of Queensland government agencies, so that individuals are empowered to take steps to reduce the risk of harm resulting from a data breach.

“The reforms will also ensure Queensland’s privacy laws remain contemporary and relevant given the changes to the use of technology, and to the way in which personal information is collected, used, accessed, stored and disclosed in today’s digital world.

“By also strengthening Queensland’s privacy framework, public sector agencies will be able to continue to manage the challenges of digital service delivery while meeting community expectations around privacy.”