Information Disclosure Policy: A Toolkit for Pacific Governments (July 2006)
### EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2005, the Pacific Leaders Forum agreed on a Pacific Plan which committed the region to four key areas of work - good governance, sustainable development, economic growth and security. This set of objectives largely reflects the reform programmes being pursued domestically by many Pacific island countries. While a range of options have been canvassed in furtherance of these goals, one mechanism - information disclosure - could contribute significantly to the achievement of all four of these objectives, if innovatively implemented. The fundamentals of information disclosure An effective access to information regime can be a vital tool in promoting more participatory development and more effective governance. Openness underpins the good governance principles of transparency and accountability. Information sharing also assists communities to more effectively engage in the design, implementation and evaluation of development projects and programmes. Information disclosure supports economic growth, in particular, because investors and markets are more likely to reward transparent, open economic environments. National stability and security are underpinned by policies of openness, which engender greater public trust in government officials. Different terminology has been used to describe information disclosure regimes - freedom of information, access to information, the right to know - but fundamentally, the concept remains the same. At the heart of any information disclosure regime are four key principles: The duty of the government to provide maximum information disclosure to the public - both in response to requests and by regularly publishing key information - unless specific, defined exemptions apply; The need to ensure that access processes are user-friendly, timely, affordable and promote maximum accessibility for people throughout the country, including people in rural areas and from marginalised groups of the community; The need to ensure that requesters have access to a complaints process if access is not being properly provided, which will permit investigations by an independent review mechanism with strong powers to promote access and to ensure that any non-compliance or wrongdoing is dealt with appropriately; The need to ensure implementation of an access policy is effective, most notably by monitoring and reporting on access in practice, providing training to officials and undertaking public education programmes to ensure people are aware of their right to access information.
Government information includes: international accords; negotiating briefs; policy statements; minutes of discussions with investors, donors and debtors; cabinet decisions; parliamentary papers; judicial proceedings; details of government functioning and structure; intra-governmental memos; executive orders; budget estimates and accounts; evaluations of public expenditure; expert advice; recommendations and guidelines; transcripts of departmental meetings; statistical data; reports of task forces, commissions and working groups; social surveys and analyses of health, education and food availability; assessments of demographic and employment trends; analysis of defence preparedness and purchases; maps; studies on natural resource locations and availability; proof of the quality of the environment, water and air pollution; and so on.
Information Disclosure Policy Toolkit The Information Disclosure Policy Toolkit has been specifically developed for Pacific island governments, to provide practical resources for implementing an information disclosure regime. The Toolkit includes a generic Model Information Disclosure Policy (IDP) which can be used as a template for National IDPs throughout the Pacific. The Model IDP recognises that all Pacific countries face different operating contexts, such that it is not possible to develop a one-size-fits-all policy. Such an approach will only result in an IDP that cannot be implemented or used in practice. It is envisaged that the Model IDP will be contextualised to take account of local issues, resources and challenges. The Model IDP sets in place a framework which commits governments to more regularly publishing information of importance to the public. Regular information disclosure and dissemination can be a useful way for governments to empower their constituents to engage more effectively with public programmes, and it is also a key means of ensuring that the public is aware of the services and policies being implemented by the government. The Model IDP also sets out a process to enable members of the public to access information by request. The Model IDP is designed to be practical, user-friendly and capable of implementation by Pacific governments with limited personnel and budget resources. Key implementation strategies which are incorporated into the Model IDP include: A phased approach to implementation, which will allow governments to maximise limited resources, by focussing attention on key organisations first and then using lessons learned to ensure more effective implementation across the whole of government over an agreed period of time; Ensuring the implementation process stays on track and on time by establishing an IDP Implementation Unit to develop and implement an Action Plan for Implementation. The Unit can be supported by an IDP Advisory Group of officials and an IDP Stakeholders Group of civil society groups, who can provide advice and support with implementation; Identifying existing government and community resources and networks which could be better utilised to promote information disclosure in order to maximise the effectiveness of limited resources; Targeting resources towards training for public officials and public education programmes for the public, to ensure that all stakeholders understand the new Policy and their duties under it. The Information Disclosure Policy Toolkit includes a set of practical next steps which Pacific governments can take to pursue the goal of greater information disclosure. These suggestions are directed at national governments, as well as regional bodies and donors. Considering that the importance of access to information has been recognised regionally in the Pacific Plan, adopting regional strategies could ensure that scarce human and financial resources are pooled together for maximum effect. Information disclosure will have government and development benefits throughout the region and needs to be prioritised accordingly.
Commissioned by the Pacific Media and Communications Facility, an Australian Government, AusAID initiative managed by MDI International in association with MC Media & Associates