Local governments can build public trust by providing greater access to information
Regional roadshows across Victoria aim to encourage transparency
Community trust is essential to the successful development of public policy and the delivery of government services. Government agencies can build public trust by making decisions transparently and upholding the public’s right to access government information.
The Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) is hosting a series of virtual roadshows across regional Victoria to promote building public trust through transparency.
The first Regional Roadshow will be held in the Western Region on Tuesday 17 November 2020. Local government agencies from Ballarat, Ararat, Hepburn, Pyrenees, Golden Plains, Moorabool, Geelong, Surf Coast, Colac Otway, Moyne, Warrnambool, Glenelg, Corangamite and Southern Grampians are invited to attend.
“Local governments are deeply connected to their communities and rely on a social license to operate. This social license is built by making decisions transparently and building public trust” said Mr Bluemmel.
“I encourage regional and rural local government agencies to let access to information be the rule, and refusal the exception.”
The aim of these events is to raise public awareness of the right to access government information, and to encourage members of the community to engage with local government agencies and public health service providers.
The event will feature guest speakers from the Traffic Accident Commission (TAC) and Barwon Health. Both TAC and Barwon Health were among the top 15 government agencies in Victoria that received the most freedom of information (FOI) requests in 2019-20.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of public trust and providing timely access to government information. Government agencies are custodians of information and have a responsibility to ensure the public’s right to access information is upheld.
In 2021, OVIC will host four Regional Roadshows across Victoria.
For media enquiries contact:
Simone Martin
t: (03) 8684 7585 or 0466 097 816
e: simone.martin@ovic.vic.gov.au or media@ovic.vic.gov.au
Background information:
Find out more information about OVIC’s Regional Roadshow on 17 November in the Western Region – Ballarat.