Awards for Leichhardt Council

For some grizzled political operators, it’s an article of faith drawn straight from Yes, Minister – one can be open, or one can have government. But to facilitate ‘open government’? Impossible, or so conventional wisdom would have us believe.

But it seems Sir Humphrey Appleby’s tenets have not reached the Office of Information Commission, which this month praised Leichhardt Council for its efforts in keeping information openly accessible to the media and public.

The OIC monitors public sector agencies’ compliance with publication guide requirements as set out under the Government and Information Public Access (GIPA) Act, previously known as Freedom of Information.

According to Information Commissioner Deirdre O’Donnell, Leichhardt Council’s publication guide ranked with those of Ashfield Council and the State Library of NSW as “exemplary”.

“These publication guides incorporate a high level of detail, clearly explaining the types of information held by the agency and the various means of access using the four methods outlined in the GIPA Act,” she said.

Leichhardt Mayor Jamie Parker said the award recognised Council’s commitment to increasing its levels of transparency in recent years.

“We see it as our responsibility to ensure open access to information,” he said. “Not only does it keep us accountable to our residents, but it reaffirms our commitment to open government. In fact, as part of that commitment, in 2008, Council abolished all statutory fees associated with accessing information.”

Moreover, in the run up to International Women’s Day on March 8, Council has received a Bronze Award in the 50:50 Vision Councils for Gender Equity Program. Designed to increase the number of women in senior management roles and increase the representation of women on councils, the award was accepted on behalf of Council by Deputy Mayor Rochelle Porteous.