Albanese government’s FOI reforms face backlash over disputed claims and lack of evidence for expanded secrecy.

The Albanese government’s proposed freedom of information reforms face scrutiny after the Centre for Public Integrity disputed key claims, including that a royal commission did not recommend changes to cabinet secrecy—contradicted by the commissioner’s call for greater transparency. The reforms, which would expand cabinet exemptions and ban anonymous requests, lack public evidence of national security threats, despite government assertions. Critics, including shadow attorney-general Andrew Wallace, argue the changes undermine transparency, calling for tech-based spam filters instead. The government’s legal justification is questioned, and the reforms appear unlikely to pass without cross-party support.