MEDIA RELEASE 5 November 2025
Shadow Attorney-General and Federal Member for Fisher, Andrew Wallace MP, has slammed the Albanese Government for its blatant disregard for transparency, after Labor refused to answer a single one of his fifteen detailed questions during this afternoon’s Consideration in Detail of the Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025.
Mr Wallace, who led the Coalition’s charge against the deeply flawed Bill this week, said the Government’s behaviour in the chamber laid bare its aversion toward accountability.
“Fifteen questions. Not one meaningful response. The Attorney-General couldn’t even be bothered responding to Australians’ right to know,” Mr Wallace said.
“It’s an insult to the Parliament and to every Australian who believes in open, transparent and accountable government.”
During the debate, Mr Wallace pressed the Attorney-General on key issues raised by the Law Council of Australia, Transparency International, the Centre for Public Integrity, and the Environmental Defenders Office, including:
- The expansion of Cabinet document exemptions
- The 40-hour cap on FOI processing times
- New fees and discretionary refusal powers
- The lack of consultation with media and civil society
- The Government’s refusal to commission an independent review of the FOI framework
“This Bill doesn’t have a single friend outside the bureaucracy,” Mr Wallace said.
“When the Coalition, the crossbench and every major stakeholder are all calling for an independent inquiry, it’s extraordinary that Labor’s answer is to double down on secrecy.”
“This whole shambolic charade has exposed Labor’s contempt for transparency,” he added.
“Labor campaigned on restoring integrity to government, yet every move they’ve made has been to bury debate, block scrutiny, and silence dissent. Australians deserve better.”
The Bill will now return to the House of Representatives for further consideration and a final vote.
[ENDS]
Media Contact: Brendan West – 0402 556 646 – Brendan.west@aph.gov.au
