In a world of AI-generated content, misinformation and information disorder, trusted government information matters more than ever, Australian Information Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd said ahead of the annual International Access to Information Day (IAID).
International Day for Universal Access to Information, is celebrated annually on 28 September. The global event highlights and recognises the importance of the community’s right to know and access information from governments around the world, as enshrined in Australian through the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
This year’s international theme is Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age. Commissioner Tydd said the theme underlines how information access and information integrity – in a world that is grappling with misinformation and disinformation – promote our shared democratic principles and structures.
“The responsiveness of governments globally, to the threat to information integrity may be a litmus test of democracy itself. The fact that people are increasingly asking for information cannot be viewed as a problem – rather it is part of the solution for democratically elected governments,” she said.
Commissioner Tydd said: “Information integrity is the antidote to information disorder. When public authorities proactively release information and it’s easy to find, people are less likely to rely on unofficial or unreliable sources, and more likely to make informed decisions based upon credible government data. This data will also inject accuracy into AI generated outputs.”
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)’s theme for the day is Transparency + Access = Information Integrity.
As the national regulator of Australia’s freedom of information system, the OAIC promotes the proactive release of government information as a national resource and works with Australian government agencies to ensure the FOI system meets its objectives.
As a Commonwealth integrity agency, the OAIC contributes to Australia’s broader integrity framework by promoting transparency, accountability and public trust through access to government information.
“Through proactive disclosure of information, strong recordkeeping, and timely access to information, trust is built,” Freedom of Information Commissioner Alice Linacre said.
“That trust supports the delivery of government services and informed public participation.
“Staying true to these fundamentals will ensure the system will deliver, irrespective of changes in technology.”
Community support for information access remains strong. Last year’s Cross-jurisdictional Information Access Study found that 96% of Australians consider the right to access government-held information important or very important.
In recognition of this growing interest, the OAIC and its counterparts in the Association of Information Access Commissioners (AIAC) have endorsed a consistent Access to Information icon for Commonwealth, state and territory websites that is being implemented across jurisdictions.
The Access to Information icon provides a clear, recognisable entry point, helping people find government information more easily, regardless of the legislative framework.
On 21 September, the OAIC marked IAID with its flagship event, Upholding information integrity: Combating mis- and dis-information in the Digital Age, at the Museum of Australian Democracy. More than 400 people attended, including FOI practitioners, civil society representatives, information management professionals and APS leaders.
To coincide with IAID, Commissioner Tydd has also authored an opinion piece published in The Mandarin, exploring the role of transparency, access to information and information integrity in strengthening public trust in the digital age.
Throughout the IAID week (28 September to 4 October), there are many more opportunities to recognise, celebrate and reinforce our collective commitment to building trust in government agencies and services. The OAIC will share information through its social media channels and highlight new developments for FOI practitioners, including an upgraded FOI statistical returns portal launching in October.
On 29 September, FOI Commissioner Linacre will participate in the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) and International Day for Universal Access to Information 2026 Sierra Leone, speaking on the panel discussion Access to Credible Data for Open Government and Public Sector Reform .
Visit the OAIC’s IAID 2026 website to learn more about:
- IAID events around Australia organised by AIAC partner agencies
- the Access to Information icon
- Commissioner Tydd’s Mandarin opinion piece on transparency, access and information integrity
- campaign materials, including the amplification kit, virtual background, posters, email signatures, social media resources and PowerPoint template
- FOI and government information access rights.
