Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has issued draft Terms of Reference for the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to examine Freedom of Information laws and practice across Australia.

The ALRC will examine existing Commonwealth, State and Territory access laws and practices, with a view to providing advice on how to harmonise those laws and practices. It will also examine the impact of technology on existing access laws.

The reference is partly in response to the Right to Know campaign.

The ALRC is to complete its work by 31 December 2008.