The Government has released a draft Information Commissioner Bill 2009 and the draft Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009 for public consultation.

The Office of the Information Commissioner is proposed to be established and operational by January 2010. It will be headed by the Information Commissioner (a new office holder) who will be supported by the Privacy Commissioner (an existing office holder), and the FOI Commissioner (a new office holder).

It is proposed that the Information Commissioner, supported by the FOI Commissioner, will act as an independent monitor for FOI and will be entrusted with a broad range of functions designed to make the Office of the Information Commissioner both a clearing house for FOI matters and a hub for the promotion of the objects of the Act.

The closing date for submissions is 15 May 2009.