Access to Government Information Study: Insights from Victoria and NSW 2022

Cross Jurisdictional Information Access Study Victoria May 2022

RESEARCH DESIGN The Victorian and New South Wales privacy regulators (OVIC and IPC) commissioned Woolcott Research and Engagement to investigate experiences of requesting information access and attitudes towards privacy amongst the general public. Quotas were set by location (Melbourne/ Regional VIC), gender and age, and data was post-weighted to reflect the latest ABS population estimates. Significant differences in results at the 95% confidence level between years are shown in GREEN (increased significantly) or RED (decreased significantly). A mixed mode survey amongst n=351 VIC residents aged 18+ years was conducted between 9 and 26 March 2022 utilising an online panel and Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI). Due to rounding, percentages may not always add to 100. 2

INFORMATION ACCESS

IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE RIGHT TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT INFORMATION Not at all important Not very important Quite important Very important Victoria NSW Respondents continued to indicate that it was important for them to have the right to access government information. 50 52 53 57 % 40 37 39 32 7 8 8 7 4 2 2 2 2022 2019 2021 2022 Q3. How important is it to you that you have a right to access government information? This applies to all publicly available information, not just your own personal data. Base: All respondents (Victoria: 2019 n=350, 2021 n=368, 2022 n=351), (NSW n=800) 4

AWARENESS OF RIGHT TO ACCESS INFORMATION 2019 2021 2022 85 81 76 Approximately three quarters knew about their right to access information held by at least one of the agencies listed, which was similar to 2021. 64 62 59 57 56 50 50 50 49 % Yes 47 43 42 40 39 36 Total State governments agencies Local Councils Public Hospitals Government Schools Tafes and Universities NSW Awareness 55 46 44 N/A N/A 38* Q4. Did you know, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) you have a right to access information held by the following agencies? Base: All respondents (Victoria: 2019 n=350, 2021 n=368, 2022 n=351), (NSW n=800) *NSW research only refers to Universities 5

ATTEMPTS TO ACCESS INFORMATION 2019 2021 2022 Thirty-one per cent had attempted to access information held by a Victorian government agency. % Yes 35 31 27 13 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 9 7 7 7 6 4 Any State governments agencies Public Hospitals Local Councils Government Schools Tafes and Universities NSW Attempts 17 8 N/A 5 N/A 8* Q5. In the last 3 years have you tried to access information held by? Base: All respondents (Victoria: 2019 n=350, 2021 n=368, 2022 n=351), (NSW n=800) *NSW research only refers to Universities 6

SOURCE OF AWARENESS TAFES and Universities % (n=24*) Public Hospitals % (n=37) Government Schools % (n=24*) State govt. agencies % (n=40) Local Councils % (n=30) Source of awareness regarding right to access information Respondents who attempted to access information from one of the agencies listed tended to be informed of their rights by a friend or family member. Friend/family member The agency OVIC A different government agency Previous experience Other Don t remember 40 16 14 44 16 31 44 21 20 38 23 18 46 21 9 6 15 20 25 10 9 9 - 8 4 7 4 2 13 28 10 16 23 21 16 Q5b. Where did you find out that you could access information from the agency? Base: Respondents who tried to contact: TAFEs and Universities (2022: n=24*); Public Hospitals (2022: n=37); Government Schools (2022: n=24*); State government agencies (2022: n=40); Local Councils (2022: n=30) * CAUTION SMALL BASE SIZES 7

SUCCESS IN ATTEMPTING TO ACCESS INFORMATION Victoria NSW 78 75 73 71 Similar to previous years, approximately three quarters of those who attempted to access information were successful at least once. % Yes 2022 2019 2021 2022 Q6. Were you successful in accessing information from ? Base: Respondents who had attempted to access information (Victoria: 2019 n=121, 2021 n=100, 2022 n=109), (NSW n=133) 8

SUCCESS IN ATTEMPTING TO ACCESS INFORMATION BY AGENCY NSW 2022 Yes % 62** N/A N/A 65 56 Yes Respondents who attempted to access information from TAFEs and Universities and/or Public Hospitals tended to be the most successful. Partially 54* 56 62 65 67 69 70 74 75 75 75 83 85 87 87 % No 16* 5 22 10 15 13 15 11 27 10 27* 19 21 20 6 17 13 8 14 3 10 6 15 15 13 Other 4 9 7 7 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 3 2019 2021 2022 2019 2021 2022 2019 2021 2022 2019 2021 2022 2019 2021 2022 TAFEs and Universities* Government Schools* State governments agencies Public Hospitals Local Councils Q6. Were you successful in accessing information from ? Base: Respondents who tried to contact: TAFEs and Universities (2019: n=23*, 2021: n=20*, 2022: n=24*); Public Hospitals (2019: n=47, 2021: n=40, 2022: n=37); Government Schools (2019: n=37, 2021: n=16*, 2022: n=24*); State government agencies (2019: n=33, 2021: n=36, 2022: n=40); Local Councils (2019: n=36, 2021: n=37, 2022: n=30) * CAUTION SMALL BASE SIZES **NSW research only refers to Universities 9

HELPFULNESS OF AGENCIES 11 Very helpful 20 20 Quite helpful 38 Almost half of those who tried to access information indicated that the agency who held the data were helpful, which was similar to previous reads. 32 35 Neither helpful or unhelpful % Quite unhelpful 31 30 27 Very unhelpful 5 4 6 9 10 Don't know 7 6 5 4 2019 2021 2022 Q7. When you tried to access information how helpful were agencies in providing advice and assistance to you? Base: Those who tried to access information from any agency (2019 n=121, 2021 n=100, 2022 n=109) 10

ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE Many indicated that agencies informed them about accessing data without a formal application. % Provided by agency Desired in the future Informing you how to access information without needing to make a formal access application 42 39 Explaining the types of information held by the agency to help you identify the information you needed 33 However, there is a future desire for explanations regarding the types of information held by agencies and clarification of information needed to help improve speed of requests both of which not being commonly provided by the agencies. 46 Clarifying if there were any types of information you did not seek access to to help the agency process your request sooner 25 44 12 Providing contextual information to help you understand the documents released to you 22 2 2 Other 21 None 15 Q7B. What types of advice and assistance did agencies provide to you? Q7C. What types of advice and assistance would you like agencies to provide to you in future? Base: Those who tried to access information from any agency (2019 n=121, 2021 n=100, 2022 n=109) Question added in 2022 11

COMMUNITY ATTITUDES

IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC INTEREST FACTORS 2019 2021 2022 Ensuring that government remains accountable to the people Providing information to promote fairness and justice 83 86 All public interest factors are seen to be important to consider in deciding about releasing information, particularly ensuring accountability of government and promoting fairness and justice. 73 77 81 70 74 Providing access to your own information 82 68 % Yes Ensuring governments are more transparent about their spending 75 81 68 71 Ensuring that public office holders act with integrity 78 Selection of factors was slightly lower this year than previous years. 67 Enabling citizens to obtain better service delivery by government Ensuring that the public can contribute to significant decisions that affect the 75 74 67 70 73 62 Q8. In making a decision about releasing information agencies must consider the public interest. Which of these public interest factors do you think are important to consider? Base: All respondents (2019 n=350, 2021 n=368, 2022 n=351) New question in 2019 13

AGREEMENT REGARDING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABITLITY Strongly agree Slightly agree Neither agree nor disagree Slightly disagree Strongly disagree Don't know Total agree % The majority of respondents agree that public access to government information improves transparency and accountability. Public access to government information improves government transparency and accountability 50 33 10 13 4 83 Q8B. To what extent do you agree or disagree that public access to government information improves government transparency and accountability? Transparency is about the government making people aware of what it does, how it does it and why. Accountability is about the government being honest and taking responsibility for its actions, both when things are going well, and after mistakes happen or things do not go to plan. Base: All respondents (2022: n=351) Question added in 2022 14

AGREEMENT REGARDING PUBLIC REPORTING Strongly agree Slightly agree Neither agree nor disagree Slightly disagree Strongly disagree Don't know Total agree Similarly, the majority agree that agencies should be required to publicly report on information they maintain. % 2021 2022 Agencies required to publicly report on maintained information 42 37 15 2 <1 4 82 79 However, the proportion of those who agreed that agencies should report on use of AI to inform decisions decreased in 2022. Agencies required to publicly report on AI 78 70 46 24 16 3 1 10 Q9. Governments are increasingly using data, algorithms and other forms of artificial intelligence to inform decisions, for example subsidy and or payment calculations. To what extent do you agree that government agencies should be required to publicly report on any systems used to inform agency decisions that impact individuals? Q10. To what extent do you agree that government agencies should publicly report on the information they maintain? Base: All respondents (2021 n=368, 2022 n=351) Question added in 2021 15

DEMOGRAPHICS

GENDER AND AGE 2019 % (n=350) 2021 % (n=368) 2022 % (n=351) Gender Female Male Gender neutral Prefer not to indicate 52 48 50 50 - - 48 52 - - Not an option in 2019 Age 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+ 5 4 8 23 18 19 10 14 12 24 24 11 10 12 16 26 31 19 5 5 6 Q1. Which of the following age brackets do you belong to? Q2. Do you identify as being ? Base: All respondents (2019: n=350, 2021: n=368 , 2022: n=351) Options added in 2021 17

WORKING STATUS AND MAIN LANGUAGE SPOKEN 2019 % (n=350) 2021 % (n=368) 2022 % (n=351) Working status Working full time Retired Working part time Unemployed Engaged in home duties Student Prefer not to answer 40 26 17 6 9 3 - 46 28 15 4 3 3 1 37 21 21 7 11 2 1 Main language spoken at home English Hindi Other 88 2 10 91 2 8 90 <1 10 Q11. Which of these categories best describes you? Q12. What is the main language spoken at home? Base: All respondents (2019: n=350, 2021: n=368, 2022: n=351) 18

SUMMARY Most respondents felt that the right to access government held information was very or quite important, which was similar to previous years (52% and 39% respectively). Many placed importance on many of the public interest factors listed, however interest proportionally decreased in 2022. Awareness of the right to access government held information was also consistent with previous years, with the majority (76%) being aware of their right in relation to at least one of the agencies listed. Most (83%) agreed that public access to government information improves government transparency and accountability. Thirty-one per cent had attempted to access information held by at least one of the agencies listed, with most finding out about their right through word of mouth. Respondents also tended to agree that agencies should be required to publicly report on maintained information and the artificial systems (79% and 70% respectively). The majority (73%) successfully accessed the information they requested, however helpfulness of the agencies continues to have opportunity for improvement. Similarly, there is a variety of advice and assistance that respondents seek which are not provided by the agency. 19

Woolcott Research & Engagement L6, 104 Mount Street, North Sydney 2060 Karyn Wong kwong@woolcott.com.au +61 29261 5221 woolcott.com.au Holly Helprin hhelprin@woolcott.com.au