Australia's 875 Secrecy Laws - TRANSPARENCY SUMMIT 24
Is Australia the world's most secretive democracy? Jake Blight, the Independent National Security Monitor, says there are 875 secrecy laws at the Commonwealth level alone, and more for the States and Territories.
Blight says his job is to "review counter-terrorism and national security laws, to see how they are actually operating, and if they remain necessary and proportionate. In essence, I and my small team operate like a specialist law reform body in this field. I have access to government briefings, classified information, but just as importantly, to the insights and submissions of civil society groups, legal organizations, and industry. I gather evidence, conduct hearings, and make reports that are tabled to Parliament."
Blight has made 15 recommendations for change, a few of which he speaks of in this address to the Australia Council's 'Transparency Summit 2024'. His full report to parliament can be read here: https://www.inslm.gov.au/
Cathy Vogan, reporting from Canberra
