The government yesterday launched the much-awaited white paper on freedom of information for public consultation which will make it a norm for information to be readily accessible and available to whoever requests it.

The draft document sets out the government’s proposals for the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act.

For several years, the presumption was that information is secret unless declared open to disclosure but this white paper changes this to exactly the opposite: information is regarded as open to disclosure unless there is a valid reason to withhold it.

Understandably, some restrictions on disclosure will have to remain.

According to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, this change should bring about a radical difference in the way that citizens and the government and its departments and entities interact.

The draft Act would establish the principle that government information is subject to disclosure unless there is a valid reason, which is legally justifiable, to withhold it.

In order to ensure complete synergy between the people’s right to have complete access to information and the protection of personal data, the government is proposing that the Data Protection Commission takes on a wider role as the Information and Data Protection Commission.

Before it was published yesterday, the white paper had already been presented to the Journalists’ Committee, the Institute of Maltese Journalists and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.

Most of the feedback received during this process has already been included in the draft white paper published yesterday.

Dr Gonzi said the white paper is based on the Australian model and aspect of what is done in New Zealand.

He said the white paper explains the procedure for any citizen to receive information he or she requests and a time limit of 20 working days within which the information has to be given.

Moreover, it also provides for the information to be sent by post or through electronic mail or in whatever way the citizen asking for information prefers.

If the request is turned down, the government department or entity must give a good reason for this.

The public consultation period, which started yesterday, will continue till 31 October.