The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) welcomed the publication of the White Paper outlining the Government's proposals for a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) as an important step forward towards introducing a culture of transparency and accountability in the Public Sector.

"For the first time, the principle that all information held by the Government can be made public unless there is a reasonable need to withhold that information is being introduced, thus reversing the current position of general secrecy.

"We hope that the Government is really prepared for the sea change that the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act will bring to its modus operandi, especially in its dealings with the media," chairman Malcolm J. Naudi said.

The IGM has contributed to the formulation of the FOI White Paper thanks to the assistance of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), which compiled a report analysing the government's original draft of the White Paper which was circulated to interested parties, including the institute, a few months ago.

The Institute of Maltese Journalists will be analysing the White Paper published on Wednesday in detail and will present its official position to the Government in the next few weeks.