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Publication date: July 2019
Download the Australian Government Information Access Survey 2019
Prepared for the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by Woolcott Research & Engagement
Summary
Awareness and importance of the right to access information
Three quarters of respondents feel that their right to access information held by the government is ‘very’ (52%) or ‘quite’ (32%) important and the majority (87%) are aware of their right to do so.
Awareness of the right to access information was highest for the Australian Government (83%) and lowest for Australian government ministers (36%).
Overall, most would access government information via the internet or a government agency website, particularly younger 18-34 year olds.
Incidence of accessing information
Over a third of respondents had attempted to access government held information, with younger respondents being more likely to have done so in the last three years.
Government agencies (27%) were the most common entity for respondents to have accessed.
- The majority of those who tried were successful at accessing information.
Information that participants wished to access tended to be available online or sent to them straight away, although some of those who were successful needed to make a formal access application.
Most of those who were not able to access all they attempted to, were at least able to access a portion of the information they were seeking.
Success in accessing information did not vary significantly over state.
Participants were most successful at accessing complete procedural documents, and least successful at accessing their personal information.
Reasons for not having contacted an agency was mainly a lack of need to, however almost one in ten respondents did not know they could.
Most were likely to contact either the agency involved (31%) or the Ombudsman (32%) if they had an issue accessing information.
The majority of respondents (84%) are not aware of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
Research design
Woolcott Research was commissioned by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to measure citizens’ awareness of their right to access government held information and investigate their experiences and outcomes when exercising that right.
A mixed mode survey amongst n=1,005 participants aged 18+ years was conducted between 18th June and 30th June 2019. A breakdown of respondents by state/territory is displayed below.
Table showing survey numbersACT/NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA n=335 n=12 n=205 n=74 n=23 n=253 n=103 - Quotas were set by state, location (metro/regional), gender and age. Data was post-weighted to reflect the latest ABS population figures.
- Please note that due to rounding, percentages may not always add to 100%.
- Also note that the actual base sizes have been used in all charts so due to data weighting, where raw scores have been used in the tables they may not add up to the base size.
Information access
Total awareness of right to access information
The majority of the respondents were aware they had the right to access information held by a range of Australian Government agencies.
The proportion of those aware did not vary by state.
Figure 1
Did you know, you have a right to access information (including any of your personal information) held by the following agencies?
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005, NSW/ACT n=335, NT n=12*, QLD n=205, SA n=74, TAS n=23*, VIC n=253, WA n=103)
*CAUTION; small base size
Awareness of right to access information from a range of Australian Government agencies
Awareness of the right to access information was highest for Australian Government and lowest for Australian Government ministers.
Males were significantly more aware of their ability to access personal information, while older participants were more knowledgeable of their right to access policy and procedural documents, information held by statutory bodies and Ministers.
Figure 2
Did you know, you have a right to access information (including any of your personal information) held by the following agencies?
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005)
Importance of having the right to access information
Three quarters of participants felt that their right to access information held by the government is ‘very’ or ‘quite’ important.
Figure 3
How important is it to you that you have a right to access government information?
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005, NSW/ACT n=335, NT n=12*, QLD n=205, SA n=74, TAS n=23*, VIC n=253, WA n=103)
*CAUTION; small base size
Presumed source of Government information
The most common source of access to information was felt to be through the internet.
Younger respondents (18-34) were significantly more likely to search for government information via an internet search, a third-party website, social media or news sites, whereas older respondents were more likely to contact their local member/MP or seek information from sources that were not listed, such as friends and family.
Figure 4
If you wanted to access government information, how would you go about searching for it?
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005)
Incidence of attempting to access information
Over one third had attempted to access information held by at least one in the range of Australian Government agencies.
18-34 years olds were more likely to have contacted at least one organisation, while those aged over 55 years were less likely to have attempted to access information.
Figure 5
In the last 3 years have you tried to access information held by Australian Government agencies:
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005, NSW/ACT n=335, NT n=12*, QLD n=205, SA n=74, TAS n=23*, VIC n=253, WA n=103)
*CAUTION; small base size
Attempts to access information from a range of Australian Government agencies
Around a third had tried to access information held by the Australian government.
Younger respondents (18-34) were more likely to have contacted the Australian government to access personal information or procedural documents.
Respondents attempting to access information, had tried on average to contact 1.5 agencies
Figure 6
In the last 3 years have you tried to access information held by Australian Government agencies?
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005)
Success in attempting to access information
Most respondents who tried to access information were successful in doing so at least once.
Younger respondents (aged 18-34) were significantly more successful in accessing information while those aged over 55 were significantly less likely to be successful.
Figure 7
Did you access the information successfully?
Base: Respondents who tried to access information from at least one agency (Total n=369, NSW/ACT n=127, NT n=7*, QLD n=68, SA n=21*, TAS n=5*, VIC n=97, WA n=44)
*CAUTION; small base size
Success in attempting to access information from a range of Australian Government agencies
Most respondents across the states who tried to access information held by the Australian Government were successful in doing so.
| Response | Total # (n=272) | NSW/ACT # (n=101*) | NT #(n=2*) | QLD # (n=49) | SA # (n=14*) | TAS # (n=4*) | VIC # (n=65) | WA # (n=37) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, it was already available online | n=157 (59%) | n=51 | n=2 | n=32 (67%) | n=10 | n=4 | n=39 (60%) | n=19 (56%) |
| Yes, they sent it to me straight away | n=36 (13%) | n=13 (13%) | - | n=6 (13%) | - | - | n=13 (20%) | n=4 (11%) |
| Yes, but I had to make a formal access application | n=25 (9%) | n=12 (12%) | - | n=2 (5%) | n=2 | - | n=4 | n=5 (13%) |
| No, I only got partially what I wanted | n=25 (9%) | n=13 (13%) | - | n=4 (8%) | - | - | n=5 (8%) | n=3 (8%) |
| No, I did not get it | n=15 (6%) | n=7 (7%) | - | n=1 (2%) | n=2 | - | n=2 (2%) | n=4 (11%) |
| Other | n=10 (4%) | n=4 (4%) | - | n=3 (6%) | n=1 | - | n=2 (3%) | - |
N.B These are raw scores and not percentages
Base: Respondents who tried to access information from Australian government departments/agencies (Total n=269, NSW/ACT n=101, NT n=2*, QLD n=49, SA n=14*, TAS n=4*, VIC n=65, WA n=37)
*CAUTION; small base size
Success in attempting to access information from Federal statutory bodies
Those who contacted Federal statutory bodies were also largely successful.
| Response | Total # (n=80) | NSW/ACT # (n=27*) | NT #(n=0*) | QLD # (n=11*) | SA # (n=4*) | TAS # (n=1*) | VIC # (n=29*) | WA # (n=8*) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, it was already available online | n=36 (44%) | n=16 | - | n=7 | - | - | n=12 | n=1 |
| Yes, they sent it to me straight away | n=15 (19%) | n=4 | - | n=1 | n=2 | - | n=8 | n=1 |
| Yes, but I had to make a formal access application | n=16 (19%) | n=4 | - | n=1 | n=1 | n=1 | n=6 | n=3 |
| No, I only got partially what I wanted | n=6 (8%) | n=2 | - | n=1 | n=1 | - | n=1 | n=1 |
| No, I did not get it | n=6 (7%) | n=2 | - | - | - | - | n=3 | n=1 |
| Other | n=2 (3%) | - | - | n=2 | - | - | - | - |
N.B These are raw scores and not percentages
Base: Respondents who tried to access information from Federal statutory bodies (Total n=80, NSW/ACT n=27*, NT n=0*, QLD n=11*, SA n=4*, TAS n=1*, VIC n=29*, WA n=8*
*CAUTION: small base size
Success in attempting to access personal information from the Australian Government
Respondents tended to be successful in accessing personal information from the Australian Government.
| Response | Total # (n=97) | NSW/ACT # (n=31*) | NT #(n=3*) | QLD # (n=12*) | SA # (n=11*) | TAS # (n=2*) | VIC # (n=28*) | WA # (n=9*) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, it was already available online | n=36 (37%) | n=11 | n=2 | n=6 | - | - | n=11 | - |
| Yes, they sent it to me straight away | n=18 (18%) | n=3 | - | n=2 | n=2 | n=2 | n=9 | - |
| Yes, but I had to make a formal access application | n=16 (16%) | n=5 | n=1 | - | n=1 | - | n=5 | n=3 |
| No, I only got partially what I wanted | n=13 (13%) | n=8 | - | n=3 | n=1 | - | n=1 | n=2 |
| No, I did not get it | n=11 (12%) | n=2 | - | - | - | - | n=2 | n=4 |
| Other | n=3 (3%) | n=1 | - | n=2 | - | - | - | - |
N.B These are raw scores and not percentages
Base: Respondents who tried to access personal information from the Australian Government (Total n=97, NSW/ACT n=33*, NT n=3*, QLD n=12*, SA n=9*, TAS n=2*, VIC n=27*, WA n=6*)
*CAUTION: small base size
Success in attempting to access policy and procedural documents from the Australian Government
Nearly all those who attempted to access policy and procedural documents were successful.
| Response | Total # (n=56) | NSW/ACT # (n=19*) | NT #(n=3*) | QLD # (n=13*) | SA # (n=6*) | TAS # (n=1*) | VIC # (n=11*) | WA # (n=2*) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, it was already available online | n=38 (68%) | n=12 | n=3 | n=11 | n=5 | - | n=6 | - |
| Yes, they sent it to me straight away | n=3 (6%) | - | - | - | - | n=1 | n=1 | n=1 |
| Yes, but I had to make a formal access application | n=10 (18%) | n=2 | - | n=2 | n=1 | - | n=3 | n=1 |
| No, I only got partially what I wanted | n=5 (9%) | n=5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
N.B These are raw scores and not percentages
Base: Respondents who tried to access policy and procedural documents from the Australian Government (Total n=53, NSW/ACT n=18*, NT n=2*, QLD n=10*, SA n=6*, TAS n=1*, VIC n=14*, WA n=3*)
*CAUTION: small base size
Success in attempting to access information from Ministers
The majority of the small number of respondents who attempted to access information from Ministers were successful in doing so.
| Response | Total # (n=34*) | NSW/ACT # (n=12*) | NT #(n=2*) | QLD # (n=4*) | SA # (n=1*) | TAS # (n=1*) | VIC # (n=12*) | WA # (n=2*) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, it was already available online | n=11 | n=3 | - | n=2 | n=1 | - | n=4 | n=1 |
| Yes, they sent it to me straight away | n=4) | n=1 | - | n=1 | - | n=1 | n=1 | - |
| Yes, but I had to make a formal access application | n=7 | n=1 | - | - | - | - | n=5 | n=1 |
| No, I only got partially what I wanted | n=5 | n=4 | - | n=1 | - | - | n=1 | - |
| No, I did not get it | n=2 | n=2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other | n=5 | n=1 | n=2 | - | - | - | n=1 | - |
N.B These are raw scores and not percentages
Base: Respondents who tried to access information from Australian Government Ministers (Total n=33*, NSW/ACT n=13*, NT n=2*, QLD n=4*, SA n=1*, TAS n=1*, VIC n=10*, WA n=2*)
*CAUTION: small base size
Reasons for not attempting to access information
The main reason for not attempting to access government information, was a lack of need to.
Around one in ten respondents are unaware of being able to access information, with this more prevalent in Queenslanders and amongst those aged 18-34.
Figure 8
Why haven’t you tried to access government held information?
Base: Respondents who had not attempted to access information (Total n=635)
Presumed sources of resolving issues accessing information
Most were likely to contact either the agency involved or the Ombudsman if they had an issue accessing information.
Younger respondents (18-34) were more likely to address another government department or not know what to do.
Over 55 year olds more likely to contact an MP.
Figure 9
If you wanted to complain about an issue you had accessing information or about the process you went through or a decision made by an Australian (Federal) Government agency, who would you be MOST likely to contact?
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005)
Awareness of the OAIC
The majority of respondents were not aware of the existence of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
Those unaware of OAIC were more likely to have not tried to access information held by any government entity.
Figure 10
Before today, did you know that there is a body called the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner that exists to uphold Australian (Federal) Government freedom of information laws?
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005, NSW/ACT n=335, NT n=12*, QLD n=205, SA n=74, TAS n=23*, VIC n=253, WA n=103)
*CAUTION: small base size
Demographics
Participant demographics
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005, NSW/ACT n=335, NT n=12*, QLD n=205, SA n=74, TAS n=23*, VIC n=253, WA n=103)
*CAUTION: small base size
| Gender | Total % | NSW/ACT % | NT % | QLD % | SA % | TAS % | VIC % | WA % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Female | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Q: Are you…?
| Age | Total % | NSW/ACT % (n=335) | NT % (n=12*) | QLD % (n=202) | SA % (n=74) | TAS % (n=24*) | VIC % (n=252) | WA % (n=103) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 10 | 14 | - | 9 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| 25-34 | 19 | 14 | 36 | 19 | 19 | 10 | 20 | 26 |
| 35-44 | 15 | 13 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 14 | 16 | 20 |
| 45-54 | 19 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 16 |
| 55-64 | 14 | 15 | - | 12 | 13 | 24 | 15 | 10 |
| 65-74 | 14 | 13 | 25 | 16 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 14 |
| 75+ | 9 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 20 | 10 | 8 |
Q: Which of the following age brackets do you belong to?
| Working status | Total % (n=1005) | NSW/ACT % (n=335) | NT % (n=12*) | QLD % (n=202) | SA % (n=74) | TAS % (n=24*) | VIC % (n=252) | WA % (n=103) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working full time | 36 | 38 | 42 | 33 | 33 | 38 | 39 | 28 |
| Working part time | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 21 |
| Student | 6 | 7 | - | 6 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 4 |
| Unemployed | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | - | 8 | 10 |
| Engaged in home duties | 7 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 9 | 12 |
| Retired | 25 | 23 | 25 | 31 | 31 | 34 | 23 | 25 |
Q: Which of these categories best describes you?
| Language | Total % (n=1005) | NSW/ACT % (n=335) | NT % (n=12*) | QLD % (n=202) | SA % (n=74) | TAS % (n=24*) | VIC % (n=252) | WA % (n=103) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 94 | 94 | 91 | 96 | 95 | 96 | 93 | 96 |
| Other | 6 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
Q: What is the main language spoken at home?
Long descriptions
Figure 1 — Total awareness of right to access information
Q4/Q5: Did you know, you have a right to access information (including any of your personal information) held by the following agencies?
Percentage of 'yes' responses:
- Total: 87%
- NSW/ACT: 85%
- NT*: 84%
- QLD: 87%
- SA: 87%
- TAS*: 87%
- VIC: 88%
- WA: 87%
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005, NSW/ACT n=335, NT n=12*, QLD n=202, SA n=74, TAS n=24*, VIC n=252, WA n=102)
*CAUTION; small base size
Figure 2 — Awareness of right to access information from a range of Australian Government agencies
Q4/Q5: Did you know, you have a right to access information (including any of your personal information) held by the following agencies?
Percentage of 'yes' responses:
- Australian (Federal) government departments/agencies (e.g. Centrelink, Home Affairs): 83%
- Federal statutory bodies such as ACCC and ASIC: 60%
- Australian (Federal) Government – your personal information: 41%
- Australian (Federal) Government – policy and procedural documents: 41%
- Australian (Federal) Government Ministers: 36%
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005)
Figure 3 — Importance of having the right to access information
Q5/Q6: How important is it to you that you have a right to access government information?
| Response | Total | NSW/ACT | NT* | QLD | SA | TAS* | VIC | WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very important | 53 | 54 | 43 | 44 | 49 | 53 | 56 | 51 |
| Quite important | 32 | 38 | 45 | 39 | 30 | 28 | 33 | 28 |
| Not all that important | 12 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 14 |
| Not important at all | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005, NSW/ACT n=335, NT n=12*, QLD n=205, SA n=74, TAS n=23*, VIC n=253, WA n=103)
*CAUTION; small base size
Figure 4 — Presumed source of Government information
Q5/Q6: If you wanted to access government information, how would you go about searching for it?
- Internet/Google: 57%
- Government agency website: 45%
- Freedom of information application: 13%
- Third-party access to information website: 8%
- Social media: 5%
- Local member/ MP: 4%
- News site: 4%
- Other: 16%
- Don't know: 11%
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005)
Figure 5 — Incidence of attempting to access information
Q7/Q8: In the last 3 years have you tried to access information held by held by the Australian government?
Percentage who responded 'yes':
- Total: 37%
- NSW/ACT: 38%
- NT*: 55%
- QLD: 34%
- SA: 29%
- TAS*: 22%
- VIC: 38%
- WA: 43%
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005, NSW/ACT n=335, NT n=12*, QLD n=205, SA n=74, TAS n=23*, VIC n=253, WA n=103)
*CAUTION; small base size
Figure 6 — Attempts to access information from a range of Australian Government agencies
Q7/Q8: In the last 3 years have you tried to access information held by held by the Australian government.
- Australian (Federal) government departments/agencies (e.g. Centrelink, Home Affairs): 27%
- Federal statutory bodies such as ACCC and ASIC: 8%
- Australian (Federal) Government — your personal information: 10%
- Australian (Federal) Government — policy and procedural documents: 6%
- Australian (Federal) Government Ministers: 3%
- Did not attempt to access information: 63%
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005)
Figure 7 — Success in attempting to access information
Q8/Q9: Did you access the information successfully?
Percentage of 'yes' responses:
- Total: 83%
- NSW/ACT: 80%
- NT*: 95%
- QLD: 87%
- SA*: 87%
- TAS: 100%
- VIC: 88%
- WA: 73%
Base: Respondents who tried to access information from at least one agency (Total n=369, NSW/ACT n=127, NT n=7*, QLD n=68, SA n=21*, TAS n=5, VIC n=97, WA n=44)
*CAUTION; small base size
Figure 8 — Reasons for not attempting to access information
Q10/Q9: Why haven’t you tried to access government held information?
- No need to: 86%
- Didn't know they could: 7%
- Didn't know how to: 5%
- Heard process is difficult: 3%
- Unlikely to be successful: 0%
- Other: 0%
Base: Respondents who had not attempted to access information (Total n=635)
Figure 9 — Presumed sources of resolving issues accessing information
Q10/Q11: If you wanted to complain about an issue you had accessing information or about the process you went through or a decision made by an Australian (Federal) Government agency, who would you be MOST likely to contact?
- The agency involved: 31%
- Ombudsman: 23%
- An MP: 12%
- Search internet/do some research: 11%
- The [Freedom of] Information Commissioner: 6%
- Another government department: 2%
- Other: 2%
- Don't know: 14%
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005)
Figure 10 — Awareness of the OAIC
Q11/Q12: Before today, did you know that there is a body called the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner that exists to uphold Australian (Federal) Government freedom of information laws?
| Response | Total | NSW/ACT | NT* | QLD | SA | TAS* | VIC | WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 16 | 15 | 31 | 15 | 11 | 25 | 20 | 10 |
| No | 84 | 85 | 69 | 85 | 89 | 75 | 80 | 90 |
Base: All respondents (Total n=1005, NSW/ACT n=335, NT n=12*, QLD n=205, SA n=74, TAS n=23*, VIC n=253, WA n=103)
*CAUTION: small base size
