Media Release: RTI Must be Exempt from Budget Cuts in Light of Ombudsman’s Inquiry Bombshell
Government Must Respond to Independent RTI Report & Recommendations
In light of Ombudsman’s Inquiry Bombshell into RTI Privacy Failings
11 March 2026
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb called for a moratorium on any potential Budget cuts to either the Ombudsman’s Office, or any departmental Right to Information staff resourcing in light of a bombshell own motion investigation into RTI procedures released today.
“There must be an immediate moratorium on any potential State Budget cuts to either the Ombudsman’s Office, and other public sector RTI staffing and resources,” Ms Webb said.
“The profoundly shocking revelations of the Ombudsman’s own investigation detailing the wrongly released personal and private information by a range of our Government departments and public authorities demonstrate the urgent need for targeted training and stronger oversight of our Right to Information practices.
“The disturbing fact that a significant number of these breaches related to children who have been in State care due to sexual abuse concerns is an additional breach of trust which compounds that previous trauma.
“Random audits by the Ombudsman found 30% and 40% of RTIs wrongly released personal information. Those shocking results show a system under extreme stress due to systemic neglect and under-resourcing.
“These findings are huge red flags which cannot be ignored.”
Ms Webb said to turn this unacceptable situation around and restore public confidence in Tasmania’s vital RTI infrastructure, the Rockliff Government must commit to immediate resourcing of a dedicated strategy to strengthen and improve oversight of our RTI laws and implementation.
Ms Webb also flagged her debate in the Legislative Council next Tuesday (17/03) on her motion: Getting back on Track: Independent Review of Tasmania’s Right to Information Framework report released last September by Professor Tim McCormack and Adjunct Associate Professor Rick Snell.
“I am calling on the Rockliff Government to provide a formal response to that important piece of work.
“On Tuesday I will be debating my motion in the Legislative Council on the important McCormack and Snell independent RTI Review report and its recommendations.
“So far, the Rockliff Government has shirked providing a formal response to the independent RTI Review report, despite it being released in September last year. The debate next Tuesday will be a test to see whether and how the Government intends to act on these two significant reports.
“Both the former and current Ombudsman are to be commended for undertaking this own investigation into concerning departmental RTI procedures.
“However, it is now up to the Rockliff Government to heed these warning bells and act on both the Ombudsman’s recommendations and the Snell and McCormack recommendations.
“Guaranteeing an immediate moratorium on any budget-related cuts to either the Ombudsman’s Office or the broader RTI staffing and resourcing across our public agencies would be a good start,” Ms Webb said.
