Although the findings of a Senate inquiry into the functions of the proposed Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) will not be available until March 16, the government has named Commonwealth Ombudsman John McMillan to head up the new office, The Australian reports. The OIC will incorporate the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner as well as the new Freedom of Information Commissioner and will oversee a revised Privacy Act and new Freedom of Information laws. iappANZ President Kevin Shaw described the shift in oversight as "an important step in addressing the often complex task of balancing the public right of access to information with the right of individual Australians to personal privacy." McMillan, who will begin his new role on March 8, said this "combination of privacy and FOI in a new office headed by the Information Commissioner, supported by the Privacy and FOI Commissioners, will transform information management in Australian government."
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