Democracies are strengthened by providing members of the public regular opportunities to shape decisions, which they can only do if given the regular opportunities to participate in a manner that is taken seriously. This strategy, known as mainstreaming public participation in government, can ensure more legitimate governance by establishing close links with citizens, improved public service delivery by understanding citizen’s explicitly expressed needs, and greater social cohesion. Mainstreaming participation is characterized by making participatory innovations more commonplace, of a higher quality, and more impactful.

Our Council supports a culture of openness, transparency and accountability and we are committed to improving access to information consistent with the Right to Information Act 2009 and the Information Privacy Act 2009.

IAI Day is a timely opportunity to raise awareness about information access rights and how greater openness builds trust between government and the community.

If you are interested in finding out more you can watch a free talk by Professor A J Brown AM, professor of public policy and law in the School of Government & International Relations, Griffith University, where he specialises in public integrity, accountability, governance reform and public trust, who will deliver the 2024 Solomon Lecture on the morning of 26 September at The Edge, State Library of Queensland. The event will be in-person and live streamed.

Find out more and watch the Solomon Lecture here.

For more information visit www.gladstone.qld.gov.au/right-information or www.oic.qld.gov.au