Question: On the FOI bill, it does make it harder to access freedom of information documents. Does this break your promise for a more transparent and accountable Government?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

Not at all. It’s the opposite.

I stood here last week and spoke about a national security issue, including the expulsion of an ambassador – the first since the Second World War, since the Japanese Ambassador was expelled during World War II. I think most people, and people that I’ve had discussions with, would find it surprising that people can put in anonymous FOI requests.

What that means is that there’s no way to determine whether a foreign agent or actor is putting in requests about information that are sensitive, and no way of ascertaining that.

I think most Australians, and I know some of – without giving up people in the gallery – I know that there are people in the gallery I spoke with this morning, weren’t aware – and I don’t know if you were aware – that you can put in an FOI request anonymously. I’ve got to say, I was somewhat surprised by that. And the obvious implications of security, for example, are there for all to see.