Gatekeeper or facilitator? The culture of implementing Freedom of Information law in Victoria, Australia

This paper reports the findings of a comprehensive capture and assessment of the culture of implementing Freedom of Information (FOI) law in the state of Victoria, Australia. The project used accountability theory to conceptualise a mixed methods approach comprising online surveys, focus groups and interviews. The partnership with the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner provided unprecedented access for the research team to FOI practitioners and government agency executives in building and maintaining a facilitative rather than a gatekeeper information access culture, and the crucial role of proactive information release policies.