International Access to Information Day

Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age

International Access to Information Day (IAID) is held on 28 September every year and recognises the community’s right to access government-held information.

The right to information is enshrined in access to information laws across Australia and New Zealand. We are among more than 139 nations around the world to guarantee citizens these rights.

This year marks 10 years since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.

In 2025, the UNESCO theme is ‘Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age’. You can find out more about the global celebration on the UNESCO website.

In the ACT, the Freedom of Information Act 2016 (ACT) provides a right of access to government information and requires agencies and Ministers to make their open access information publicly available.

The ACT Government publishes environmental research reports and data online on both the Environment website, Open Access Information and Open Data Portal websites.

Jurisdictions across Australia and the world are marking IAID in different ways. See how you can get involved:

25 September 2025

9:30am to 11:30am – Office of the Information Commissioner QLD - Solomon Lecture with Sheree Marris ‘Reef of Truth: What Coral Can Teach Us About Power, Access and Action’ (livestream available). More information is available here.

30 September 2025

9:30am - 10:30am - NSW Information and Privacy Commission - NSW Right to Know Week 2025 Event 'Ensuring access to environmental information in the digital age' panel discussion. Register for the event here.

10:00am to 11:45am AEST - Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner - 'Guaranteeing the right to access to information in a turbulent world'. Presentation by Guilherme Canela de Souza Godoi, Director of the Division for Digital Inclusion and Policy and Digital Transformation, and Secretary of the Information for All Programme, UNESCO.

Registration for the event via Microsoft teams is available here.

1 October 2025

10:00am to 10:45am AEST - Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner - Information Access Series: 'The ideal state of Freedom of Information in Victoria'.

Registration for the event via Microsoft teams is available here.