International Access to Information Day

The right to information is enshrined in access to information laws across Australia and New Zealand. We are among more than 120 nations around the world to guarantee citizens these rights — a significant expansion since 2009 when UNESCO recorded only 40 countries with these laws.

Australia’s Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) recognises that the information government holds is a national resource and is managed for public purposes, and that public access to it should be prompt and at the lowest reasonable cost. The FOI Act applies to Australian Government ministers and most agencies, and other Australian states and territories have equivalent legislation.

IAID 2026

The 2026 UNESCO theme for IAID is Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder.

The OAIC’s 2026 theme of Transparency + Access = Information Integrity complements the UNESCO theme by highlighting the important role of transparency and access in promoting information integrity. Transparency and access to reliable government information are vital to information integrity and can help address the challenges posed by misinformation, disinformation and information disorder.

Learn more about IAID 2026 and how you can participate

Access to Information Icon

Access to government information is a cornerstone of transparent, accountable and open government. Endorsed by the Association of Information Access Commissioners (AIAC) in April 2026, the Access to Information icon has been developed to provide the public with a nationally consistent and recognisable entry point to proactively published information, disclosure logs, publication schemes and pathways for requesting government-held information.

The AIAC is comprised of independent Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen of Australia and New Zealand who have oversight responsibilities, under their respective state and national jurisdictions, for access to information laws.

The icon ensures agencies can increase accessibility to already published information, improve discoverability of information, and support an open-by-design approach to government transparency.

Using the icon in your agency

• Icons for Access to Information
• Icon Style Guide
• Guide to the Access to Information page on an agency’s website
• Icon Implementation Guide

Past IAID campaigns

IAID 2025

The OAIC joined members of the United Nations and Australian states and territories in marking International Access to Information Day (IAID) 2025.

The 2025 UNESCO theme for International Access to Information Day (or IDUAI as it is badged internationally) was "Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age", with a focus on advancing access to environmental information as a pillar of transparency, accountability, and sustainable development.

IAID 2024

The 2024 UNESCO theme for IAID was ‘mainstreaming access to information and participation in the public sector’.

Read the joint statement ‘Mainstreaming’ access to information a must for IAID 2024.

Watch the IAID 2024 event International Access to Information Day 2024