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. This year’ theme is ‘Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age’. Find out more about how you can get involved and celebrate the day.
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The 2025 UNESCO theme for International Access to Information Day (or IDUAI as it is badged internationally) is ‘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.
It focuses on the vital importance of timely, comprehensive, and cross-border access to environmental information in an increasingly digital world.
The OAIC will mark this day of international significance on the day and with a week full of events and announcements to recognize the public's right to access information and promote open government.
"Environmental data, encompassing climate change, pollution, biodiversity, and disaster risks, transcends national borders, necessitating collaborative, transparent, and innovative global sharing of information. This theme also highlights how digital technologies and open data platforms can enhance public access, foster transparency, and empower citizens and stakeholders to participate meaningfully in environmental governance and sustainable development." UNESCO
IAID in Australia
There will be a range of events and highlights across the week around IAID this year. If you are an Australian Government FOI practitioner, subscribe to our ICON alerts for news and updates about IAID and other OAIC news. We will also be sharing an IAID supporter pack with a range of #AccessToInfoDay material that government agencies can use – as well as sharing some here on our IAID 2025 web page in the coming days. IAID is an opportunity to share key messages about access to information, and spotlight the important role that government agencies play in managing information for public purposes.
It's also a great time to give more visibility to the important work done by FOI practitioners across government, and why access to information is so important.
About FOI and access to government information
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.
Our governments run on information, collecting and creating data and documents about government policies, services and decision making and using and storing our personal information.
Across Australia, we all have a right to access government information.
It may be freely available through government websites or reports or shared informally or securely through online portals and apps.
In some cases, you may need to make a formal request for documents.
Getting timely access to information can help you make better informed decisions about things that affect you.
Access to information also encourages better decision making across government making it more transparent, open and accountable, and helping participation and trust grow and thrive.
Your right to access information is protected by law and overseen by information commissioners and ombudsmen across Australia.
Events
2025 Solomon Lecture
The Solomon lecture, put on each year by the Office of the Information Commissioner Queensland is a highlight of IAID activities each year and in 2025 will feature guest keynote marine biologist, advocate and author Sheree Marris. Sheree has a deep passion for the ocean and uses underwater photography to help bridge scientific research and public awareness. Sheree is one of Australia’s foremost environmental communicators, appearing in the media, contributing to publications, and engaging with audiences through public speaking at events.
This event is in-person and livestreamed.
25 Sep 2025
South Brisbane
The International Day for Universal Access to Information 2025
The global event to mark the day, hosted by UNESCO and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, will take place in Manila on 29–30 September 2025.
This landmark event (which is hybrid) marks the 10th anniversary of the designation of 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information, reflecting a decade of progress and challenges in the right to information worldwide.
29 Sep 2025
Manila, Philippines
OAIC FOI Regulatory Update Webinar
Are you an Australian Government FOI practitioner? Tune in for the latest in our series of FOI webinars to hear from the OAIC. This webinar will include regulatory insights and also relate to this year’s IAID theme: ‘Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age’.
Email icon@oaic.gov.au from your work email to register your interest.
30 Sep 2025
Online
Guaranteeing the right to access to information in a turbulent world
This International Access to Information Day (IAID), the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) has a special online event with special guest 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.
30 Sep 2025
Online
UDIAI/IAID – official day
The day aims to bolster transparency, accountability, and sustainable development by highlighting the importance of timely, comprehensive, and cross-border access to environmental information in an increasingly digital world. This year's 2025 theme focusing on "Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age.
30 Sep 2025
Hybrid
Information Access Series: The ideal state of Freedom of Information
As part ofits IAID activities, the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) has a special Information Access Webinar on the Ideal state of Freedom of Information in Victoria. Join Emma Stephens, Principal Policy Officer at OVIC, to hear about the Committee’s recommendation to replace the FOI Act with a new Right to information Act in Victoria.
