‘A win for democracy’: Labor abandons freedom of information law changes that would have reduced transparency

Katy Gallagher told the Senate the government recognised the bill didn’t have the support of the parliament and wouldn’t pass. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The Labor government has dumped its controversial changes to the freedom of information request system, which would have imposed new fees and further reduced transparency, after admitting it had no pathway to passing the parliament.

But despite the major backdown, finance minister Katy Gallagher says the Albanese government is still committed to reforming the FoI system and is critical of public servants having to spend too much time responding to requests for government information and decision-making.