The Albanese government will urge the federal court to find that ministerial reshuffles wipe out its obligation to release certain documents under freedom of information law, insisting in a landmark appeal case that documents stop being official and are put beyond public reach whenever a minister changes.
On Friday, the court will hear the government’s appeal against a ruling made in March that “official documents of government” do not suddenly become unofficial just because a new minister takes over the relevant portfolio.
