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Rationale for Access to Public Sector Information
Book chapter   Open access

Rationale for Access to Public Sector Information

Fiona Stanley
Access to Public Sector Information, pp.242-250
Sydney University Press
2010
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Open Access

Abstract

New technological methods and computer capacity now permit the acquisition, storage, linkage and analysis of large data sets from public sector agencies. The most challenging and ‘wicked’ problems (social or environmental) facing our society demand the best data to ascertain longitudinal trends accurately and across all groups in the population to enable the most cost effective decision making. If we have the capacity to improve situations for people, deliver more effective services, prevent diseases or other problems, avoid or ameliorate damaging environmental problems and so on, and if we do not do so, we are negligent. Public sector agencies collect a significant amount of information, much of which is not used or used simplistically or ineffectively to address major problems or to make public agencies more effective and accountable to the communities they serve. In Australia, such data exist in both Federal and state agencies, non-government organisations and within academic institutions. This paper makes the case for increased access to, and better use of, such data, with examples that are vital to Australia’s future success and prosperity.

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