My first and quite unnecessary comment is that if anyone can speak with authority about Freedom of Information (“FOI”) in Australia and about the origins of the Commonwealth’s Freedom of Information Act in particular it surely is Mr Lindsay Curtis. I recall many of the events of 1973 onwards into 1979 when I retired from the Public Service. Especially I recall the long haul that was commenced in 1973 with the assistance of Mr Tony Mondello, the legal adviser to the United States Civil Service Commission, and that eventually reached fruition in 1982 with the passage of the FOI Act. All through that period Lindsay Curtis was more closely associated than any other public servant with the project. He has given us the benefit of that experience in an interesting, able and fluent paper.

My second and equally obvious comment is that the FOI Act is here to stay. Lindsay Curtis has said we are undergoing a revolution. I believe the revolution has already taken place. Some of us may find it rather difficult to live with the consequences.