The years of negotiations about the abolition of ‘official secrecy’ may have been fruitful after all. In any case, the turquoise green government has now presented the corresponding draft reform of the ‘Freedom of Information Act’. Although the parliamentary resolution with the necessary two-thirds majority is still missing, Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler exudes confidence on krone.tv: “I am confident that I can convince the SPÖ or FPÖ to vote.”
But it won’t be that simple: the SPÖ and FPÖ have already expressed their concerns. In concrete terms, if this law is passed, not every Austrian municipality will be obliged to “proactively” provide information in response to questions from 2025, but only those municipalities that have at least 5,000 inhabitants or more.
How is our tax money used?
This involves, for example, passing on information to inquiring citizens about how tax money is used or what the zoning plans look like. Edtstadler: “In the future there will also be information that already appears in a central information register. Each municipality must then pass on this existing information.”
Information can be sued
Municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants must, in principle, process every request. Regardless of whether this request is submitted orally or in writing, for example by e-mail. And the information should be provided free of charge. A period of four weeks applies from the moment the request is submitted, with a maximum of eight weeks in complex cases. Information must be provided within this period: “Otherwise the information can be sued,” says Edtstadler.
Effective in 2025? Only with a two-thirds majority
If the Freedom of Information Act is passed with the necessary two-thirds majority, it will come into effect in 2025. Until then, some opposition parties still need to be convinced.
Further details, such as which areas need to be provided with information and what are so-called “dark villages”, can be seen in the video above.
We explain what Austria is currently dealing with: the latest news conversations with politicians and experts.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
