A good article, Don. "rights" are derived from fulfillment of obligations, they don't have a magical separate existence.

However, we can certainly aspire to enhancing life experiences in general and improving the minimum basic standards of treatment of people as a part of the obligation of the state to its citizens. Unfortunately, some of our lesser thinkers on these topics have the view that whatever they perceive as good for them should be a right and everyone else can go to buggery.

Never mind, this too shall pass and the best we can hope to do is to give our children and grandchildren a world that isn't too badly buggered by the greed and magic pudding economic delusions of their grandparents' generation.

I don't often agree with the musings of academics, but in this case Mr AITKIN is right. Every three years or so, we elect a government to do the things they say they'll do. I do not wish for a running commentary on each and every action or omission that government undertakes unless that specific policy or undertaking, is going seriously awry ? This LNP govt. said they'd stop the boats, that they've done, thank you.

Disagree

In our democracy most Federal politicians we elect support Acts of Federal Parliament that rightly exclude some activities and bodies from FOI. There is something called the Archives Act.

Most Federal politicians also support laws that back up the system of security classifications/cavaets which rightly restrict any so-called "right to know".

People overseas, for example the SAS, do very personally dangerous things on behalf of Australia.

Should these SAS be endangered by the author's safely philosophical "right to know"?

Politicians and others in government have wider responsibilities than retired academics.

I agree some things need to be kept secret, problem is where that line is drawn.

As to economic invaders to give out information could help the smugglers so don't say anything unless you have to.

There is one secret negotiation going on at the moment that absolutely should not be secret that is the TPP trade aggreement, this document if signed will override our laws and those of other countries with some of the provisions in it.

plantagenet, there are a few things that should be exempt from FOI. Matters subject to ongoing negotiation are one. National security is another.

We should not let peoples right to know things put our soldiers and spies at risk. But this does not mean all military and espionage related matters should remain secret. If a soldier commits a crime, the army should not cover it up, tempting as this may be to many. And abuse of process, such as use of bugging to obtain a commercial advantage in negotiations with East Timor, should always be exposed.

There are some border security related matters where secrecy is justified. But what occurs in detention centres is not one of them. And any actions that put refugees in more danger must be exposed, as they run counter to what many regard as the main reason for taking action in the first place.

Righton Aidan. I too proudly, nay heroically, resist some oversteppings of the establishment.

And the right of IS to have more rights, legal aid, Court and ABC time than Australian employees who quietly serve.