Professor John McMillan.

The Federal Government has announced the opening date of the first Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

The Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010 will commence on November 1, 2010, with Professor John McMillan beginning as Australia’s first Information Commissioner.

Cabinet Secretary, Senator Joe Ludwig, said the opening of the office represents a “new era” for Freedom of Information in Australia.

“The Rudd Government is committed to driving a cultural shift across the bureaucracy and the opening of this new independent office and the Government’s enhancement of the FOI Act fulfil that,” Senator Ludwig said.

The OAIC will bring together the functions of information policy, privacy protection and freedom of information into the same agency.

Professor McMillan said the opening of the OAIC marked “historic change in Australian democratic practice”.

“In my early work in establishing the Office I have found widespread support for the reforms, in and outside government,” Professor McMillan said.

“Cultural change is underway.”