Secrecy and openness

"Secrecy and Openness is a very important book on the history of official secrecy, openness, and propaganda in Australia." "Sir Robert Menzies was the faithful heir to a long tradition of secretive government. After he retired in 1966, we - the governed - came to know more than ever about the actions of those who governed us. The Whitlam government was a prominent agent in this change. Later, during the Hawke era, the concept of 'open government' moved from a policy dependent on political support to an independent legal doctrine." "Secrecy and Openness is richly documented, gaining much of its accuracy and force from information and documents which are not publicly available. Greg Terrill's success in gaining access to so much secret material speaks volumes for his curiosity, inventiveness, persistence and determination." "Secrecy and Openness offers a thoroughly researched expose on the way governments have refused to allow the governed access to the information upon which decisions are based. It is a salutary reminder of the long struggle for access to secret material - a struggle which continues today."--Jacket.