Govt spent $1m fighting to hide information public had right to see

As Mr Patrick prepares to launch a fresh bid for a Senate seat, a new analysis reveals that he has proven an expensive thorn in the side of the Commonwealth.

"Secrecy is so much more expensive than transparency," Mr Patrick told this masthead.

"They've spent a million dollars losing to me ... Ultimately, it turns out to be information that the public is entitled to."

The former senator, who will run for a South Australian Senate seat with the Jacqui Lambie Network at the next federal election, will make transparency of government and the public service central to his campaign.

Cases lost by the government to Mr Patrick in courts and tribunals concern requests for documents relating to topics ranging from political lobbying and fuel security to foreign affairs and the environment - and the ability of agencies to refuse to hand over documents after a ministerial reshuffle.

They do not include legal fees incurred in cases fought during the Morrison government, which the former senator believes would push the total over $2.5 million.

"That's money that's taken away from other services," Mr Patrick said.

Documents tabled in the Senate show that, since the 2022 election, the government has spent more than $925,765 on FOI cases it lost to the former senator.

Mr Patrick said there were several other cases - and additional legal invoices related to the cases listed - which the Senate was waiting for disclosure on, which would add up to more than $100,000.

These include a Federal Court case in which he sought access to Defence nuclear safety documents from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The former senator said the Commonwealth had lost all 11 of his most recent FOI matters involving requests for documents from PM&C.

Also not included are the government's costs in fighting Mr Patrick's FOI of explosive correspondence between former Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding the official history of Australia's operations in Timor-Leste.

READ MORE:

A spokesperson for Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the government "supports Australians' right to obtain information under FOI laws".

"The government has demonstrated strong support for the FOI system, including substantially increasing funding for the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, and restoring a stand-alone Freedom of Information Commissioner," the spokesperson said.

"The activities of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, as well as decisions of courts, assist to clarify the interpretation of the FOI Act and its application to specific and unique circumstances."