As part of the Government's National Innovation and Science Agenda, the prime minister's office released its public data policy on December 7, 2015. The introduction to the policy highlights that Australia's capacity to remain competitive in the digital economy is contingent upon our ability to harness the value of data.

In making the announcement, the Government committed to optimise the use and reuse of public data; to release non-sensitive data as open by default; and to collaborate with the private and research sectors to extend the value of public data for the benefit of the Australian public.

The policy is based on the premise that making non-sensitive data, covering everything from meteorological records to geological information, open by default will contribute to greater innovation and productivity across all sectors of the Australian economy.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has long been a strong and public advocate for the benefits of accessible, free data, yet one of Australia's largest and most used datasets, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Registry, currently charges for access to its information.