She has held senior legal practitioner roles in Commonwealth public service
The country’s sitting federal government has announced the five-year appointment of Alice Linacre as Australian freedom of information commissioner in the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), as of 29 September 2025.
According to a media release from Australia’s attorney-general, Linacre’s appointment followed a merit-based selection process and showed the government’s efforts to empower the OAIC to fulfill its key role.
“The Albanese Government is committed to ensuring that the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner is appropriately resourced to continue its important work,” said Michelle Rowland, Australia’s attorney-general. “I congratulate Ms Linacre on her appointment and thank her for her willingness to serve in the role.”
In a media release, the OAIC also welcomed Linacre’s appointment.
“Ms Linacre brings notable expertise to the role of FOI Commissioner in the law, administrative decision making, service delivery and a breadth of public sector leadership,” said Elizabeth Tydd, Australian information commissioner.
“The Australian Public Sector and the community will derive great benefit from this appointment and I am very much looking forward to working with Ms Linacre in this critical role,” Tydd added in the OAIC’s media release.
In the attorney-general’s media release, Rowland expressed gratitude to Linacre’s predecessor, Toni Pirani, for her significant contribution and time serving in the role.
“I also thank Commissioner Pirani for her significant service to the OAIC and the Australian community throughout her time as FOI Commissioner,” Tydd said in the OAIC’s media release. “I have been very grateful for her leadership, productivity and abiding commitment to delivering this important human right.”
The attorney-general’s media release provided more information on Linacre’s background.
Since 2022, she has been first assistant secretary for the courts and commercial division of the attorney-general’s department.
Also in 2022, Linacre received the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in providing and managing legal services and resources to supplement the government’s response to critical events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
She garnered significant experience in senior legal practitioner roles within the Commonwealth public service, including as chief counsel of the agriculture and water resources department.
Linacre entered the register of practitioners of the Federal Court and High Court of Australia in 2007 and earned admission to the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory in 2004.
She holds LLB and BA degrees, a graduate diploma in legal practice, and an executive master’s degree in public administration from the Australian National University.
“The continuation of the three-Commissioner model within the OAIC will ensure that information governance rights are better secured and effectively advanced for the Australian community,” Tydd said in the OAIC’s media release.
“Supported by my fellow Commissioners and dedicated staff within the OAIC we will continue to play a critical role in building public trust and confidence in both our democratic system of government and our economy,” Tydd added.
