Draft regulations intended to improve the ability of Government departments to share information were approved by the Senate yesterday.

Government Senate leader David Burch said the regulations would provide easier access to a great deal of information collected on a variety of topics.

"There is an enormous practical advantage to share information with other Government departments," he said.

Sen. Burch said the regulations will save time and duplication of effort in collecting data and allow different departments to create specialised mailing lists.

For example, the latest health and safety advice in the workplace could be sent direct to businesses, he said.

While the regulations were unanimously supported, Opposition Senators used the debate to criticise Government for not dispensing information in a more timely manner raising the long wait for the Census data as an example.

The 2000 Census data was released to the public last week.

"We have no objection but we do have a hope and prayer, in times to come, that we will be in receipt of information in a timely fashion," said UBP Sen. Leonard Santucci.

Independent Sen. Walwyn Hughes asked whether the information would also be available to the public and Sen. Burch replied that some of it would be.

Sen. Neville Darrell (UBP) also suggested making information more widely available to businesses in order to help them in their planning.

Sen. Burch said the delay in releasing the Census data had been no fault of Government's.

"We shall make every attempt to get information disseminated in a timely manner," Sen. Burch said.