Access to Information

Overview

On 1 July 2010 new right to information legislation came into effect, the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA), repealing and replacing the Freedom of Information Act 1989 (NSW) (FOI Act).

As part of this reform, the GIPA Act:

• upholds rights to information that are designed to meet community expectations of more open and transparent government;
• maintains there is a presumption in favour of the disclosure of government information unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure;
• authorises and encourages government agencies to proactively release government information;
• makes it possible for government agencies to release information informally, without the need to submit a formal access application;
• requires that a government agency must release information unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure;
• provides applicants with review rights around information access decisions.

Release of information by Council under the GIPA Act will be determined by the public interest test. As provided by section 13 of the Act, there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of information if (and only if) there are public interest considerations against disclosure and, on balance, those considerations outweigh the public interest considerations in favour of disclosure.

You can find out more about right to information, the public interest test and the ways to access government information under the GIPA Act on the NSW Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) website at www.ipc.nsw.gov.au. The IPC is an independent statutory authority responsible for overseeing the provisions of the GIPA Act. Please note the IPC does not and is unable to provide legal advice to stakeholders.

Accessing Council Information

There are four ways in which government information is available under the GIPA Act:

1. Mandatory release:

Certain information, referred to as open access information, must be published on the agency's website, free of charge.

2. Proactive release:

Beyond mandatory release, agencies are encouraged (and authorised) to release as much government information as possible.

3. Informal request:

Agencies are encouraged to informally release information, by excusing the need for a formal application (and fee) to be submitted.

4. Formal application:

This is the last resort if information is not accessible in any of the above 3 ways. Decisions made in response to formal applications can be reviewed.

Open Access Information

Council is required to publish open access information under section 18 of the GIPA Act including the following:

• Record of open access information not publicly available

• Other information as prescribed by the regulations as open access (see below)

Council is required to publish the following additional open access information under Schedule 1 to the Government Information (Public Access) Regulation 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Regulation):

• Information About Council
  • Annual Report
  • Delegations Index(PDF, 1MB)
• Council Policies
• Information about Development Applications
• Register of Voting on Planning Matters
• Information about approvals, orders and other documents

Proactive release

Under section 7(3) of the GIPA Act, Council is required to review its proactive release program at least every 12 months, to identify any information we hold that should in the public interest be made publicly available.

Council has identified the following as part of its Proactive Release Program 2017 review:

1.    Any information formally requested, not requiring third party consultation, where the applicant has indicated that they will be requesting regular updates.
2.    Media releases.
3.    Gift and benefit declarations register.
4.    Any Information considered to be of interest to the public (not already required to be released).

The information Council has decided to proactively make available is listed within Council's Agency Information Guide(PDF, 10MB).

Registers

Informal request

The informal release provisions under section 8 of the GIPA Act provides Council with the authority to release information without the need for a formal access application.

To lodge an informal request please complete the Informal Access Request(PDF, 302KB) form and return to Council.

Information can be informally requested from Council by contacting the Right to Information Officer on (02) 6392 3200 or emailing council@cabonne.nsw.gov.au

Please note the GIPA Act provides no statutory timeframe by which informal requests must be decided within. Council is not required to disclose government information pursuant to an informal request and is also not required to consider an informal request for government information (s8(3)). Council can decide however by what means information is to be released in response to an informal request (s8(4)).

Making a formal access application

If information can't be accessed through any of the above avenues, a formal access application(PDF, 357KB) can be submitted to Council. Council will request a formal application be made for information only as a last resort, likely necessary if an applicant asks for a large volume of information, if providing access would involve an unreasonable diversion of resources on behalf of Council (i.e. extensive search, retrieval from archives), or if the information sought involves personal or business information about third parties that must be consulted before the information can be released.

Section 41 of the GIPA Act lists the formal requirements for making a valid access application:

• it must be in writing sent to or lodged at Council;

• it must clearly indicate that it is an access application made under the GIPA Act;

• it must be accompanied by a $30 application fee;

• it must state a postal address in Australia as the address for correspondence in connection with the application;

• it must include such information as is reasonably necessary to enable the government information applied for to be identified.

Upon receipt of a valid access application, Council must give the applicant notice of its decision within 20 working days, although this time can be extended under section 57(2) to consult with third parties or retrieve information from archives. Processing charges at a rate of $30 per hour may also apply as part of deciding the application.

Applicants aggrieved with a reviewable decision set out under section 80 of the GIPA Act have the right to request a review of that decision. This fact-sheet outlines available review rights under the GIPA Act.

Where can I get more information about right to information?

Information and Privacy Commission NSW

GPO Box 7011, Sydney NSW 2001

In person - Sydney office

Level 17, 201 Elizabeth Street Sydney 2000 between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

NOTE: The building has full lift access

email: ipcinfo@ipc.nsw.gov.au

free call: 1800 472 679 between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)

website: http://www.ipc.nsw.gov.au

fact sheet: Your right to access government information in NSW(PDF, 138KB)