Access to Information

On 1 July 2010, the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) replaced the Freedom of Information Act 1989 (FOI).

Government Information Public Access (GIPA) is the right to information and is the presumption in favour of the disclosure of government information unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. The GIPA Act 2009 establishes a comprehensive system for public access to government information.

This new legislation is designed to:

authorize and encourage the proactive release of information,
giving members of the public an enforceable right to obtain government information, and
only restricting access to government information when there is an overriding public interest against disclosure.

What is Government Information?

Government information is any record held by an agency, a private sector entity or the State Records Authority to which the agency has an immediate right of access, or a record that is in the possession or under the control of a person in his or her capacity as an officer of the agency. A record means any document or other source of information compiled, recorded or stored in written form or by electronic process, or in any other manner or by any other means.

Under new the legislation there are four options the public have to Right to Information:

1. Mandatory Disclosure

This covers mandatory information free of charge and accessible to the public. This includes information such as corporate documents (annual reports, policies and publications), disclosure log and contract register – contracts over the value of $150,000.

View our contracts over $150,000.

2. Proactive Release

The Trust is to provide as much information held to be publicly available, unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure. You can contact the Trust on 9895 7500 for more information if it cannot be accessed on our website.

3. Informal Request

Specific information provided on an informal basis. For further information please contact the Trust or refer to the GIPA legislation – Informal Information legislation.

Please note, processing and final decisions on informal requests may take up to 20 business days.

4. Formal request

Information that is not accessible or informally provided to the public can be requested via a Formal Request For Information application. For further information please contact the Trust or refer to the GIPA legislation – Informal Information legislation.

Please note, a $30.00 application fee is payable upon request. Third Party Consultancy may need to be addressed and further fees may be involved.

How can I get more information?