Information Commissioner enhances guidance available for potential complainants under PID Act

The NSW Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Tydd, has finalised a set of guidance materials to assist Information and Privacy Commission's (IPC) officers, parties to public interest disclosures, and the public more generally, when considering and assessing complaints made to her under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 1994 (PID Act).

The IPC has developed these tools to support case management and provide guidance in dealing with PIDs relating to the management of government information.

The PID Act sets in place a system to encourage public officials to report wrongdoings. The NSW Information Commissioner is responsible for receiving complaints made as PIDs about government information contraventions, as provided for under the PID Act.

Following a period of internal consultation in April 2016, guidance materials for the management and assessment of complaints made to the Information Commissioner in terms of the PID Act have been finalised.  

The suite of resources includes three public facing resources to enhance transparency and understanding around the process and procedures the Information Commissioner applies in considering complaints made under the PID Act.  These resources are available on the IPC website’s Information access resources page and include:  

• Information for complainants – to identify what the process is for dealing with complaints
• Flow chart for PID complaint processes and procedures
• Decision Tree assessment of PIDs

Further information on the resources will be provided in the June issue of the IPC Bulletin. Click here to view previous issues of the IPC Bulletin and subscribe to receive future editions.