News: Report on the operation of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009: 2010 - 2013
The Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Tydd has tabled a report in Parliament outlining the achievements of Government agencies and NSW councils in applying the principles of the GIPA Act.
Under section 37 of the Government Information (Information Commissioner) Act 2009 (GIIC Act), the Information Commissioner is required to provide to Parliament with an Annual Report on the operation of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (the Act). This will be the first year that such a report has been submitted.
The Report on the operation of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009: 2010 – 2013 demonstrates the advancement of the objectives of the GIPA Act through collective data provided by the five decision making sectors the GIPA Act applies to: NSW government agencies, state owned corporations, NSW councils, universities and Ministers and their staff.
The results of the report are promising and confirm that agencies are adopting the Act’s flexible and timely approach to decision making to support greater release of information as shown by:
- consistent and credible levels of information release
- high level of timeliness
- increasing number of valid applications and more invalid applications becoming valid
- the application of public interest considerations that align with the type of information held
- greater release of information through agency reviews
- variation of original decisions through the review process.
From the learnings of this inaugural report the Information Commissioner is working with all sectors to implement an integrated reporting framework, improve the data quality, enhance the decision making process and improve operational competencies in collaboration with the five decision making sectors.
For more information and to download a copy of the report and please click here.
