NSW Information Commissioner highlights the significance of public participation this Right to Know Week NSW 2024
Today, the NSW Information Commissioner, Rachel McCallum, launched Right to Know Week NSW 2024.
Right to Know Week NSW takes place this year from 23 – 29 September 2024 and focuses on raising awareness of the public about their right to access government information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) and educating NSW public sector agencies about their obligations.
The 2024 theme is ‘Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector in NSW.’
On this year’s theme, Commissioner McCallum said, “Right to Know Week supports NSW public sector agencies to explore opportunities to provide access to more government information, as well as to better understand their obligations.
“Transparency is a core pillar for supporting public participation in the public sector. In NSW, mandated openness under legislation is one reason the GIPA Act is a leading example of how to mainstream transparency in the public sector.
“Rights to access government information also make public participation both possible and meaningful. Successful public participation can help create more responsive and effective policies and increase trust between community and public institutions.”
With a focus on public participation this year, the IPC will be releasing its Right to Know Week Panel Discussion: Transparency and Empowering Public Participation. The Information Commissioner will be joined by expert panellists discussing matters on public participation, transparency and technology with a focus on artificial intelligence and automated decision-making.
“This year, I invite NSW government departments and agencies, universities, local councils, ministers’ offices and state-owned corporations to take proactive steps towards supporting public participation through greater digital transparency”, said Commissioner McCallum.
To celebrate Right to Know Week NSW 2024, the IPC is also releasing new translated guidance to support NSW’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities in understanding information access and privacy rights. The IPC is also highlighting several key resources including its fact sheet on automated decision-making, digital information and preserving information access rights.
Additional to these new resources, the IPC will be releasing an explainer video for NSW public sector agencies to better understand what they can expect when the IPC undertakes an external review of an agency’s information access decision.
More information, including events taking place during the week and resources on information access rights in NSW, are available on the Right to Know Week NSW 2024 website.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
The Manager, Communications and Corporate Affairs on 0435 961 691 or email communications@ipc.nsw.gov.au
About the Information and Privacy Commission:
The Information and Privacy Commission NSW (IPC) is an independent integrity agency that supports the NSW Information Commissioner and the NSW Privacy Commissioner. Its vision is that privacy and access to government information are valued and protected n NSW. The Information Commissioner is the chief executive of the Commission.
About the NSW Information Commissioner
The NSW Information Commissioner’s statutory role includes promoting public awareness and understanding of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act); providing information, advice, assistance and training to agencies and the public; dealing with complaints about agencies; investigating agencies’ systems, policies and practices; and reporting on compliance with the GIPA Act.
The Government Information (Information Commissioner) Act 2009 (GIIC Act) establishes the procedures for appointing the Information Commissioner and sets out the Commissioner's powers and functions. It outlines the method for people to complain about the conduct of agencies when undertaking their duties under the GIPA Act, and the way in which the Information Commissioner may deal with the complaint. The GIIC Act also enables the Information Commissioner to investigate and report on how agencies carry out their functions under the GIPA Act.
For further information, visit our website at http://www.ipc.nsw.gov.au
