Accessing IPC Information
The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act) provides an open and transparent process for giving the public access to information held by NSW public sector agencies, including information held by the IPC.
PLEASE NOTE: The Information and Privacy Commission of NSW does not hold information held by other NSW public sector agencies such as local councils, NSW Police and other government departments. To seek access to such information you should contact that agency directly. If you are unsure of who may hold the information you seek please contact the IPC for assistance.
You can access information that we have made available as open access information, or through an informal request or a formal request.
Open access information
In line with the objective that we oversee, and in compliance with the GIPA Act, the IPC publishes a range of open access information. This includes:
- Policy and planning documents
- Documents on the internal administration of the agency
- Internal working papers of the agency
- Documents prepared for submission to the Joint Parliamentary Committee
- Documents relating to reviews and investigations conducted by the Information Commissioner and the Privacy Commissioner
- Correspondence with the Premier, Ministers and the heads and staff of NSW government agencies
- Correspondence with the public
- Correspondence with the heads of privacy and information access authorities in other jurisdictions
- Guidelines and directions issued by the Privacy Commissioner and the Information Commissioner
- Information resources for the community, public sector and private sector.
Proactive Release
A key intention of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) is to encourage proactive public release of government information by NSW public sector agencies. This is one of the major ways to meet the GIPA Act’s broader goal of advancing democratic government that is open, accountable, fair and effective. Further information on the purpose of proactive release can be found in the Fact Sheet - Authorised proactive release of government information
The GIPA Act authorises agencies to release information through proactive release programs which must be reviewed each year.
The IPC reviews its proactive release program each year through the following mechanisms:
- assigning responsibility to a committee to identify government information that can be proactively released
- reviewing presentations and thought leadership articles by the Commissioners and determining whether to proactively release them on our website
- proactively releasing government information as it becomes available e.g. Quarterly Performance Data, GIPA Agency Dashboard, Mandatory Data Breach Statistics
- proactively releasing Media Releases, Statements and Publications relevant to agencies and the public on accessing government information and protecting their privacy
- publishing e-learning modules to assist agencies and the public in understanding information access and privacy concepts, guidelines and principles.
A Register of information that has been released through the IPC’s proactive release program, other than guides, factsheets and other educational material that is routinely published on our website, can be accessed below.
Informal release
If we haven't published the information you seek we may be able to release it to you without the need for a formal access application.
Where information is released to you in response to your informal request conditions may apply.
To make an informal access request please contact us via ipcinfo@ipc.nsw.gov.au
Making a formal application to the IPC for information that we hold
A person who makes an access application for government information has a legally enforceable right to be provided with access to information in accordance with Part 4 of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of information. Under section 43 of the GIPA Act, an access application cannot be made for information held by the Office of the Information Commissioner that relates to our review, complaint handling, investigative and reporting functions, or for information held by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner that relates to our review, complaint handling, investigative and reporting functions.
This is because these types of government information are excluded information of the IPC. Excluded information of particular agencies is defined in Schedule 2 of the GIPA Act.
Note: The IPC does not have access to information held by other NSW agencies nor do we process GIPA access applications on behalf of agencies.
Your application must be lodged with, and any payments made to, the agency that you are requesting information from. Click here for more information.
To submit a request for government information held by the IPC, simply complete our GIPA Access Application Form and provide it to our office. Note that the IPC chooses to exercise its discretion not to impose the $30 application fee.
If you cannot find the information you are seeking on this website, please contact us to assist you.
If you find that you are having difficulties reading our documents or other material, please contact us on 1800 472 679 so we can provide another option for you to access our material.
