Access to Information

The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (the GIPA Act) commenced 1 July 2010 and replaced the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and access to information provisions in the Local Government Act (section 12 & 13).

The focus of the GIPA Act is to maintain and advance a system of responsible and representative democratic government that is open, accountable, fair and effective.  The Act requires Council to proactively release information where possible, providing there is no overriding public interest against disclosure.

The Act establishes four ways that the public can access Council information:

1.  Mandatory Disclosure

Some Council documents are considered ‘open access’ and will generally be published on Council’s website.  If you are seeking an ‘open access’ document which is not available on the website, please contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on 9748 9999 or send an email to council@strathfield.nsw.gov.au.  There are delays in processing documents to the website due to resources and systems capacity issues.  Open Access information includes:

• Policy documents
• Council’s ‘open access’ documents
• Agency Information Guide(PDF, 1MB)
  
• Disclosure Log of access applications
• Government Contracts Register

2.  Informal Release

Council can also release information in response to an informal request providing there is no overriding public interest against disclosure.  Requests for informal release do not involve any fees or charges, except copying charges (where relevant).

Council can determine how the request is processed and in what form the information will be supplied.  Informal application decisions are not reviewable.

 

3.  Formal Access

Persons making a formal access application have a legally enforceable right to be provided with this access unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information. Formal Access applications must be in writing, specifying that access to information is sought under the GIPA Act, accompanied by a fee of $30 and must contain enough detail to identify the information to which access is sought.  Additional processing charges may apply to these applications.

Formal Access applications only apply to information held at the time the application is received and include information held by the agency’s contractors engaged to provide services to the public on behalf of the agency. Formal Access applications are not required for Open Access information. Decisions are reviewable in certain circumstances.

 

4.  Proactive Release

In addition to the mandatory release of information, we are authorised to make any other information publicly available providing there is no overriding public interest against disclosure. There is an overriding public interest against disclosure of government information for the purposes of the GIPA Act, if there are public interest considerations against disclosure and, on balance, those considerations outweigh the public interest considerations in favour of disclosure.

5. Returns Disclosing the Interests of Councillors, Senior Staff and Designated Officers – Clause 4.21 of the Model Code of Conduct

As required under Council’s Code of Conduct and the Information and Privacy Commissions Guideline 1: For Local Councils on the disclosure of information contained in the returns disclosing the interest of Councillors and designated persons developed under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) the following Annual Returns are published:

Council has identified that the following personal information is to be redacted from each of the Annual Returns:

• Councillors, Senior Staff and Designated Officers principle place of residence; and
• Councillors, Senior Staff and Designated Officers signature details.

Any additional redactions to the Annual Returns published have been determined by Council based on reasoning under the Public Interest Considerations Against Disclosure as set out in the table contained in Section 14 of the GIPA Act and after due consideration of any application made to suppress an applicant’s personal information from a public register.

All applications to view the annual returns may be made by contacting Council on 02 9748 9999 or emailing governance@strathfield.nsw.gov.au.

The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 requires Council to publish an Agency Information Guide. This publication guide describes the structure and functions of Council, the various kinds of information Council holds and how the public can access the information.

Strathfield Council’s Agency Information Guide can be viewed or downloaded (see below).

If you require any further information, please contact Council on 9748 9999.