How to access information
THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION PUBLIC ACCESS ACT 2009
From the 1 July 2010, the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) provides the public with access to government-held documents.
The GIPA Act aims to maintain and advance a system of responsible and representative democratic government that is open, accountable, fair and effective. The object of the GIPA Act is to open government information to the public by:
- authorising and encouraging the proactive public release of government information by agencies
- giving members of the public an enforceable right to access government information
- ensuring that access to government information is restricted only when there is an overriding public interest against disclosure
- conferring a legally enforceable right of access to information held by government agencies, subject to certain grounds for refusal
- requiring state government agencies to disclose contracts entered into with the private sector. The Act requires agencies to report details of contracts valued at $150,000 or more, provide additional information and publish results within 60 days.
More information about the GIPA Act, and access to government held information, is available on the NSW Information Commissioner's website.
HOW DO I ACCESS FORESHORE AUTHORITY INFORMATION?
The Foreshore Authority already provides access to information via its website, free of charge. This information is updated from time to time.
You may search for open access information online to find whether the information you are seeking is already available.
The Foreshore Authority also proactively releases information. If you cannot find the information you are looking for on this website, you can contact the person below to ask if the information you are after has been released by the Foreshore Authority either on this website or in another form.
Some information held by the Foreshore Authority may be accessible upon payment of a fee. If that is the case you will be advised.
OPEN ACCESS INFORMATION
Tabled documents
Foreshore Authority Annual Reports that have been tabled in Parliament are available online.
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Annual Reports
Cooks Cove Development Corporation Annual Reports
Please contact us if you require a hard copy of the documents listed.
Publication guide
The Foreshore Authority publication guide includes information similar to information contained in a Statement of Affairs previously published under the Freedom of Information Act 1989.
The publication guide is available in the related information section to the right. It tells you in general terms:
- what the Authority's structure and functions are
- what kind of government information the Authority holds
- what kind of government information the Authority will make available to the public
- how that information will be made available
- whether or not there is a charge to access specific kinds of information.
Disclosure log
A disclosure log is a record of information that the Foreshore Authority has released under the GIPA Act, often in response to a specific request from an individual or organisation that the Foreshore Authority thinks will also be of interest to other members of the public.
The disclosure log sets out the date the decision was made to release the information; a description of the information released; and details about whether that information is currently available and how it can be accessed.
The disclosure log is continuously updated as additional information is released under the GIPA Act.
You can find the Authority's updated disclosure log in the Related Information section on this page.
Register of government contracts
All contracts valued at more than $150,000 that the Foreshore Authority enters with the private sector must be recorded in the register of government contracts, which is published in the Contracts Register or the Standing Offer Notices on the NSW Government tenders website.
Details must to be entered in the register within 60 days of the contract coming into effect.
Details must remain on the register for 30 days, or until the contract is complete, whichever is longer.
The NSW Government tenders website must also provide details of current tender opportunities in accordance with Premiers Memorandum 2007-01.
INFORMAL RELEASE
If the information you are after has not already been published by the Foreshore Authority and there is no public interest reason why it should be kept confidential, then the Foreshore Authority may be able to release the information without the requirements of a formal release request.
If you think this applies to the information you are after you can contact the person below to make an informal request.
Under the GIPA Act, however, Government agencies are not required to release information without an access application.
The Foreshore Authority therefore reserves the right to require you to lodge a formal access application, particularly if there may be significant public interest considerations that need to be taken into account in deciding whether the information can be released or if you request a large volume of information or if it would otherwise take a significant amount of time to consider your request.
FORMAL RELEASE
Information may also be released in response to a formal access application.
A formal request for access to documents may be made by:
- completing an Access application. The form is available online, or a copy may be requested by contacting the information officer below or
- you may also apply in writing supplying all the details required under section 41 of the GIPA Act. Section 41 provides for the application to:
- be in writing
- state that it is made under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW)
- have an Australian postal address for return correspondence
- provide enough details to help the agency identify the information you want
- enclose the application fee of $30.
The written request or form may be lodged at the Foreshore Authority, or sent by post, together with the appropriate fee, if required, to:
Right to Information Officer
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
PO Box N408
GROSVENOR PLACE NSW 1220
Note: A request for information may be refused if there is an overriding public interest against disclosure or if searching for the requested information would require unreasonable and substantial diversion of the Foreshore Authority's resources.
Any decision to withhold or release the documents can be appealed against by either the applicant or third parties (ie other parties involved in the documents).
FEES AND CHARGES
Basic fees and charges under the GIPA Act are:
|
Nature of Application |
Application Fee |
Processing Charge |
|
Access to information / records - other requests |
$30* |
$30 / hour after first hour |
|
Internal review of a reviewable decision |
$40 |
nil |
* A 50 per cent reduction in processing fees may apply if the applicant suffers financial hardship or if there is deemed to be a special public benefit to the public generally. There is no 50 per cent reduction in the application fee, but the applicant receives an extra hours processing before processing fees start.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Right to Information Officer
Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
PO Box N408
GROSVENOR PLACE NSW
T: 9240 8823
