Introduction

The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW), (GIPA Act), establishes a comprehensive system for public access to government information.

The objective of the Act is to:

• Make government information more accessible to the public by requiring government agencies to make certain sorts of information freely available
• Encourage government agencies to release as much information as possible
• Give the public an enforceable right to make access applications for government information
• Restrict access to information only when there is an overriding public interest against disclosure.

The Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) oversees the public access to government information system. For a better understanding of your right to information you can access the IPC website www.ipc.nsw.gov.au