News
New guideline: Applicants who are pursuing a legal remedy
June 26, 2019 - 3:57pm
Under the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI Act), people apply to access documents for a variety of reasons, including, for example, to help them pursue a legal remedy. Accessing documents for this reason has a long history, dating back to Willsford and Brisbane City Council (Willsford) in 1996.
In Willsford, the applicant wanted to access Council documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 to assess whether she could take action for damages against the owner of a dog. Based on three criteria, the Information Commissioner found that it was in the public interest for her to be given access to the dog owner's details.
Reflecting on right to information and privacy in Queensland
June 26, 2019 - 10:59am
Over the past 10 years, the Office of the Information Commission (OIC) has been working with Queensland’s public sector to ensure strong information access and privacy protections.
The OIC recently released a report titled 10 Years on, which includes agency self-assessments of their progress.
Making it easier to draft privacy statements
June 26, 2019 - 10:52am
Privacy statements help explain why personal information is collected by agencies, but they can be time-consuming to develop.
The Department of Justice and Attorney-General however, has released an online tool that can help.
1 July increase to fees and charges
June 24, 2019 - 2:19pm
The application fee and processing charges for applications made under the Right to Information Act 2009 will change on 1 July 2019.
NZ leads the way in Cabinet papers proactive release
June 24, 2019 - 9:54am
In 2018 New Zealand’s Cabinet made a commitment to proactively release its papers within 30 business days of a Cabinet decision.
Since January 2019, dozens of Cabinet documents have been proactively released including deliberations and decisions on cannabis regulation reform, travel documents and responses to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care.
