Right to information
Our role in the right to information
The Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) Queensland is responsible for promoting and protecting the right to access government-held information, in line with the Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld) (RTI Act). The Act provides a legal right to access information held by Queensland public sector agencies, unless it would be contrary to the public interest. The RTI Act also allows individuals to seek amendment of inaccurate, incomplete or misleading personal information held by a Queensland public sector agency.
Our right to information responsibilities
OIC’s key responsibilities under the RTI Act include:
- Reviewing access decisions:
Responding to requests to review decisions made by agencies and Ministers about access to information
- Reviewing amendment decisions:
Responding to requests to review decision made by agencies and Ministers about amending inaccurate, incomplete or misleading personal information held by a Queensland government agency
- Providing:
- guidance on the interpretation and administration of the RTI Act to agencies and members of the public
- information and help to agencies, applicants and third parties at any stage of an access application
- greater awareness of the operation of the RTI Act in the community and within government; including by providing training and educative programs
- Promoting proactive disclosure:
Encouraging and supporting agencies to make information publicly available through proactive disclosure
- Monitoring and reporting:
Monitoring agency performance and reporting to Parliament on the operation of the RTI Act and agency compliance.
Don't be stuck in a puzzle - how to access government information
Resolving a right to information application
If you are concerned about how a Queensland government agency has handled a right to information application, you can:
- Apply in the first instance, to the relevant agency, for an internal review of the agency’s decision; or
- Bypass internal review and apply directly to the OIC for an external review of the agency decision.
If you elect to seek internal review first, you can then apply to the OIC for an external review of the internal review decision, if you remain dissatisfied with that outcome.
For general assistance, please contact us.