What is the GIPA Act?
The GIPA Act was established to provide an open and transparent process for giving the public access to government information. Under the GIPA Act, members of the public have a right to access government information, except where there is an overriding public interest against releasing that information.
Upper Hunter County Council provides access to information in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA) 2009 in four ways.
Mandatory release: Certain information, referred to as open access information, must be published on the agency's website, free of charge.
Proactive release: Beyond mandatory release, agencies are encouraged (and authorised) to release as much government information as possible.
Informal request: Agencies are encouraged to informally release information, by excusing the need for a formal application (and fee) to be submitted.
Formal application: This is the last resort if information is not accessible in any of the above 3 ways. Decisions made in response to formal applications can be reviewed.
The GIPA Act applies to:
- NSW government departments
- NSW local councils
- NSW state-owned corporations
- Universities
- NSW ministers and their staff
Under the GIPA Act, you have the right to access government information that is stored by us, unless it goes against public interest for this information to be disclosed.
For more information: https://www.ipc.nsw.gov.au/