Exhibition Item

The Amended Draft Right to Information Policy outlines Maitland City Council’s commitment to transparency and compliance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act). This policy provides a framework for facilitating public access to government information held by the Council while balancing public interest considerations and privacy obligations.

Key features of the policy include:

• Access to Information: Details on how the public can access Council’s records, including mandatory proactive release, authorised proactive release, informal release, and formal access.
• Responsibilities: Clear roles for the General Manager, Right to Information Officer, Public Officer, and all Council staff in managing information access requests.
• Review and Appeal Rights: Explanation of processes for internal and external reviews of decisions, including appeals to the NSW Information Commissioner and NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
• Compliance and Monitoring: Measures to ensure adherence to the GIPA Act, including reporting requirements and protocols for handling breaches.

Notable Amendments in This Draft:

• Updated roles and responsibilities to reflect changes in Council’s organisational structure.
• Inclusion of detailed sections on rights to review and appeal decisions, as well as the role of the Information and Privacy Commission NSW (IPC).
• Expanded guidance on managing contentious information and public interest tests.
• Clarifications on reporting requirements for Council’s obligations under the GIPA Act.

This amended draft policy reinforces Maitland City Council’s dedication to open governance and invites community feedback during the public exhibition period to enhance transparency and accessibility.