Access to Information
PUBLICATION GUIDE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION (PUBLIC ACCESS) ACT 2009
Who we are
Our RDA Committee is part of a network of 52 Committees across Australia (14 in New South Wales) which were originally formed on 1 July 2009.
Regional Development Australia is a partnership between the Australian, state, territory and local governments to develop and strengthen the regional communities of Australia. It has a pivotal role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of Australia’s regions.
Membership of each Committee is approved by the Commonwealth Minister for Regional Development.
What we do
Our roles and responsibilities are in the following areas:
Consultation and engagement with the community
Informed regional planning
Whole of government activities
Promotion of government programs
Community and economic development
HOW OUR ACTIVITIES IMPACT ON THE PUBLIC
In working for the development of the region, our Committee consults, collaborates and (from time to time) enters
more formal partnerships with local government, agencies of the Commonwealth and New South Wales
governments, industry, business, educational/training organisations, the community sector and individuals.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT
Please check our website or contact our office for the latest details on our public consultation and engagement
initiatives.
HOW THE PUBLIC CAN ACCESS INFORMATION HELD BY US
Our Committee’s policy is to be transparent and accessible. The public has a right to access most of the information held by our Committee, as long as it does not infringe privacy laws or other laws or may be detrimental to any person. In most cases we publish information on our website, if not in total, in summary or lists.
If you would like to access a document named in a list which is not available on the website, please contact our office on telephone 02 4422 9011.
Information Held
Internal policy documents
RDA Far South Coast Inc. Guidelines
RDA Better Practise Guide
Charter
Funding Contract with Commonwealth Government
TYPES OF INFORMATION
THAT MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION (PUBLIC ACCESS) ACT 2009
The four categories of information that may be made available under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 are open access information authorised proactive release of government information informal release of government information access applications.
Contracts over $150,000
Please note that RDA Far South Coast Inc. currently does not had contracts with private sector providers over $150,000.00. Should RDA Far South Coast Inc. undertake contracts over $150,000.00 with private sector
providers then details will be posted on our website under a Contracts Register.
WHAT SORTS OF DECISIONS ARE REVIEWABLE?
A range of reviewable agency decisions is set out in section 80 of the GIPA Act:
(a) A decision that an application is not a valid access application,
(b) A decision to transfer an access application to another agency, as an agencyinitiated transfer,
(c) A decision to refuse to deal with an access application (including such a decision that is deemed to have
been made),
(d) A decision to provide access or to refuse to provide access to information in response to an access
application,
(e) A decision that government information is not held by the agency,
(f) A decision that information applied for is already available to the applicant,
(g) A decision to refuse to confirm or deny that information is held by the agency,
(h) A decision to defer the provision of access to information in response to an access application,
(i) A decision to provide access to information in a particular way in response to an access application (or a
decision not to provide access in the way requested by the applicant),
(j) A decision to impose a processing charge or to require an advance deposit,
(k) A decision to refuse a reduction in a processing charge,
(l) A decision to refuse to deal further with an access application because an applicant has failed to pay an
advance deposit within the time required for payment,
(m) A decision to include information in a disclosure log despite an objection by the access applicant (or a
decision that the access applicant was not entitled to object).
WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS OF REVIEW?
There are a number of review rights under the GIPA Act in relation to access applications outlined in Part 5.
If someone has made an access application and is refused access to information, they have a number of options.
They may seek an internal review through the agency to which they originally applied for the information.
They may approach the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) for an independent review of the agency’s decision.
They may also go to the Administrative Decisions Tribunal to request a review.
If the person seeking the review was the applicant for access to the information, they can choose which review option to take.
If the person seeking the review was not the applicant, but was for example, a third party whose information will be released, they must seek an internal review first.
OIC CONTACT DETAILS
Office of the Information Commissioner
Level 11, 1 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 02 8071 7024 Fax: 02 8114 3756 Website: www.oic.nsw.gov.au
Find out more about RDA by visiting the national RDA website or email rda@infrastructure.gov.au
REGIONAL OVERVIEW
The geographic area of responsibility for RDA –FSC covers the three LGAs of Shoalhaven City, Eurobodalla Shire and Bega Valley Shire.
Click on the pdfs below for information on the region as a whole, and each individual LGA.
