This week, the City of Canada Bay is promoting Right to Know Week, an international campaign that aims to raise awareness of the public's right to access government-held information.
Right to Know Week NSW runs from 23 - 29 September 2024, with the UN's International Day for Universal Access to Information being celebrated on 28 September.
"Transparency is a core pillar for supporting public participation in the public sector," City of Canada Bay General Manager John Clark said. "The GIPA Act in NSW is a world-leading example of how to mainstream transparency in the public sector."
Legally protected rights to access government information make public participation both possible and meaningful. Successful public participation can help create more responsive and effective policies and increase trust between community and public institutions.
In NSW, members of the public can seek information directly from many public sector agencies such as NSW government departments, councils, universities, state-owned corporations and ministerial offices. Some of this information is proactively available on websites or other publications, while other information needs to be requested.
Accessible information can include records about how a NSW state government agency or other type of public sector institution is operating and making decisions. It can also include an individual's personal information that is held by a public sector agency. Personal information is information that can identify you, such as your name, address and contact details.
"The public has a right to access information from the City of Canada Bay," Mr Clark said.
"You can access information that we have made available on our website as open access information, or you can make an informal request, or in some cases, you may need to make a formal access application."
For more information on how to access our information, head to: canadabay.nsw.gov.au/council/council-responsibilities/access-to-information
The City of Canada Bay is a proud Champion of Right to Know Week NSW 2024 and is committed to supporting public participation through greater transparency.
The Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) can also help you understand information access laws in NSW and give you information on how to assert your rights. Learn more by visiting the IPC's Right to Know Week webpage: ipc.nsw.gov.au/RTK2024
