Access to Premier's Department information and publications

Members of the public have a right to access government information. This page contains details on how you can access information from the Premier’s Department.

On this page

How to access information held by The Premier’s Department

There are 3 ways you can find information:

1

Search this website

The Premier’s Department tries to release as much government information as possible. The information is published on this website or in another appropriate way, and at the lowest reasonable cost. 

Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (the GIPA Act), certain information is required by law to be available on this website, free of charge. This is called "open access information" and includes:

You should check the open access information at the links below to see if the information you are looking for is already available.

In addition to the “open access information”, the department releases lots of other information. Our agency information guide will give you some guidance about the other kinds of information the department holds and releases to the public.

You can contact us on (02) 9228 5871 to ask if the information you are after has been released by the department either on this website or in another form. Some publications may only be available on the payment of a fee, but we will let you know if that is the case.

2

Make an informal request

If the information you are after has not been published and doesn't raise a public interest reason why it should be kept confidential, The Premier’s Department may release it without a formal application.

If you think this applies to the information you are after you can contact us to make an informal request. We may ask that you provide details of your request in writing.

Releasing information informally means that the Premier's Department can give you information in response to your request, without requiring you to make a formal access application.

This means that:

  • you may receive the information more quickly
  • the agency can impose conditions on the release of information to you including how you can access the information
  • you do not need to pay an application fee, or other costs such as processing charges
  • there is not a timeframe imposed on the agency to make a decision
  • you do not have the right to have the agency’s decision reviewed.

Generally, we try to release information we hold without the need for you to make a formal access application, unless there are good reasons to require one.

Under the GIPA Act, however, government agencies are not required to release information without an access application.

The department reserves the right to require you to lodge an access application, particularly if there may be significant public interest considerations that need to be taken into account.

3

Make a formal request

If the information you are seeking is not available on this website and is not otherwise routinely provided by the department on request, then you have a right to formally apply for access to specific information.

You can make a formal application by completing the government information access form.

Start application

The Act says that we are only able to accept access applications and are:

  • in writing and submitted to us using the above form
  • clearly state you are requesting information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW)
  • pay the $30 application fee, we will contact you to arrange payment after you successfully submit the form
  • have a return postal or email address as the address for correspondence
  • include as much specific information as necessary to enable us to identify the information you are asking for.

If your application does not include these 5 things, it will be invalid and will not be processed. If that happens, however, we will let you know and we will help you, if possible, by explaining how you can make a valid application.

Otherwise we will write to you acknowledging receipt of a valid access application within 5 working days, and will deal with your application within 20 working days (subject to any extension allowed for under the Act). If any extension of time is required to deal with your application, we will let you know in writing.

Application fees and processing charges

The application fee for making an access application is $30. Processing charges can also be imposed at the rate of $30 per hour. In some circumstances an advance deposit can be required. We will let you know in writing if that applies to your application.

Certain discounts may apply, including on financial hardship and public interest grounds – for more details see the Information and Privacy Commission's Resources for the public.

GIPA Act

Public access to information is governed by the the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) also know as the GIPA Act. The GIPA Act establishes a comprehensive system for public access to government information.


Search disclosure logs and registers

Disclosure logs are a record of information that a department has released, normally in response to a formal request from an individual or organisation.

Registers record the details of contracts or gifts, benefits and hospitality that have been acccepted by the government or representive officials.

Search for documents

Policy documents

Policy documents guide the decisions, actions and procedures that guide how ministers and public servants fulfil their role.

Tabled documents

Tabled documents are miscellaneous documents about The Premier's Department that are spoken about or referred to in Parliament.

Agency Information Guide

The Agency Information Guide outlines The Premier’s Department’s structure and function, as well as what information they hold and how citizens can access it.

Open access information not publicly available

This is a register of information that has not been made public due to an overriding public interest.

Annual Reports

The Premier's Department Annual Report outlines performance, key achievements, corporate governance and financial information.

Ministerial overseas travel information

When the Premier, ministers and other key staff represent NSW government interest overseas, records of travel and costs are made available to the public.

Public support for former office holders

The Premier's Department provides transport for former Governors and office holders for official functions as requested. Details of these costs are available to the public.

Advertising compliance certificates

Advertising compliance certificates provide a statement confirming that government advertising campaigns by The Premier's Department comply with certain requirements, including under the Government Advertising Act 2011.

Data Breach Policy and Public Notification Register

The Data Breach Policy outlines the approach taken by The Cabinet Office and the Premier’s Department to compliance with the Mandatory Notification of Data Breach (MNDB) Scheme provisions. A register of all public notifications of eligible data breaches is made available on its website.

Premier and Ministers’ Domestic Travel

The Premier and Cabinet Ministers travel throughout the state and sometimes interstate in the normal course of their duties. Costs incurred while travelling include flight fares, accommodation and meal expenses.



Resources

NSW Machinery of Government changes guide

The purpose of this guide is to provide NSW Government agencies with consolidated guidance on implementing MoG changes to support the efficient transfer of employees and functions between agencies.


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