Annual Report 2009/2010 - Hawkesbury City Council - NSW ...

A new regime for accessing local government information will begin in early 2010, when the Freedom of
Information Act 1989 and section 12 of the Local Government Act are repealed and replaced by the
Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA). The GIPA Act (which has been assented to on 26
June 2009 but not proclaimed) introduces an entirely new scheme for providing public access to government
information (including local government) and focuses the legislative onus in favour of the release of
government information through consideration of the public's best interest.
It is understood that there will be some initial and additional ongoing costs for Council under the new regime.
The GIPA Act will impact staff across nearly all areas of Council including governance and policy, city
planning, public relations, records, IT, webmasters, contract management and customer service. It is also
understood that revenue may be foregone as more information is to be made publicly available, free of
charge. Council will need to review and assess this impact and adjust its budget accordingly. A significant
effort by Council will be required to reconsider disclosure policies and to develop new practices that reflect
the new legislative requirements. Training for staff and public awareness will also be of critical importance.
Section F
There were no enquiries or appeals involving the Ombudsman.
Section G
Council at its meeting on 29 June 2010 adopted, in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information
Protection Act 1998, a revised Privacy Management Plan.
There was no review conducted by or on behalf of Council under Part 5 of the Privacy and Personal
Information Protection Act 1998 during 2009/2010.
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2009/2010 Annual Report