Open Access Information

Your right to information

The Office of the Information Commissioner has developed a presentation for the public and non-government organisations describing what the changes mean to your rights to government information in NSW.

The object of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act - commenced on 1 July 2010) is to open government information to the public. This Act and the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) focus on information sharing and a cultural change to a proactive approach to release of government information. The OIC website provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the right to information system.

There are four ways in which information held by the Cancer Institute NSW will be available (See below for contact officer details).

1. Mandatory release

Much of the information held by the Cancer Institute NSW is already publicly available. The following are resources you may wish to review, which are constantly updated:

The Cancer Institute NSW website. Here, you will find information about the Cancer Institute NSW, Health Services, Hospitals and Hospital performance data as well as a comprehensive list of publications, resources and policy documents.
The Publication Guide. Here you will find a comprehensive overview of the structure of the Cancer Institute NSW, its functions and how they affect members of the public. You will find a description of the kinds of information held by the Cancer Institute NSW, and links to the information which is publicly available. You will also find an overview of public participation in the policies and functions of the Cancer Institute NSW.

A list of Cancer Institute NSW policies which may be of specific interest to the public.
The Disclosure Log. The Disclosure Log is also available on the Institute's website, which lists all formal determinations made by the Cancer Institute NSW under GIPAA, along with the document released.
Government contracts. The State Contracts Control Board (SCCB) arranges the purchase of goods and services on behalf of the public sector through state contracts.
Information tabled in Parliament. Information about the Cancer Institute NSW contained in any document tabled in Parliament by or on behalf of the agency.
Record of information not made publicly available. The Cancer Institute NSW's record of the information which it has not made publicly available on the basis of an overriding public interest against disclosure.

2. Proactive release

You can ask the Cancer Institute NSW what information it will make available to the public, in addition to the information contained on its website. Under the GIPA Act, the Cancer Institute NSW is encouraged to release as much information as possible, in an appropriate way and free of charge (or at the lowest reasonable cost). The Right to Information Officer can be contacted on (02) 8374 5680.

3. Informal request

You can request specific information from the Cancer Institute NSW. The Cancer Institute NSW will release information without the need for a formal application, unless there are good reasons to require one. Your first point of contact should be the Right to Information Officer, on (02) 8374 5680.

4. Formal application

This is the last resort, if you haven't been able to get the information you need in any other way. You can formally request specific information from the Cancer Institute NSW. In limited circumstances, access to information will require a formal access application.

To request information held by the Cancer Institute NSW, you should use the current application form made available through the Office of the Information Commissioner.

Cancer Institute NSW - Right to Information - Contact details

The Cancer Institute NSW's general phone number is (02) 8374 5600.

The Institute's Right to Information Officer contact person is Christine Filetti - ph: (02) 8374 5680.

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