NSW Freedom of Information Site Will Give the Public a Voice, 01.10.2021
A newly launched website designed to give the public a voice, inviting them to join in valuable conversations about current NSW freedom of information legislation, is set to level the playing ground for accessing NSW government documentation.
The site is launched in parallel with the NSW Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s (IPC) event “Right to Know Week 2021 – Open by Design”, a promotion that advocates the reinforcing of the public’s fundamental right to access NSW government information, with a focus on record keeping methodology and cultural attitudes and practices by agencies in their responses to requests for information. This year’s theme “Open by Design – Integrity through greater transparency and accountability in government” seeks to raise awareness of a person’s right to government information and encourage citizens to take an active interest in their right to access information” (IPC Website), is well-titled as NSW Freedom of Information steps into the limelight.
Presently the public is mostly excluded from consultations and forums pertaining to the applicable legislation and the formulating of programs designed to educate agencies about mandated obligations, and the public’s fundamental rights to access information.
NSW Freedom of Information has set itself as a free community service offering support and encouragement to those requesting government information, and most particularly to those who have experienced the frustration and disillusionment often the result of those requests.
The community service advocates for the public and plans to share freedom of information stories and documentation, as part of its support services to those struggling to have their legally enforceable right to access government information upheld.
Freedom of Information advocate Telina Webb, administrator of the site, says she has Francis Marks of the NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal to thank for his condescending suggestion she should "write a paper or something” in February 2020, when she detailed the ongoing problems she was experiencing obtaining government information. Clearly Mr Marks did not envisage Ms Webb turning his unprofessional comments and condescending attitude into something extremely positive and useful. Mr Marks acted in further unprofessional manner during the proceedings when he interrogated Ms Webb about the nature of her relationship with her husband Paul McEwan. Mr Marks acted in this way, recorded in the transcript, in open session in the presence of the Respondent's legal team of (6) six. She also thanks Port Stephens Council for the numerous examples of how government agencies administer the current legislation, the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009, better known as the GIPA Act. As such Port Stephens Council will be the focus of a number of crucial discussions as the site evolves, expecting its Senior Right to Information Officer / Governance Manager may well eventually become the Poster Boy of the GIPA Act on What Not To Do.
“I’m inviting the public to share their freedom of information stories, it’s time the public was heard, it’s time it had a voice,” stated Telina Webb. “The public is the largest stakeholder of NSW government held information and now it has a seat at the table.”
The site will be a centre for discussion about the legislation, agency responses to requests for information, and current administrative review processes. Case law will be highlighted, with opportunities to rate and compare the freedom of information processes, agency decisions, the IPC review processes, the implications and effects of decisions from the NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal and the performance and conduct of the Tribunal’s members. As a registered lobbyist Telina Webb will also be formulating submissions seeking legislative change.
“Given the GIPA Act has been operating for over 10 years, these are conversations and contributions that are well overdue. The number of stories relayed to me personally telling of the damage and trauma suffered by the public when exercising their supposed legally enforceable right to access NSW government information is quite shocking. This is not what the Honourable Nathan Rees intended when he gave his parliamentary speech introducing the Act in 2009,” stated Telina Webb.
Telina Webb and her husband will also be sharing their own freedom of information stories.
“The Site will be a work in progress as it evolves to meet the needs of the public it supports, and as new information continually comes to light,” she said.
The website address is www.nswfreedomofinformation.net, and Telina Webb can be contacted at info@nswfreedomofinformation.net. Information about Right to Know Week can be found at https://www.ipc.nsw.gov.au/RTK2021.
The site is launched in parallel with the NSW Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s (IPC) event “Right to Know Week 2021 – Open by Design”, a promotion that advocates the reinforcing of the public’s fundamental right to access NSW government information, with a focus on record keeping methodology and cultural attitudes and practices by agencies in their responses to requests for information. This year’s theme “Open by Design – Integrity through greater transparency and accountability in government” seeks to raise awareness of a person’s right to government information and encourage citizens to take an active interest in their right to access information” (IPC Website), is well-titled as NSW Freedom of Information steps into the limelight.
Presently the public is mostly excluded from consultations and forums pertaining to the applicable legislation and the formulating of programs designed to educate agencies about mandated obligations, and the public’s fundamental rights to access information.
NSW Freedom of Information has set itself as a free community service offering support and encouragement to those requesting government information, and most particularly to those who have experienced the frustration and disillusionment often the result of those requests.
The community service advocates for the public and plans to share freedom of information stories and documentation, as part of its support services to those struggling to have their legally enforceable right to access government information upheld.
Freedom of Information advocate Telina Webb, administrator of the site, says she has Francis Marks of the NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal to thank for his condescending suggestion she should "write a paper or something” in February 2020, when she detailed the ongoing problems she was experiencing obtaining government information. Clearly Mr Marks did not envisage Ms Webb turning his unprofessional comments and condescending attitude into something extremely positive and useful. Mr Marks acted in further unprofessional manner during the proceedings when he interrogated Ms Webb about the nature of her relationship with her husband Paul McEwan. Mr Marks acted in this way, recorded in the transcript, in open session in the presence of the Respondent's legal team of (6) six. She also thanks Port Stephens Council for the numerous examples of how government agencies administer the current legislation, the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009, better known as the GIPA Act. As such Port Stephens Council will be the focus of a number of crucial discussions as the site evolves, expecting its Senior Right to Information Officer / Governance Manager may well eventually become the Poster Boy of the GIPA Act on What Not To Do.
“I’m inviting the public to share their freedom of information stories, it’s time the public was heard, it’s time it had a voice,” stated Telina Webb. “The public is the largest stakeholder of NSW government held information and now it has a seat at the table.”
The site will be a centre for discussion about the legislation, agency responses to requests for information, and current administrative review processes. Case law will be highlighted, with opportunities to rate and compare the freedom of information processes, agency decisions, the IPC review processes, the implications and effects of decisions from the NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal and the performance and conduct of the Tribunal’s members. As a registered lobbyist Telina Webb will also be formulating submissions seeking legislative change.
“Given the GIPA Act has been operating for over 10 years, these are conversations and contributions that are well overdue. The number of stories relayed to me personally telling of the damage and trauma suffered by the public when exercising their supposed legally enforceable right to access NSW government information is quite shocking. This is not what the Honourable Nathan Rees intended when he gave his parliamentary speech introducing the Act in 2009,” stated Telina Webb.
Telina Webb and her husband will also be sharing their own freedom of information stories.
“The Site will be a work in progress as it evolves to meet the needs of the public it supports, and as new information continually comes to light,” she said.
The website address is www.nswfreedomofinformation.net, and Telina Webb can be contacted at info@nswfreedomofinformation.net. Information about Right to Know Week can be found at https://www.ipc.nsw.gov.au/RTK2021.