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Roslind Croucher NSW Information Commissioner is positioned and viewed to advocate for access to NSW government information.
She is presumed to champion the access to information cause; upholding legislation and ensuring the public’s legislated rights in accordance with the NSW Parliament’s freely gifted beneficial legislation the GIPA Act 2009 to the NSW public.
Her predecessor Elizabeth Tydd initiated Right to Know Week in 2014 (RTKW). Agency participants in RTKW are given the prestigious title of Program Champions, but Tydd, Croucher and NSW agencies do very little championing of any kind other than self-serving and to the detriment of the public they are placed to serve.
At first glance the Commissioner’s most recent event advertorial looks very impressive, particularly this year’s theme “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder.”
She is presumed to champion the access to information cause; upholding legislation and ensuring the public’s legislated rights in accordance with the NSW Parliament’s freely gifted beneficial legislation the GIPA Act 2009 to the NSW public.
Her predecessor Elizabeth Tydd initiated Right to Know Week in 2014 (RTKW). Agency participants in RTKW are given the prestigious title of Program Champions, but Tydd, Croucher and NSW agencies do very little championing of any kind other than self-serving and to the detriment of the public they are placed to serve.
At first glance the Commissioner’s most recent event advertorial looks very impressive, particularly this year’s theme “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder.”
Promotional silhouette suggesting the public can access free-flowing government information
But on second glance, it’s an exclusive event which shuts out that portion of the community seeking to exercise their beneficial legislation and access NSW government documents through GIPA.
There are 8.6 million people in NSW.
Of those 8.6 million there are approximately (500) five hundred Right to Information & Privacy Officers in NSW.
That equates to 0.00581395349% of the population of NSW.
This is important to give clarity as to the level of exclusivity of this upcoming event. Of course we should add a rough dozen more into the equation to allow for the privileged speakers. The event launch is scheduled for Tuesday 29th September 2026 at 9.30am, at NSW Parliament House no less; no shabby function centre or community hall will do for this bureaucratic shindig.
There are 8.6 million people in NSW.
Of those 8.6 million there are approximately (500) five hundred Right to Information & Privacy Officers in NSW.
That equates to 0.00581395349% of the population of NSW.
This is important to give clarity as to the level of exclusivity of this upcoming event. Of course we should add a rough dozen more into the equation to allow for the privileged speakers. The event launch is scheduled for Tuesday 29th September 2026 at 9.30am, at NSW Parliament House no less; no shabby function centre or community hall will do for this bureaucratic shindig.
Rosalind Croucher says Right to Know Week is something to celebrate
But there’s so much more to bring these actions into proper perspective.
Take for example the recent cases for Application for Section 110 Orders under the GIPA Act against Telina Webb, her husband and his company.
As is the Commissioner’s position and for reasons unknown, she has not appeared at single one of Webb’s prior (4) four applications against her, all brought by Port Stephens Council, which Webb won as self-represented Respondent and Appellant.
The Commissioner’s appearance at GIPA hearings is discretionary, she cannot be summonsed. But she is expected to make the effort and provide her legislative interpretation for the assistance of the Tribunal, particularly when she has a fleet of solicitors as staff and she therefore doesn’t have to show her face.
This latest case which saw (3) three agency Applicants in a precedent case concerning the four hundred year old legal principle of Res Judicata was completely ignored by the Commissioner, leaving Webb, McEwan and his company hanging out to dry. Webb represented all Respondents. The Applicants won at first instance and on Webb's Appeal. “The Commissioner herself has confirmed she is aligned to the ‘them’ and ‘us’ mentality exuded by NSW government agencies for decades now. These individuals form part of the NSW Right to Information & Privacy Practitioners Network, NIPPN. The publicly available membership list reveals numerous staff in the Commissioner’s office are members. But they don’t meet within government offices. They meet outside of work premises because apparently nobody feels safe. The NIPPN cartel operates under Chatham House Rules; basically say whatever you want about whomever you want, breach the public’s privacy at will, and we all agree NOT to dob you in even though you’re breaking the law. It’s a very, very bad look for Ms Croucher who is following in the deep footsteps of former Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd now in the Federal parallel position,” stated Telina Webb of NSW Freedom of Information and the person responsible for exposing the culture and unlawful behaviours of NIPPN.
Take for example the recent cases for Application for Section 110 Orders under the GIPA Act against Telina Webb, her husband and his company.
As is the Commissioner’s position and for reasons unknown, she has not appeared at single one of Webb’s prior (4) four applications against her, all brought by Port Stephens Council, which Webb won as self-represented Respondent and Appellant.
The Commissioner’s appearance at GIPA hearings is discretionary, she cannot be summonsed. But she is expected to make the effort and provide her legislative interpretation for the assistance of the Tribunal, particularly when she has a fleet of solicitors as staff and she therefore doesn’t have to show her face.
This latest case which saw (3) three agency Applicants in a precedent case concerning the four hundred year old legal principle of Res Judicata was completely ignored by the Commissioner, leaving Webb, McEwan and his company hanging out to dry. Webb represented all Respondents. The Applicants won at first instance and on Webb's Appeal. “The Commissioner herself has confirmed she is aligned to the ‘them’ and ‘us’ mentality exuded by NSW government agencies for decades now. These individuals form part of the NSW Right to Information & Privacy Practitioners Network, NIPPN. The publicly available membership list reveals numerous staff in the Commissioner’s office are members. But they don’t meet within government offices. They meet outside of work premises because apparently nobody feels safe. The NIPPN cartel operates under Chatham House Rules; basically say whatever you want about whomever you want, breach the public’s privacy at will, and we all agree NOT to dob you in even though you’re breaking the law. It’s a very, very bad look for Ms Croucher who is following in the deep footsteps of former Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd now in the Federal parallel position,” stated Telina Webb of NSW Freedom of Information and the person responsible for exposing the culture and unlawful behaviours of NIPPN.
A delighted Rosalind Croucher focused on information integrity, transparency, accountability and public trust
“There can be no disputing the way this year’s RTKW event is being conducted is censorship. Nobody wants to be quoted. Nobody wants to be held to their words. Nobody wants to be questioned. To refer to the United Nations International Day for Universal Access to Information, as though the NSW government and the Commissioner embraced it, is insulting. The Commissioner has referred to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights, publicly stating it is binding, and yet we have at least (2) solicitors employed by the NSW Department of Communities & Justice (DCJ) publicly stating Australia is only a signatory and the Declaration has no bearing on the GIPA Act 2009. In other words, the claim by DCJ is the Declaration is irrelevant. So where does the truth lie? And yes DCJ currently has (18) eighteen staff as active members of NIPPN. This event is a total sham with the Information Commissioner at the helm. It’s just worthless propaganda,” stated Webb. “I have personally posted commentary on the IPC’s social media pages and was blocked. The IPC does not want to hear from the public, particularly if that means hearing criticism or being questioned. How does that represent Article 19?!”
The IPC’s exclusion of the public on this occasion is nothing new which replicates earlier events.
In February 2025 the IPC’s Ian Naylor wrote to NIPPN’s Consultative Committee advising the IPC was reinventing the NIPPN forum.
It would now be referred to as the Stakeholder Forum. However, Mr Naylor’s communication made no reference to the public. As such, the IPC has indicated it does not see the public as a stakeholder.
The new Stakeholder Forum is confirmed it will not record or minute the sessions, leaving a question mark over statutory obligations under the State Records Act 1998.
The new Stakeholder Forum is confirmed it will not record or minute the sessions, leaving a question mark over statutory obligations under the State Records Act 1998.
Right to Know Week 2026 Program Champions!
The RTKW registration form sees the Commissioner promising to protect public servants’ names under Privacy Legislation, when it is her GIPA Act 2009 which makes clear there is no such method of protection due to the legislated fact such information disqualifies as personal.
“This public disclosure the Information Commissioner will breach legislation and afford favour to her subordinate agencies is a very bad look,” stated Webb.
“This public disclosure the Information Commissioner will breach legislation and afford favour to her subordinate agencies is a very bad look,” stated Webb.
On 18th September 2026 Webb wrote to the Commissioner on behalf of the NSW public asking why the Commissioner has excluded the public from this event. In reply the IPC’s Nicola Ryeland wrote the public can watch the videos post-event, as though that somehow qualifies as inclusion.
Ms Croucher is quoted on the RTKW promo page QUOTE “I hope you will join me in celebrating the week” UNQUOTE.
For the NSW public there is no celebration and the event is nothing other than meaningless propaganda and completely contradicts the Commission's Charter for Public Participation which claims to promote citizen engagement.
Ms Croucher is quoted on the RTKW promo page QUOTE “I hope you will join me in celebrating the week” UNQUOTE.
For the NSW public there is no celebration and the event is nothing other than meaningless propaganda and completely contradicts the Commission's Charter for Public Participation which claims to promote citizen engagement.
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The Federal, Victorian and Queensland Information Commissioners have opened the doors for public participation.
The email trail with Nicola Ryeland about public access to RTKW 2026 is available here.
The communication from Ian Naylor to the NIPPN Consultative Committee is here.
The link to the RTKW 2026 event is here, with the registration page here.
Contact: NSW Information Commissioner, rosalind.croucher@ipc.nsw.gov.au Executive Assistant to Commissioner, nicola.ryeland@ipc.nsw.gov.au Director Corporate Services & Business Improvement, ian.naylor@ipc.nsw.gov.au NSW Information & Privacy Commission, ipcinfo@ipc.nsw.gov.au
Contact: NSW Information Commissioner, rosalind.croucher@ipc.nsw.gov.au Executive Assistant to Commissioner, nicola.ryeland@ipc.nsw.gov.au Director Corporate Services & Business Improvement, ian.naylor@ipc.nsw.gov.au NSW Information & Privacy Commission, ipcinfo@ipc.nsw.gov.au
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