Access to government information

NCAT reviews decisions about the release of information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.

Access to government information cases are managed through NCAT's Administrative and Equal Opportunity Division.

Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act), the public has a right to access government information.

One way of accessing government information is to formally apply to the agency that holds the information. These were previously known as Freedom of Information requests.

The agency is not obliged to give access to the information if there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information or if dealing with the application would be unreasonably expensive or time consuming.

If you do not agree with a decision under the GIPA Act, you can apply to the NCAT for a review.  You can also ask the NSW Information Commissioner to review the decision.

How to apply

Download and complete an Administrative review application form (PDF , 70.3 KB) and lodge your application at any NCAT Registry Office.

Fees

Fees are payable for administrative review applications. View the fees and charges schedule or apply for a fee waiver.

Time limits

You must apply to NCAT within 40 working days of receiving the decision from the government agency or department.

If you apply outside of the time limit, you can request a time extension as part of your application. NCAT will not always agree to a request for a time extension.

Orders NCAT can make

NCAT can make various orders when reviewing a decision about the access to government information, including:

  • Affirming the government agency's decision (stating that the original decision is correct)
  • Reversing the decision completely or in part
  • Substituting a new decision for the original decision
  • Ordering the government agency to reconsider the decision. 


Steps in a government information access case

Step by step guide to a review of a decision about accessing government information.

Step 1: Apply for a review

After the government agency or department has made its decision about your access request, you have the following options available to you.

  • Apply for an internal review with the agency or department that made the decision, or
  • Apply to the NSW Information Commissioner for a review of the decision.

You do not have to do either of those things before applying to NCAT for a review of the decision.

Step 2: Check NCAT can review the decision

The government agency that made the decision will tell you if the decision can be reviewed by NCAT. 

NCAT ​​has power to review the following decisions.

  • That the application is not a valid application
  • To transfer the application to another agency
  • To refuse to give access to information because of an overriding public interest against disclosure
  • To refuse to deal with the application because:
    • it would be unreasonably expensive or time consuming
    • the agency does not hold the information.

If you are not sure if NCAT can review your decision, check the Government Information (Public Access Act) 2009.

Step 3: Consider legal representation

You can either present your own case to NCAT or have a lawyer or non-lawyer agent represent you. You will usually need to attend the hearing to give your instructions to your lawyer or agent.

Your lawyer or agent needs complete a Notice of Representation and submit to NCAT in person or by post. If a non-lawyer agent is representing you, you also need to sign the notice before it is submitted. In both cases, you have to send a copy of the notice to the government agency or department.

Your agent needs to ask for permission to represent you from the Tribunal Member the next time the case is listed. You should attend with the agent in case NCAT does not allow the agent to appear for you. A lawyer does not need to ask for permission from the Member.

Step 4: Apply to NCAT

You will need to provide the following information on your application:

  • Your name, address and telephone number
  • The name of the government agency that made the decision you want reviewed
  • The date the decision and the internal review decision, if any, were made
  • A copy of the original decision and internal review decision, if any
  • A brief outline of why you think the decision is wrong.
Step 5: Attend a case conference

You will receive a letter from NCAT with a date for you to attend a 'case conference'.

A case conference is a preliminary session held at NCAT. A Tribunal Member will talk to you and a representative from the agency about identifying the issues and exploring ways in which the dispute may be resolved.

The Information Commissioner will also be advised about your application and may attend the case conference.

The agency will be asked to complete a review sheet, to give to you and the Member at the case conference. The review sheet contains detailed information about the basis for the agency’s decision.

If the agency has not provided the following information before the case conference, the Member will direct the agency to provide it:

  1. Copies of the applications and decisions made under the GIPA Act with respect to the matter
  2. A schedule of documents, identifying, in tabular form, each document in dispute by number and giving details of its date, nature, and author, and of the basis on which access was refused

In addition the agency will give to the Tribunal the documents under review on a confidential basis:

(a) documents considered to be subject to a conclusive overriding public interest against disclosure to be sent to the Tribunal in a sealed envelope marked ‘conclusive presumption documents’

(b) documents considered to be subject to a non-conclusive overriding public interest against disclosure to be sent to the Tribunal in a sealed envelope marked ‘non-disclosure documents’.

At the case conference, the Member will explore options for resolving the dispute. These options are:

  1. Direct neg​​​otiation among the parties
  2. Mediation by a mediator provided by the Tribunal
  3. Preliminary conference
  4. Hearing

After the case conference, the matter will be listed for mediation if suitable. App​​lications that need further procedural directions will be listed for a directions hearing.

If you want to summons a person to produce documents or give evidence at the hearing, you should ask the Member during the case conference to approve the summons.

Step 6: Prepare for the hearing

The Tribunal Member will tell you and the other party when you should file written material which supports your case. The material may include statements and evidence, submissions and references to cases or legislation which you will rely on.

Step 7: Take part in the hearing

NCAT's hearings are less formal than court hearings. In most cases, the application will be heard by a single Tribunal Member.

In administrative review hearings, the respondent (government agency) usually gives their evidence first. The applicant then presents their evidence. 

Afterwards, the Tribunal Member will decide whether the government agency made the correct decision. In most cases the member will consider the case and make their​ decision at a later date. You should receive the decision within 3 months. Complex matters may take longer.

Step 8: Receive NCAT's decision

You will receive a letter telling you of the decision that NCAT has made. You will receive a copy of the written decision, as well as information about your appeal rights. The decision will also be available on the NSW Caselaw website.

Organisations that can help

NCAT cannot provide legal advice. Find out how we can and cannot assist. Below are some organisations that can provide help or advice about your case.


Last updated:

02 Jul 2024

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