Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content

Inquiry Details

Access to Information

Resolution passed 13 May 1999, 1st Session, Minutes No. 3, p 61. In accordance with its functions under s.31B of the Ombudsman Act 1974 the Committee on the Office of the Ombudsman and the Police Integrity Committee is to conduct an inquiry into: matters raised in the Ombudsman’s Annual Report for 1999-2000 in relation to freedom of information, including but not limited to, the need for a review of the Freedom of Information Act 1989, and the proliferation of access to information schemes established under the FOI Act, the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998, and the Local Government Act 1993; the impact of the access to information schemes upon the operation of the Office of the Ombudsman; the use of privacy and confidentiality considerations as a basis for refusing access to information; contractual arrangements between government agencies and private sector contractors providing services on behalf of those agencies, in particular, the reported use of commercial-in-confidence clauses and the transfer of ownership of documents to avoid the requirements of the FOI Act, investigation by the Ombudsman and other accountability measures; whether the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction should be extended to include the conduct of a private contractor engaged by a public sector agency and using public monies to provide services, goods or other things, on behalf of that agency; the adequacy of arrangements for complaint handling and redress in relation to services contracted out by public sector agencies; legislative amendments to the FOI Act as suggested by the Deputy Ombudsman in response to questioning from the Committee during the 7th General Meeting with the Ombudsman; any other matter considered by the Committee to be relevant to the inquiry. Parliament House Macquarie Street Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: 02 9230 2737 Fax: 02 9230 3309

In accordance with its functions under s.31B of the Ombudsman Act 1974 the Committee on the Office of the Ombudsman and the Police Integrity Committee is to conduct an inquiry into: matters raised in the Ombudsman’s Annual Report for 1999-2000 in relation to freedom of information, including but not limited to, the need for a review of the Freedom of Information Act 1989, and the proliferation of access to information schemes established under the FOI Act, the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998, and the Local Government Act 1993; the impact of the access to information schemes upon the operation of the Office of the Ombudsman; the use of privacy and confidentiality considerations as a basis for refusing access to information; contractual arrangements between government agencies and private sector contractors providing services on behalf of those agencies, in particular, the reported use of commercial-in-confidence clauses and the transfer of ownership of documents to avoid the requirements of the FOI Act, investigation by the Ombudsman and other accountability measures; whether the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction should be extended to include the conduct of a private contractor engaged by a public sector agency and using public monies to provide services, goods or other things, on behalf of that agency; the adequacy of arrangements for complaint handling and redress in relation to services contracted out by public sector agencies; legislative amendments to the FOI Act as suggested by the Deputy Ombudsman in response to questioning from the Committee during the 7th General Meeting with the Ombudsman; any other matter considered by the Committee to be relevant to the inquiry. Parliament House Macquarie Street Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: 02 9230 2737 Fax: 02 9230 3309


​​​​​​