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Question and Answer Tracking Details

6972 - Customer Service - GIPA APPLICATIONS

Mookhey, Daniel to the Minister for Finance and Small Business representing the Minister for Customer Service, and Minister for Digital

(1) For the Department of Customer Service:

(a) How much did the Department spend contesting appeals to the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) that related to Government Information Public Access (GIPA) Act applications in the following financial years:

(i) 2019/20?

(ii) 2020/21?

(b) Of these amounts in (a), how much of this cost was spent on external legal representation?

(c) What was the largest amount of money spent by the agency in responding to an GIPA Act application appeal for a single applicant in the following financial years:

(i) 2019/20?

(ii) 2020/21?

(d) What was the largest amount of money spent by the agency for external legal representation for a NCAT review of a GIPA Act related matter in the following financial years:

(i) 2019/20?

(ii) 2020/21?

Answer -

All NSW Government agencies must comply with Premier’s Memorandum M2016-04 and the NSW Government Core Legal Work Guidelines.

In 2019-20 all Government Information Public Access (GIPA) Act appeals in the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) were handled by in-house DCS Legal teams. No external costs were incurred.

In 2020-21 DCS was invoiced approximately $3,494 in fees and disbursements.

Further information can be found in the DCS Annual Report.

Question asked on 27 July 2021 (session 57-1) and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 549
Answer received on 17 August 2021 and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 564