Right to information

Members of the public have the legislated right to access government information. This right is restricted only when, on balance, it would be contrary to the public interest. 

What is government information?

Government information is any record:

  • held by NSW Treasury
  • held by a private sector entity or the State Records Authority, to which NSW Treasury has immediate access rights
  • in the possession or under the control of a NSW Treasury officer

A record can be any document or other source of information compiled, recorded, or stored in hard-copy or electronic form or in any other manner or by any other means. 

What is public access to government information?

Public access to government information means allowing people like you to have access to government information. 

What is the GIPA Act?

The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) replaced the Freedom of Information Act 1989 (FOI Act). Like the FOI Act before it, the GIPA Act gives you and other members of the public a legally enforceable right to access government information except when, on balance, it would be contrary to the public interest to provide that information. For more details, read the GIPA Act.

How can I access government information?

The four pathways open to you to access government information are:

1. Mandatory open access
2. Proactive release
3. GIPA informal request
4. GIPA formal request 

Contact us

If you have any questions or need advice accessing information from NSW Treasury, please contact us by emailing [email protected] or call (02) 9228 3232

You can also write to: 

Associate Director,  
Information Access 
NSW Treasury 
GPO Box 5469 
SYDNEY NSW 2001

Last updated: 02/03/2023