Research on Information Access

As required, the IPC undertakes surveys and conducts research, as well as commission expert agencies to undertake research on its behalf. Click on the titles below to view and download reports.

Compendium of information access laws across Australian states and territories (Updated October 2023)
The NSW Information Commissioner has led the coordination of a Jurisdictional Compendium prepared by the Association of Information Access Commissioners. The Compendium was prepared to assist in the development of the Open Government Partnership National Action Plan, particularly the Plan's draft commitment to review information access laws and to be available as a resource for each jurisdiction. The Compendium identifies the similarities and differences of Australian legislative arrangements at a high level and does not purport to represent a detailed analysis of these arrangements.

Cross Jurisdictional Community Attitudes to Information Access 2023 and NSW Community Attitudes to Information Access 2023
The research provides a broad insight into citizens’ views and experiences of the right to access information. Commissioners from NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, Ombudsmen from Tasmania and the ACT, and the federal Information Commissioner, sponsored the research for a third time, having conducted their inaugural study in 2019

Informal Release of Information under Section 8 of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) May 2023
In celebration of Open Government Week and Information Awareness Month 2023, the Information Commissioner released a report containing findings from research into the informal release pathway and a compliance audit examining the informal release practices of NSW public sector agencies.

Scan of Artificial Intelligence regulatory landscape, October 2022
This is a high-level scan of the national and international regulatory landscape relevant to artificial intelligence (AI) with a focus on the preservation of information access and privacy rights. The scan was requested by the Hon. Victor Dominello MP, Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Fair Trading, and reviewed a select number of global authorities with a focus on frameworks applied in regulating AI including values-based principles, rights preservation and classification frameworks for developing AI models. 

NSW Community Attitudes to Information Access 2022 and NSW Community Attitudes to Data Sharing 2022
The NSW Information Commissioner investigated the NSW community’s awareness of their information access rights and attitudes to data sharing under NSW legislation. The results of the study were released as part of Right to Know NSW 2022.

Cross Jurisdictional Community Attitudes to Information Access 2021 and NSW Community Attitudes to Information Access 2021
The research provides a broad insight into citizens’ views and experiences of the right to access information. Commissioners from NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Ombudsman from the ACT, sponsored the research for a second time.

NSW Information Commissioner's 10 Year GIPA Data Analysis Overview 2010-2020
The Information Commissioner released a report with analysis, key findings, and recommendations from ten years’ of GIPA data since inception of the Act.

NSW Community Attitudes to Information Access 2020 and NSW Community Attitudes to Data Sharing 2020
The NSW Information Commissioner investigated the NSW community’s awareness of their information access rights and attitudes to data sharing under NSW legislation. The results of the study were released as part of Right to Know NSW 2020.

Key Features of Right to Information Legislation 2019
The table in this document considers the key features that should be considered for inclusion in the development of an RTI/FOI legal framework.

Conditions Enabling Open Data and Promoting a Data Sharing Culture 2017 
This UNSW Law Report was commissioned by the NSW Information Commissioner and NSW Open Data Advocate to provide contemporary insights to support the promotion of Open Government and Open Data. To do so the Report analysed legislation, policy, regulatory settings, roles and responsibilities for leadership, culture and operations in leading jurisdictions as identified in the Open Data Barometer Report.

Advancing the objects of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW): an international comparative evaluation of measures used to promote government information release 2015 
The report, commissioned through the University of Technology, Sydney provides an insight into the types of practical mechanisms utilised in selected international jurisdictions to promote open government through information sharing and citizen engagement.