FAQs

What is open access information?

Open access information is publicly available government-held information that can be freely used, reused and redistributed. Note however, that you should be compliant with copyright and attribution requirements.

What kinds of government-held information falls under the open access information category?

Open access information includes agencies’ functional information, policies, budgetary papers, information about government grants and other categories of government-held information listed under Section 23 of the Freedom of Information Act 2016. Some information may not be released if it would be against the public interest to do so.

What is the benefit / purpose of open access information?

The mandatory proactive public release of open access information supports the democratic principle that government information is a community resource that should be available to all.

Public access to government information improves transparency, and by doing so can strengthen democratic government. Information sharing better enables the community to contribute to policy formulation, assist government regulation, participate in program administration, provide evidence to support decision making, and evaluate service delivery performance. A free flow of information between government, business and the community can also stimulate innovation to the economic and social advantage of the nation.

How do I find information on this website?

You can find open access information in a number of ways:

• Click on the main “Search” box at the top left of the homepage: enter keywords to search for specific information. You can also refine your search by entering the name of the agency, publication type and dates.
• Click on the “Search ” option at the top right of the page to search all ACT Government websites. This will return a wide range of Government information, not just open access information.
• You can look through the list of “Recently published” documents.
• You can refer to the list of “Other sources of information”.

Can I still make an FOI Application?

If you can’t find what you are looking for you can still request information through a Freedom of Information application. To do this you will need to approach the Directorate or other Government agency that is responsible for the information you are looking for. If you are unsure who to ask, contact Access Canberra for help to find the right Government agency.

Will personal information be published?

All open access information goes through a rigorous assessment process to determine its suitability for publication. The ACT Government adheres to information privacy legislation. To find out more about the ACT Government’s privacy practices, please refer to Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate Information Privacy Policy.