The Information and Privacy Commission ('IPC') published, on 24 March 2022, its '2020/21 Report on the Operation of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act)', which was tabled in Parliament on the same day. In particular, the IPC highlighted that the report examines the performance of over 250 public sector agencies, provides important guidance to policymakers and agency heads, and promotes greater transparency for the New South Wales ('NSW') community. In this regard, the IPC noted that the report found an unprecedented increase in applications to access government information by NSW citizens this year.

Notably, the IPC stated that, between 2017 and 2021, the percentage of applications made by members of the public increased from 73% of all applications received to 82%, which outstrips any other category of applicant. Furthermore, the IPC added that whilst general proactive release requirements had improved, the specific proactive release requirements that target areas of high risk in government departments and local councils continue to present high levels of non-compliance. Finally, the IPC confirmed that its focus this year will be on working to inform change to ensure that NSW remains at the forefront of open government and preserves open access principles in a growing era of digital government.

You can read the press release here and access the report here.