about OIC

The Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) has been established as part of the new right to information system and is being led by an Information Commissioner.

The OIC is independent of other government agencies, with the joint Parliamentary Committee on the Office of the Ombudsman and the Police Integrity Commission exercising certain oversight functions.

The role of the Information Commissioner is to promote public awareness and understanding of the new right to information law, and provide information, support, advice, assistance and training to agencies and the general public.

The Information Commissioner also monitors agencies’ functions and may report to the Minister for the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) about proposals for legislative or administrative change.

The Information Commissioner may issue guidelines to assist agencies and the public on various matters, including: 

  • public interest considerations in favour of disclosure 
  • public interest considerations against disclosure of government information 
  • agencies’ functions 
  • the public’s rights, including rights of review 
  • publication guides, including model publication guides or 
  • reductions in processing charges.

In carrying out these roles, the Information Commissioner has broad powers to investigate, including requiring agencies to provide information, and to conduct inquiries.

Ms Deirdre O'Donnell was appointed as the inaugural NSW Information Commissioner by the Governor at the end of April 2010 and took up her new role on 10 May 2010.