Information Publication Scheme
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ANSTO is bound by the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) and is required to comply with the provisions of the FOI Act relating to the Information Publication Scheme (IPS).
The IPS scheme aims to transform the FOI framework from one that responds to individual requests for access to documents to one that requires agencies to take a proactive approach to publishing information.
The IPS promotes public access to information held by government agencies.
What information is ANSTO required to publish?
ANSTO is required to publish the following information under the IPS:
- Information Publication Plan
- Who we are: Organisation chart and Statutory appointments
- What we do: ANSTO’s functions and operational information
- Routinely requested information and disclosure log: Disclosure log
- Our reports and responses to Parliament: Annual reports
- Consultation arrangements for members of the public to comment on specific policy proposals
How will ANSTO publish information?
Access to information published in accordance with the FOI Act will be available on ANSTO’s website. ANSTO’s FOI Administration will be responsible for responding to requests, concerns or complaints about ANSTO information available to the public and updating the Information Publication Scheme.
FOI Administration on 9717 3111 [email protected]
Decisions on publication of information will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the area responsible for that information.
ANSTO's IPS Plan
ANSTO is bound by the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) and is required to comply with the provisions of the FOI Act relating to the Information Publication Scheme (IPS).
ANSTO has prepared this Agency Plan in accordance with section 8(1) of the FOI Act to describe how ANSTO implements and administers the IPS in respect of information held by ANSTO.
1. Purpose
The purpose of this Agency Plan is to:
· Assist ANSTO in planning and administering IPS entry
· Describe the information that ANSTO proposes to publish, how and to whom that information will be published; and
· How ANSTO will otherwise comply with the requirements of the IPS.
2. Objectives
This Agency Plan sets out the procedures ANSTO has to:
- Manage its IPS entry;
- Identify and publish all information required to be published under section 8(2) of the FOI Act;
- Identify and publish any optional information to be published under section 8(4) of the FOI Act;
- Review and ensure on a regular basis that information published under the IPS is accurate, up to date and complete (s8B of the FOI Act);
- Ensure that information published under the IPS is easily accessible and user-friendly;
- Ensure satisfactory conformance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (Version 2) WCAG 2.0; and
- Review the success of ANSTO’s IPS entry by reference to community feedback and compliance review processes.
3. Establishing an information publication scheme
ANSTO’s Legal function is responsible for managing ANSTO’s compliance with the Information Publication Scheme (IPS), with support from the following ANSTO functions:
- ANSTO Communications;
- ANSTO Records Management;
- ANSTO Information Technology;
- Office of the CEO; and
- Government and International Affairs.
ANSTO Communications is largely responsible for publication of information relating to ANSTO and relies on input from the Legal function to ensure ANSTO meets its obligations under the IPS.
ANSTO has internal FOI Act guidelines which set out information required to be published under the IPS.
ANSTO has an FOI Disclosure Log to record information released in response to an FOI request that can also be published as part of the IPS.
4. Charges
ANSTO may charge a person for accessing any IPS document which it is impracticable to publish online:
- at the lowest reasonable cost
- to reimburse specific reproduction costs or other specific incidental costs (FOI Act s 8D(4)).
5. IPS Information Architecture
ANSTO has an IPS webpage.
ANSTO's IPS information on its IPS webpage is published under the following headings:
- Information Publication Plan
- Who we are: Organisation chart and Statutory appointments
- What we do: ANSTO’s functions and operational information
- Routinely requested information and disclosure log: Disclosure log
- Our reports and responses to Parliament: Annual reports
- Consultation arrangements for members of the public to comment on specific policy proposals
6. Accessibility under ANSTO’s IPS
Where possible, ANSTO will ensure that documents are published to meet the WCAG 2.0 requirements.
As far as practicable, ANSTO will publish online information in HTML, MSWord and PDF format. Where a person requires an alternative accessible format of a document, it will be made available on request.
7. Information required to be published under the IPS
Under section 8 of the FOI Act, from 1 May 2011, all Commonwealth agencies have been required to provide access to certain categories of information.
In assessing which information to make available, ANSTO has regard to the objects of the FOI Act and guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner.
- ANSTO will publish the following categories of information as required under the IPSANSTO’s IPS Agency Plan
- ANSTO’s Organisational Chart
- Details of ANSTO’s functions, including decision making powers and other powers affecting members of the public
- Details of statutory appointments within ANSTO
- ANSTO’s Annual Report
- Consultation arrangements for members of the public to comment on specific policy proposals which ANSTO is responsible for.
- Information ANSTO routinely or regularly releases in response to requests for access under the FOI Act
- ANSTO’s FOI Disclosure Log
- Information provided to Parliament by ANSTO
- Contact details of ANSTO officers who can be contacted about access to information or documents under the FOI Act. ANSTO has provided the general number so that it will not change with staff movements.
- Operational information
8. FOI Disclosure Log
The FOI Disclosure Log contains a summary of FOI requests received by ANSTO and details of how the documents may be accessed. However, personal, family, business, commercial, financial or professional information will not be published in the Disclosure Log where ANSTO decides it is unreasonable to publish that information.
9. Optional information
ANSTO already publishes a wide range of information online about its activities. Not all of this information is required by the Information Publication Scheme (IPS).
In addition to the information outlined above as being required by the IPS, ANSTO will include the following types of information as part of the IPS:
- ANSTO’s Corporate Plan
- ANSTO’s Service Charter
- Nuclear Science fact sheets and reports
- Information on safety, research, business Services and procurement
10. Administering ANSTO’s IPS Scheme
In deciding which information as part of the IPS,ANSTO has FOI guidelines to:
- Identify what documents are required to be included in the IPS.
- Identify what information is to be included the FOI Disclosure Log.
ANSTO's ongoing compliance with the IPS is managed by the Legal function in conjunction with communications, Office of the CEO and Information Technology.
11. IPS Review
ANSTO will review and revise this Agency Plan at annually.
ANSTO will review the operation of its IPS from time to time and at least every five years, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner regarding IPS compliance review.
12. Comments on ANSTO’s Agency Plan
ANSTO welcomes any comments on its IPS Agency Plan, addressed to [email protected]
13. Contact information
FOI Administration on 9717 3111 [email protected]