Australian Government agencies subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) are required to publish information on their websites as part of an Information Publication Scheme. This includes the agency's structure, functions, appointments, annual reports, consultation arrangements and details of the agency's freedom of information officer. Information routinely released through freedom of information requests and provided to Parliament must also be published online.

The Information Publication Scheme is intended to form the basis for a more open and transparent culture across government, with agencies encouraged to take a proactive approach to publishing the information they hold, and to consider publishing information over and above what they are obliged to publish.

The Department, in accordance with the requirements of the FOI Act, publishes a number of freedom-of-information decisions in accordance with Part III of the FOI Act on our FOI Disclosure Log (with some exceptions).

In accordance with requirements set out in subsection 9(1) of the FOI Act, the Department completed a review of its operation of the Information Publication Scheme. This review was completed in conjunction with the Information Commissioner.

Information on the Department’s Information Publication Scheme is available on our website.1