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12/12/2024

Access to information - Information Publication Scheme (IPS)

About the Scheme

Part II of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) establishes an Information Publication Scheme (IPS) for Australian Government agencies subject to the FOI Act.  The IPS commenced on 1 May 2011 and requires agencies to publish a broad range of information on their websites. 
The Information Publication Scheme aims to transform the freedom of information 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.

Information required to be published

Agency plan

Finance's Information Publication Plan describes how it intends to comply with the IPS.

Who we are

We are required under sections 8(2)(b) and 8(2)(d) of the FOI Act to publish information about the organisation and structure of the agency, the location of offices, governance arrangements, senior management team and statutory appointments. This information is available on the pages set out below.

  • The Department provides information about our senior management team, and our structure, including access to our organisation chart.
  • Contact Us provides our office location

Statutory appointments

The Office of the National Data Commissioner. The Commissioner is the regulator of the DATA Scheme and provides advice and guidance about its operation to the Minister, Scheme participants and others. The Commissioner's other functions are to deliver education and tools to support best practice data handling and sharing.

What we do

We are required under sections 8(2)(c) and 8(2)(j) of the FOI Act to publish a description of the functions and powers of the agency, and the rules, guidelines, practices and precedents relating to those functions and powers (that is, operational information). This information is available on the pages set out below. 

Functions and decision making powers

Finance is responsible for a range of functions which are dealt with in accordance with the Commonwealth Administrative Arrangements Orders (AAOs). AAOs are issued and amended to take into account changes in the structure of parliament. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet hosts the most recent AAOs.
Finance is responsible for a number of Acts, or parts of Acts. Where applicable, ministers or Finance officers may exercise decision-making powers under the Policy and Legislation administered by the Department. The list is subject to changes prescribed in AAOs.
Details of current Finance administered policies, programs or projects can also be found in the Department's Corporate Plan.

Operational information

As a central policy agency and insofar as is relevant to subsection 8A(1) of the FOI Act, access to Finance operational documents are available for access and includes the following information:

Our reports and responses to Parliament

We are required under subsections 8(2)(e) and 8(2)(h) of the FOI Act to publish Annual reports laid before the Parliament, and other information routinely provided to the Parliament.

Routinely requested information and disclosure log

We are required under ss 8(2)(g) and 11C of the FOI Act to publish information to which the agency routinely gives access in response to FOI requests and the disclosure log of information that has been released under the FOI Act.

Consultation arrangements

We are required under s 8(2)(f) of the FOI Act to publish information about consultation arrangements that enable members of the public to comment on specific discussion papers for which the agency is responsible.

Current consultations

There are no current public consultations open at this time.

Policy and other matters

Members of the public are able to make representations in writing to Finance portfolio ministers about the range of policy and other matters dealt with by the Department. The arrangements in place for outside participation and consultation in any given year are available in Finance's Annual Reports.

Issues managed by the Department

Comments about different issues managed by Finance can be made to the contact officer identified on each Finance web page and at the Contact us page.

Information Publication Scheme

Members of the public can provide comments on the Department's Information Publication Scheme through the IPS coordinator.

Other information to be published under the IPS

Finance publishes a range of information from corporate documents, including policy and strategy, guidance, reports and reviews, to those relating to core business. For the full listing see the Publications page on our website.

Our priorities

Under s 8(4) of the FOI Act, we publish information about the corporate and strategic plans of the agency.

Our finances

Under s 8(4) of the FOI Act, we publish information about our finances, including information relating to pay and grading structures in the agency, procurement procedures, tendering and contracts. This information is available on the pages set out below.

Contact us

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