Right to information
Part of the Privacy and right to information topic
The Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI Act) gives the community a right to seek access to government-held information.
On this page
What you should know
The RTI Act allows you to request access to information held by Queensland Government agencies. The RTI Act is meant to be used as an access method of last resort.
Government agencies are encouraged to release information, where appropriate, without the need for a formal access application under the RTI Act. To support this pro-disclosure focus, Government agencies may have their own administrative release scheme.
If you are unsatisfied with an RTI Act decision, you may apply for a review. Depending on the circumstances of your application you may be entitled to:
- an internal review (by the same agency that made the original decision)
- an external review (by the Office of the Information Commissioner)
- an appeal to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Your review rights will be explained in the agency’s decision notice.
Publicly available information
Many types of information are already publicly available online including:
- in publication schemes
- media statements
- disclosure logs
- released Cabinet documents
- the Queensland Government Open Data Portal.
Not publicly available information
If the information you are looking for is not publicly available, you can contact the relevant government agency and request the information either under their administrative release scheme, or under the RTI Act.
The relevant government agency will advise you whether the information is accessible through their Administrative Access Scheme, or if you should make an RTI application.
Amend personal information
If you believe documents, held by a government agency, which contain your personal information, are inaccurate, misleading, out of date or incomplete you can apply to the relevant government agency to request a correction of your personal information.
Some changes to your personal information may be made informally. Contact the relevant business area/s you have dealt with to check if this process would be suitable.
If a correction cannot be made informally, you may choose to proceed with an amendment application under the RTI Act.