NSW Reconstruction Authority – access to information and complaints

The NSW Reconstruction Authority proactively releases a large volume of other information.

Before lodging a formal access application form to access information , please browse our website to see if the information is already available.

Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009, certain information is required by law to be available on our website, free of charge.  This is called "open access information" and includes our:

• policy documents
• disclosure log
• register of government contracts
• agency information guide.

We try to release information we hold without the need for you to make a formal access application, unless there are good reasons to require one.

If the information you are after has not already been published by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, but is information which raises no particular concerns in terms of possible public interest reasons why it should not be released, then we may be able to release it to you on request without a formal application.

If you think this applies to the information you are seeking, you can make an informal request by emailing GIPA@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au

Under the Act, however, we are not required to release information without an access application. The NSW Reconstruction Authority reserves the right to require you to lodge an access application, particularly if:

• there may be significant public interest considerations that need to be taken into account in deciding whether the information can be released
• you request a large volume of information or if it would otherwise take a significant amount of time to process your request.

We encourage you to call the Right to Information Officer first to discuss whether a formal application is required. 

Download the access to information form (PDF, 2.88MB) (PDF 203.55KB)

The Act says that we are only able to accept access applications that:

1. are in writing and sent by post to or lodged at an office of the agency concerned
2. clearly indicate that it is an access application made under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW)
3. enclose a fee of $30
4. state the name of the applicant and a postal or email address as the address for correspondence in connection with the application
5. include such information as is reasonably necessary to enable the government information applied for to be identified.

If your application does not include these 5 things, it will be invalid and will not be processed. If that happens, we will let you know and we will work with you as far as is reasonable to help you make a valid application. 

Otherwise we will write to acknowledge receipt of a valid access application within 5 working days, and will deal with your application within 20 working days (subject to any extension allowed for under the Act). If any extension of time is required to deal with your application, we will let you know in writing.

Applicatio​​n fee and processing charges

The formal application fee is $30 and must be paid when lodging an access application form. The fee covers the first hour of processing.

We may request an additional processing charge if an application for information involves extensive research or processing time. Any additional charges are based on an estimated time necessary to deal efficiently with the application. An additional processing charge is calculated at $30 per hour.

The Act continues the right of applicants seeking their own personal information to receive up to 20 hours of processing without additional charge.