Right to Information

Burke Shire Council seeks to provide for open, transparent and accountable Governance by giving right of access to information and documents in Council’s possession or under Council’s control, and to meet Council’s obligations under the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI Act).

As per Council’s Right to Information Policy, Council is committed to encouraging open discussion of public affairs and keeping the community informed of its operations.

Council will be proactive in giving the community right of access to information in Council’s possession or under Council’s control unless, on balance, it is contrary to the public interest to give access.

Council will make copies of its policy documents available for inspection and purchase by the public.

Council will release administratively, as a matter of course, documents that inform of Council’s operations, including, in particular, the rules and practices followed by Council in its dealing with the community if the publication or giving access can properly be done or is permitted or required to be done by law.

Making an Application:

An applicant may submit their RTI or Information Privacy (IP) Access Application Form by lodging it:

  • in person to the Council office during operating hours; or
  • by post to Burke Shire Council, PO Box 90, Burketown  Qld  4830; or
  • by emailing it to office@burke.qld.gov.au

More information regarding the lodging of an application is available on the Queensland Government Right to Information website (http://www.rti.qld.gov.au).

Release of Documents

Council staff are to be proactive in releasing documents in their control that inform of Council’s operations, including, in particular, the rules and practices followed by Council in its dealing with the community by publication on Council’s website provided:

  • the publication or giving access can properly be done, or
  • is permitted or required to be done by law.

All documents required by legislation to be published on Council’s website, are to be published within the legislated timeframe.

Access to Other Documents

Other documents can be accessed by application under the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI Act) and the Information Privacy Act 2009 (IP Act) unless, on balance, it is contrary to the public interest to give the access.

Schedules 3 and 4 of the RTI Act provide guidance regarding what does, and does not, constitute a disclosure contrary to the public interest.

Decision maker

The Chief Executive Officer may delegate the power to deal with applications under the RTI Act or the IP Act to another officer of Council or may appoint an officer or other person to deal with a specific application subject to section 30 of the RTI Act.

Dealing with an Application

The delegated or appointed officer, or the Chief Executive Officer, if a delegation or appointment has not been made for a particular application, with the assistance of Council’s Records Management is to process all applications within the legislated timeframes and in accordance with the RTI Act or the IP Act as applicable.

All staff are to cooperate with the collection of documents for processing and provide all relevant documents promptly on request.

Disclosure Log

Council maintains a Disclosure Log , which　 provides information in response to non-personal information requests made under the Rights to Information Act 2009. This Log can be found here.　

 

For more information, please contact Council.

Our Council