Right to Know Week NSW 2025 kicks off on Monday, promoting awareness of the public’s right to access information held by government agencies.

In NSW, the Information and Privacy Commission is encouraging all public sector organisations to strengthen their understanding of transparency obligations under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act).

Right to Know Week runs from until Sunday (5 October) and this year's theme is: “Ensuring access to environmental information in the digital age.”

Transparency is essential for enabling meaningful public engagement. The GIPA Act supports this by legally mandating openness in government, positioning NSW as a global leader in public sector transparency.

When people have the right to access government-held information, they can participate more fully in decision-making and policy development - leading to more effective governance and stronger community trust in public institutions.

In NSW, members of the public can request information from a wide range of public bodies, including state government departments, local councils, universities, ministerial offices, and state-owned corporations.

Some information is made publicly available online, while other details can be accessed through informal or formal requests.

You can request information about how a NSW government agency or public sector body operates, makes decisions, or delivers services.

You can also request your own personal information, such as documents containing your name, contact details, or other identifying records.

Kiama Council is committed to upholding the right of ratepayers to access information.

Council provides a range of open access information via its website, and also accepts informal and formal access applications in line with the GIPA Act.

To find out how to access information from Kiama Council, visit: www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Council/Access-to-Information.

For more on your rights to access government-held information, and to learn how the IPC can support you, visit: www.ipc.nsw.gov.au/RTK2025.