The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPAA) replaces the Freedom of Information Act 1989.

GIPAA creates new rights to information that are designed to meet community expectations of more open and transparent government. The Act encourages the routine and proactive release of government information, including information held by the providers of goods and services contracted by government agencies.

The GIPAA establishes four ways for government information to be made available to the public:

1) Mandatory disclosure of open access information
Agencies MUST publish certain information on their websites, free of charge and available to anyone.

2) Proactive release
Agencies are encouraged to release proactively as much government information as possible, in an appropriate manner and free of charge (of at the lowest reasonable cost)

3) Informal release
Agencies are encouraged to release information in response to a request without the need for a formal application, unless there are good reasons to require one.

4) Formal access application
In limited circumstances, access to information will require a formal application. People have a right to access information in this way unless the GIPAA provides a reason not to release the information.


Follow this link to the GIPAA Guidelines which are followed by Business Centre Managers within Attorney General's.