Governance

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010 commenced on January 1, 2011, and replaced the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1994.

The main objects of this Act are -

1. to promote the public interest by facilitating public interest disclosures of wrongdoing in the public sector;
2. to ensure that public interest disclosures are properly assessed and, when appropriate, properly investigated and dealt with;
3. to ensure that appropriate consideration is given to the interests of persons who are the subject of a public interest disclosure; and
4. to afford protection from reprisals to persons making public interest disclosures.

Flinders Shire Council Public Interest Policy and Procedure(PDF, 147KB)

Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010

The RTI Act requires Council to publish a list of information on its website that is routinely available to residents, known as a 'publications scheme. It has been developed to give the community greater access to information held by Flinders Shire Council.

The classes of information that the council will make available through the publication scheme will not generally include information that is:

• Prevented by law from disclosure or is exempt under the Act
• Information in draft form
• Information that is no longer readily available, as it is contained in archives or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

Information Not Covered By The Publication Scheme

Not all the information the council publishes is detailed in the publication scheme. Information that is not published can be requested using the Right to Information request form. Your request will be considered under the provisions of the Right to Information Act.

Information That Is Exempt

The Right to Information Act sets out a range of information that is exempt from publication. If you make a request for information which the council considers to be exempted, we will advise you of the reasons for the exemptions.

Charges For Information

There will be no charge for examining any publication scheme information contained on the council’s web site. However, there may be a charge if a large volume of printed material is required. You will be told about any photocopying charges at the time of your request.

The cover price will be charged for any publications produced by the council for sale. Charges will be kept under review and there is no intention to charge for material that has previously been available for free.

Information Commissioner

The Information Commissioner is responsible for enforcing the operation of the publication scheme. In the case of a failure to deliver information through the scheme, you may also complain directly to the Information Commissioner at any time. Contact details are as follows:

Postal address: PO Box 10143
Adelaide Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000
Phone: (07) 3405 1111
Fax: (07) 3405 1122
Email: enquiries@oic.qld.gov.au
Website: www.oic.qld.gov.au

ill be advised in advance of any charges that may be payable if your request is for a large volume of material.

The Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI) Act commenced on 1 July 2009. Council endeavour to make available information released under the RTI Act that is of significant interest to the wider public. This information is identified in council's disclosure log. The disclosure log contains information released since 1 July 2009 and does not identify all information released under the RTI Act.

Documents released to applicants under the Act will be progressively published on our disclosure log. Council's disclosure log will contain a description of the information released and, where possible, a link to the relevant documents.

Disclosure Log

Council's disclosure log will show information released under the RTI Act since 1 July 2009 that is considered to be of significant interest to the wider public.

Under the RTI Act, information that is:

• Of a sensitive nature (for example personal information)
• Considered commercial-in-confidence

Will have been removed from the documents prior to their release.

Accessing Released Information

To obtain copies of any of the released documents shown in council's disclosure log, you can either email or write to Council:

Email Requests:

Email your request to flinders@flinders.qld.gov.au

Written Requests:

Written request are to be addressed to the:
Chief Executive Officer
Flinders Shire Council
PO Box 274
HUGHENDEN QLD 4821

Disclosure Log(PDF, 270KB)

Click here to view form.