Right To Information

Right to access information

Members of the community have the right to apply for information held by NSW Health Pathology under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (the GIPA Act). The objectives of the GIPA Act are to maintain and advance a system of responsible and representative democratic government that is open, accountable, fair and effective. You can find out more about your right to information and ways you can access NSW Government information on the Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) website.

How to access our information

The GIPA Act establishes a model of openness under which formal applications for access to information should be a last resort. It authorises and encourages the release of information proactively, limited only by legitimate public interest considerations. There are four ways you can access information from NSW Health Pathology under the GIPA Act:

Mandatory Disclosure

Certain information must be published on NSW Health Pathology’s website, free of charge.

Informal Release

Agencies are encouraged to release information without the need for a formal application, unless there are good reasons to require one.

Proactive Release

Agencies are encouraged to take the initiative to release government information that should in the public interest be made available, in an appropriate manner and free of charge (or at the lowest reasonable cost).

Formal Access

In limited circumstances, access to information will require formal access applications. For a formal access application to be valid it must:

be in writing
state that it is made under the GIPA Act
have an Australian postal address for return correspondence
provide enough details to help us identify the information you require and
enclose the application fee of $30

You can make a formal access application for personal information by sending a completed access application form, $30 application fee and proof of identity to NSW Health Pathology’s Right to Information Officer via email to [email protected] or by post to NSW Health Pathology Right to Information Officer, PO Box 846, Newcastle NSW 2300.

Personal information

In general, applications by an individual for access to their personal information (including health information) will be processed under the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIP Act) or the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP Act) rather than the GIPA Act. Information on how to access your personal information is available here.

Disclosure log

We keep a disclosure log on our website where you can see a list of information that has already been released by NSW Health Pathology under the access provisions of the GIPA Act.

Policy documents

NSW Health policy documents are available on the NSW Health website. NSW Health Pathology-specific policies are available on our website.

NSW Government contract award notice

NSW Health Pathology is required by the GIPA Act to record and publish certain information about some contracts with private sector bodies. Part 3, Division 5 of the GIPA Act states that information about contracts worth more than $150,000 between agencies and private sector bodies must be recorded in a register of government contracts. Details concerning all NSW Health contracts are available at the NSW eTendering website.

Open access information not released

NSW Health Pathology must keep a record of any open access information that it does not make publicly available on the basis of an overriding public interest against disclosure. The record must indicate only the general nature of the information concerned. As NSW Health Pathology makes decisions about open access information that may not be disclosed due to an overriding public interest, it will publish this information on this website.

Agency Information Guide

NSW Health Pathology is committed to ensuring that citizens can access its information easily and at the lowest reasonable cost. The Agency Information Guide (AIG) plays an important role in promoting access to information, supporting participation and contributing to Open Government. This AIG is published in accordance with s.20 of the GIPA Act and provides a mechanism to make government information accessible, promote currency of information and appropriate release and support the management of government information as a strategic asset. This AIG will be reviewed at least every 12 months.

Past Privacy and GIPA reports

Documents tabled in Parliament

No documents have yet been tabled in the NSW Parliament by or on behalf of NSW Health Pathology. Should this occur, the agency will publish links to these documents on its website.

Gifts of Government Property and Statutory Acts of Grace registers

Gifts of Government Property
The NSW Health Gifts of Government Property register is maintained to meet the requirements of the Treasurer's Direction TD21-04 'Gifts of government property', which specifies the circumstances in which a gift of government property may be made, ensures gifts are made in accordance with specified values and associated principles, and that agencies maintain a record of gifts made.

All NSW Health entities are required to certify the accuracy and completeness of the contents of this register. Where a NSW Health entity is not named within the register, it should be taken that the entity did not make any gifts of government property, greater than $10,000, during the period.

This register is certified by the NSW Health Secretary, in her capacity as the Accountable Authority for all NSW Health entities. It is reviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee and published annually. The register has been redacted to exclude any personal information as defined under Section 4 of the Personal Information Protection Act 1998.

Copies of the registers are available on the NSW Health website.

Statutory Acts of Grace
The NSW Health Statutory Acts of Grace register is maintained to meet the requirements of the Treasury Circular TC22-01 'Statutory Act of Grace Payments', which specifies the circumstances in which a payment may be made, explains the power to delegate and requires GSF agencies to maintain a record of the payments made.

All NSW Health entities are required to certify the accuracy and completeness of the contents of this register. Where a NSW Health entity is not named within the register, it should be taken that the entity did not make any statutory acts of grace payments during the period.

Copies of the registers are available on the NSW Health website.

More information

You can contact NSW Health Pathology’s Right to Information Officer by emailing [email protected] or by phone on (02) 4920 4000 for more information about access to information under the GIPA Act.