Preparations for new Right to Information Act underway

by Tamika Mayne, RTI coordinator

From 1 July, the Freedom of Information Act 1991 will be replaced by the Right to Information Act 2009.

Forestry Tasmania is now in the process of implementing the processes that will further enhance our pro-active disclosure of information to the public.

From 1 July our website will include a designated Right to Information section, which will contain annual reports, three year plans, planned burns information, forest practices plans and results of audits under our Australian Forestry Standard certification. The website will also contain information released under assessed disclosures (currently known as FoI requests), and forms for members of the public wishing to lodge a request for an assessed disclosure.

For a number of years now, Forestry Tasmania has pro-actively released information to the public, so implementing the Right to Information Act will, in many ways, be an extension of our existing initiatives. In 2007, we adopted the policy of releasing all Freedom of Information requests to the media, and to the public via our website. This policy has been instrumental in increasing our openness and transparency, and as a consequence, our standing in the community.

We also report on Freedom of Information requests in our annual Stewardship Report. In 2008/09, we received a total of 13 Freedom of Information requests.

As always, if you cannot find the information you require on our website, contact Forestry Tasmania and we may be able to assist you. If the information is not freely available we will assist you to make an application for an assessed disclosure.