Access to information

MHNSW publishes a range of open access information in compliance with section 18 of the GIPA Act. This includes our:

• Agency Information Guide
• Policy and planning documents
• Register of government contracts
  • Register as of 1 August 2023
  • All tenders from the current financial year onward are located on the NSW Government e-Tender site.
• Disclosure log of formal access applications
  • Nil to report
• Information about the agency contained in any document tabled in Parliament by or on behalf of MHNSW
  • Annual Reports
  • Standing Committee on Social Issues inquiry into the State Records Act and the Paper on its review

MHNSW does not hold any open access information that it does not make publicly available on the basis of an overriding public interest against disclosure.

MHNSW will also proactively release other information free of charge. The program for proactive release is reviewed at least every 12 months. Information provided under proactive release may include:

• Annual Reports (which include details of all major assets and acquisitions)
• Strategic Plans
• Privacy Management Plan
• Media releases

Alongside the corporate records of MHNSW and its predecessors (NSW State Archives and Records Authority and the Historic Houses Trust of NSW, prior to 2022) MHNSW holds several collections.

If you have any queries about accessing the information in our collections, please contact collections@mhnsw.au or visit mhnsw.au/collections in the first instance. In a lot of cases access to the collection items you seek may already be available, or can be facilitated without the need for an access application under the GIPA Act.

Under both the GIPA Act and the State Records Act 1998, Museums of History NSW does not hold the authority to make decisions about the release of many of the records within our collections. In many cases that authority lies with other government agencies.

If the information you seek has not been published, we may be able to release it to you on an informal basis. Contact our Governance team via governance@mhnsw.au to make a request for informal release.

You will be provided with a decision about your informal request as soon as possible. If we are not able to make a decision within 20 business days, we will contact you to let you know when you can expect one.

Under the GIPA Act, government agencies are not obligated to grant an informal access request. MHNSW reserves the right to require you to lodge a formal access application.

If the information you seek has not been published or is not available by informal request, you may wish to make a formal access application.

A person who makes a formal access application has a legally enforceable right to be provided with access to information in accordance with Part 4 of the GIPA Act unless there is an overriding public interest against its release.

To be considered, formal applications must:

• be made in writing
• clearly state that the request is being made pursuant to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009
• enclose a $30 application fee (EFT, money order or cheque)
• have a return postal address or email address for correspondence
• include as much specific information as necessary to enable us to identify the information you are asking for.

To make a formal application, complete the Government Information (Public Access) - Formal Access Application Form and submit it to governance@mhnsw.au or mail it to:

Governance Team
Museums of History NSW
The Mint
10 Macquarie Street
SYDNEY, NSW, 2000

We will acknowledge receipt of your application within five working days. Your application cannot be processed if it does not meet the above requirements. In this event, we will provide you with advice on how to make it a valid application.

Your application will be dealt with within 20 working days, subject to any extensions allowed for under the GIPA Act. We will let you know in writing if any extension of time is required to deal with your application.

Before submitting an access application, it is highly recommended that you contact governance@mhnsw.au to confirm whether the information you are seeking is already publicly available.

Application fees and processing charges

The application fee for making a formal access application is $30. Processing charges can also be imposed at the rate of $30 per hour. In some circumstances an advance fee may be required. A governance representative will let you know in writing if that applies to your application.

Certain discounts may apply, including on financial hardship and public interest grounds. For more details see the Information and Privacy Commission website.

Further support

If you have any questions regarding access to MHNSW information or you require advice and assistance, please contact governance@mhnsw.au.

External resources

For more information and resources around the GIPA Act please contact the Information and Privacy Commission NSW:

Email: ipcinfo@ipc.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 1800 472 679