How to request Council information

1. How to access information

As a member of the public, you have the right to access certain government information.

The Burnie City Council follows the principle of open and transparent governing and provides information to the public through proactive disclosure by placing information on our website (annual and strategic plans, budget estimates, local laws and regulations and council policies)

Give our friendly customer services team a call on 03 6430 5700, or email burnie@burnie.tas.gov.au who may be able to help.

 

If you have been unable to access the information you are seeking or the information is not freely available, you may make an application for an assessed disclosure by completing an application:  Right to Access Information (RTI)(PDF, 107KB)

Please address your applications to:

Burnie City Council
PO Box 973
BURNIE  TAS   7320

Or email to: burnie@burnie.tas.gov.au 

An officer will then assess your application against the Right to Information Act 2009 and let you know the outcome of that process in writing. If the application or part of the application is refused, then the reasons for the refusal to provide the information must be provided as part of the decision together with details on the right to seek a review of the decision.    

Some information on reviews by the Ombudsman can be found on the Office of the Ombudsman's website.

2. Application Fee

Applications are to be accompanied by the application fee: Right to Information Application for Assessed Disclosure fee(PDF, 118KB)

You may apply to have the fee waived if:

  • you are in financial hardship with evidence provided to support your receipt of Centrelink or veterans affairs payments
  • if you are a member of parliament and the application is in connection with your official duty
  • if the information sought is intended to be used for a purpose that is of general public interest or benefit, with evidence provided to support this.

3. Right to Information Act 2009

The Right to Information Act 2009 commenced on 1 July 2010.  In accordance with this Act, a legally enforceable right is provided to members of the public to obtain information contained in the records of the Government and public authorities. 

Section 3 defines the object of the Right to Information Act 2009

(1)     The object of this Act is to improve democratic government in Tasmania –

(a) by increasing the accountability of the executive to the people of Tasmania; and    
(b) by increasing the ability of the people of Tasmania to participate in their governance; and
(c) by acknowledging that information collected by public authorities is collected for and on behalf of the people of Tasmania and is the property of the State.

(2)    This object is to be pursued by giving members of the public the right to obtain information held by public authorities and Ministers.      

(3)    This object is also to be pursued by giving members of the public the right to obtain information about the operations of Government.      

(4)    It is the intention of Parliament – 

(a) that this Act be interpreted so as to further the object set out in subsection (1); and
(b) that discretions conferred by this Act be exercised so as to facilitate and promote, promptly and at the lowest reasonable cost, the provision of the maximum amount of official information.