Government Matters

Government Matters - banner

Welcome to Government Matters, your online resource for all things relevant across all levels of government – Commonwealth, state and territory, and local government.

On this page you will find our latest thinking in the form of alerts, publications, articles and opinions. With our insights all in the one place, we aim to make it as easy as possible to find what you are looking for to support you in the work you do every day.

80 articles available. Showing 1 - 10.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 NextLast

page:

29 July 2026 | Case note: 'BAZ' and Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Freedom of Information)

In this recent decision of the Freedom of Information Commissioner discusses whether the Australian Trade and Investment Commission's decision to find the applicant liable to pay a charge of $560.00 under s 29 of the Freedom of Information Act was the correct and preferable decision in the circumstances.

28 July 2026 | New Procurement Guidelines seek to lift council procurement performance

In this article, we review the new Procurement Guidelines and consider what councils need to do to implement them.

22 July 2026 | Vexatious Applicant Declarations – Guidance for agencies from the recent case of Australian Human Rights Commission and 'BAY' (Freedom of information)

In this recent decision, Freedom of Information Commissioner declared the respondent a vexatious applicant under s 89K(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, on the basis that the respondent's repeated access actions involved an abuse of process by unreasonably interfering with the operations of the Australian Human Rights Commission.

15 July 2026 | Document search minutes – Practical tips from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

After receiving a request under the Freedom of Information Act, government agencies conduct searches to identify documents in scope of the request. Typically, agencies require the completion of an internally developed 'document search minute'; agencies should regularly review their existing document search minute templates in light of the latest OAIC guidance.

8 July 2026 | Disallowance of Model Code of Meeting Practice

In a somewhat unusual turn of events, the 2025 Model Code of Meeting Practice for councils in NSW was recently disallowed by the NSW Legislative Council.

8 July 2026 | Can a DCP be considered when determining desired future character?

This matter involved a Class 1 appeal against Mosman Council's deemed refusal of a development application.

29 June 2026 | Guidance on what will constitute personal information for the purposes of s 47F in the FOI Act

In this recent decision of the Freedom of Information Commissioner, the Commissioner provides useful guidance on personal privacy conditional exemption in s 47F of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).

26 June 2026 | Case note: 'BAP' and Department of Veterans' Affairs (Freedom of information)

In this recent decision of the Freedom of Information Commissioner, the Commissioner examines the commercially valuable information exemption (s 47(1)(b)) and the personal privacy conditional exemption (s 47F) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).

25 June 2026 | Your 'A to E' guide on disclosure log obligations under s 11C of the FOI Act

Every Australian government agency and minister that is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) must publish information that has been released in response to an FOI request, unless an exception applies. This publication is called a 'disclosure log'.

28 May 2026 | Australia's FOI system under review - Key findings from the Auditor-General

Results of an audit conducted by the Australian National Audit Office have found that the audited federal government departments' administration of the FOI Act were 'partly effective' in giving the community access to information.

80 articles available. Showing 1 - 10.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 NextLast

page:

Search Government Matters articles

Contact

Ben Dubé
National Practice Group Leader
t: +61 7 3016 5008+61 7 3016 5008
o: Brisbane

Paul Tobin
National Practice Group Leader
t: +61 2 4924 7345+61 2 4924 7345
m: +61 431 095 563+61 431 095 563
o: Newcastle

Media room