Purpose of the IPS
The Information Publication Scheme (IPS):
- underpins a pro-disclosure culture across government
- transforms the freedom of information (FOI) framework from one that is reactive to individual requests for documents, to one that relies more heavily on agency-driven publication of information
- reflect the objective that information held by government is a national resource to be managed for public purposes.
Publication of government information can stimulate innovation and economic prosperity. It can also enhance participatory democracy by assisting the public to better understand how government makes decisions and administers programs. An informed community can participate more effectively in government processes and contribute to better policy and decisions.
Transparency in government can also lessen the risk that people, through lack of knowledge or a misunderstanding of government processes, will be disadvantaged when they deal with government.
How the IPS works
The IPS is intended to help and promote public access to information, promptly and at the lowest reasonable cost. The IPS requires us to:
- publish an agency plan
- publish specified categories of information
- consider proactively publishing other government information.
We refer to these three elements as our 'IPS entry'. Each individual government agency's IPS entries come together to form the wider Information Publication Scheme.
Our IPS agency plan shows:
- the information we propose to publish under the IPS (our IPS entry)
- how and to whom we propose to publish that information
- other ways we will comply with IPS requirements.