Information Publication Scheme

Prepared pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Introduction

The Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia (ITSA) has prepared this Information Publication Scheme (IPS) Plan in accordance with subsection 8(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

Purpose

The primary purpose of ITSA’s IPS Plan is to comply with subsection 8(1) of the FOI Act, and to assist ITSA to put appropriate procedures in place to proactively disclose its information holdings, in accordance with the objects of the FOI Act.

Objectives

ITSA’s objectives in relation to the IPS Plan are to outline appropriate mechanisms and procedures to:

(a) manage the information holdings relevant to the IPS
(b) proactively identify and publish all information required to be published under subsection 8(2) of the FOI Act (including this Plan)
(c) proactively identify and publish appropriate optional information under subsection 8(4) of the FOI Act
(d) review and ensure that information published under the IPS is accurate, up-to-date and complete, as required by section 8B of the FOI Act
(e) ensure that information published under the IPS is discoverable, understandable and, to the extent possible, re-useable
(f) ensure that the format of online content conforms with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (Version 2)
(g) evaluate the usefulness and acceptance of ITSA’s IPS
(h) ensure ITSA’s clients, stakeholders and the general public are as fully-informed as possible about ITSA’s role and responsibilities and the way its powers are exercised and functions performed.

Establishing an Information Publication Scheme

ITSA’s approach to its IPS involves the following:

Appointing the National Manager of our Corporate Strategy and Support business line as the senior executive with responsibility for leading our work in implementing the FOI reforms, including establishing and administering the IPS. He is supported in this role by ITSA’s FOI Coordinator as well as relevant members of our Client, Communications and Knowledge Management (CCKM) team and our Business and Information Technology Solutions (BITS) team.

ITSA is working to improve its information asset management framework. As part of this, ITSA is looking to substantially redevelop its website, with a view to making the information on the site more user-friendly, intuitive, accessible and understandable.

ITSA also has a Disclosure Log established for the purposes of section 11C of the FOI Act. The Disclosure Log lists the documents which have been released in response to successful FOI requests. The Disclosure Log does not list documents to which section 11C does not apply – which includes documents containing personal or business information that it would be unreasonable to publish.

The CCKM team has primary responsibility for monitoring the material that goes on both ITSA’s intranet and internet sites. In conjunction with the FOI coordinator and all of ITSA’s business lines, CCKM will identify whether new material that is developed by the relevant business lines is required to be published under subsection 8(2) of the FOI Act, or is information that may be published under subsection 8(4) of that Act.

As part of the redevelopment of its website, and in order to comply with the AGIMO WCAG 2.0 accessibility guidelines, ITSA will be working to make the information it publishes easy to find, understandable, machine-readable, accessible and useable, as well as accurate, up-to-date and complete.

ITSA does not currently impose charges for accessing information it publishes, other than where the fee or charge is imposed by or under legislation. These legislative fees and charges are subject to a rigorous cost recovery analysis before being imposed [for more information, see our Cost Recovery Impact Statements] and are subject to consultation with relevant stakeholders. They are transparently shown in a legislative instrument made by the Minister (the Attorney-General) known as the Bankruptcy (Fees and Remuneration) Determination – you can view the current Determination on the ComLaw website. ITSA also publishes a fact sheet showing the current Fees and Charges. Any non-statutory fees or charges that may be contemplated in the future will be subject to consultation before being imposed.

Information architecture

There is extensive information about ITSA’s functions and operations on our website. In addition, we have a range of ‘hard copy’ publications that are available on request from ITSA and from other sources, such as financial counsellors.

ITSA’s Annual Report and the Inspector-General in Bankruptcy’s Annual Report into the Operation of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 are provided to the Commonwealth Library Deposit and Free Issue Schemes.

ITSA also maintains the National Personal Insolvency Index (NPII), which is a register containing certain information about people who are, or have been, subject to personal insolvency arrangements, along with information about registered insolvency practitioners. The NPII may be searched by the public for a fee.

ITSA’s publications are generally made available in PDF format. Some are also available in other formats such as HTML, Word and RTF. The standard language of these publications is English.

Information required to be published

Under subsection 8(2) of the FOI Act, certain information is required to be published by Commonwealth Government departments and agencies. To meet this requirement, ITSA publishes the following information [click on the links to view the document]:

(a) This IPS plan;
(b) Who we are – this includes information about ITSA’s organisational structure and statutory office holders, the Inspector-General in Bankruptcy and the Official Receivers;
(c) What we do – this includes information about ITSA’s functions and powers, and ‘operational information’ including rules, guidelines, practices and precedents that assist us to make decisions and recommendations affecting members of the public. This information is contained in our Annual Report; Client Service Charter and in our Practices and Policies;
(d) Our reports and responses to Parliament – this includes our Annual Reports and other documents required by law to be tabled in Parliament, including in accordance with Senate Standing orders, such as the File Lists for the Senate Continuing Order;
(e) Consultation arrangements – this includes information on how to make representations or submissions to ITSA about policy proposals or other issues. This information is contained in our Client Service Charter – see in particular the sections on ‘Feedback’ and ‘How to Contact us’;
(f) Who to contact in ITSA about FOI matters and information about making an FOI request.

Under subsection 8(4) of the FOI Act, it is open to departments and agencies to publish other information beyond that required by subsection 8(2). ITSA publishes the following information relevant to subsection 8(4) [click on the links to view the document]:

(a) Business & Strategic Plan
(b) Portfolio Budget Statement [PDF 374KB]
(c) Inspector-General in Bankruptcy's Report on the operation of the Bankruptcy Act 1966
(d) Reconciliation Action Plan [PDF 2.53MB]
(e) Client Service Charter
(f) Annual Procurement Plan (from Austender website)
(g) Enterprise Agreement [PDF 597KB]
(h) Bankruptcy statistics, Debtor Profiles report and other corporate and client publications

ITSA is committed to ensuring that its information asset management framework not only meets legislative requirements, but also provides real benefit to its clients and the general public.

Apart from the formal review of its IPS compliance (see below), ITSA will review this IPS plan and the information published under the plan on an ongoing basis to ensure it remains up-to-date, accurate, accessible and understandable. This will include, but not be limited to, ensuring that the information we are required to publish under subsection 8(2) of the FOI Act and the optional information we publish pursuant to subsection 8(4) of that Act is regularly monitored.

ITSA welcomes feedback on the IPS plan and its information asset management framework in general. Comments can be made by completing the Enquiry/Feedback/Complaint form on our website.

Review

ITSA proposes to complete a review of its IPS compliance by 1 May 2016, to be undertaken in conjunction with the Information Commissioner.

Without pre-empting the outcome of that review, ITSA considers criteria that will measure our success in complying with the IPS requirements might include:

• A low level of complaints regarding the transparency of ITSA’s processes, including how it performs its functions and exercises its powers; and
• Positive feedback from clients and stakeholders regarding their dealings with ITSA, so far as those dealings relate to the accessibility and quality of information.