the solution

From the Executive Director

Seasons Greetings and what's in store in 2019

I would like to extend our festive season greetings and heartfelt thanks to all clients who have continued to use our services during 2018.  That has included:

  • an extensive number of privacy impact assessments
  • instructing us on applications for review or complaints made to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner or Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
  • applications to VCAT for review of FOI decisions, privacy complaints and reviews of decisions under profession regulation legislation
  • purchasing our FOI Procedures Manual, subscribing to our monthly or annual case summaries of VCAT FOI and privacy cases (the 2018 edition will be available in early in the New Year)
  • all of our privacy, freedom of information and related data management training sessions throughout the year.

Our team at FOI Solutions wishes everyone a very safe and enjoyable festive season and well earned break.  May you all have a very happy and healthy 2019.  Be sure to get well rested as 2019 looks like it will be a very busy year - many of our clients are reporting unprecedented numbers of FOI requests and reviews along with new projects requiring privacy impact assessments. 

 

We also believe that 2019 will probably contain some important developments and changes in a number of areas including:

  • new local government legislation which will have a dramatic impacts on how FOI will affect councils;
  • proposed professional standards to be developed and published by OVIC - remember, these are likely to have legislative effect (they will become law);
  • proposed changes to the IBAC regime in Victoria.

Access Charges Masterclass

Just a reminder that we will be conducting for the first time an Access Charges Masterclass in February.  More information is available at the end of this newsletter.  We look forward to seeing you there an helping to clear the fog and confusion about how the FOI Act and Access Charges Regualtions in Victoria actually work in practice.