On this page
To promote the proactive disclosure of information, Part II of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) establishes the Information Publication Scheme (IPS) for Australian Government agencies that are subject to the FOI Act.
The IPS requires agencies to make a broad range of information available online where possible and have a plan documented that shows how an agency will meet their IPS obligations.
The Classification Review Board is an agency for the purposes of the FOI Act and therefore requires an IPS plan.
The purpose of this plan is to:
- comply with section 8(1) of the FOI Act detailing requirements relating to the publication of an IPS
- Help the Classification Review Board to proactively disclose its information holdings, in accordance with the objectives of the FOI Act.
The objective of this plan is to outline the Classification Review Board’s mechanisms and procedures to:
- manage its IPS entry
- proactively identify and publish all information required to be published
- review and ensure that the information published under the IPS is accurate, up to date and complete
- ensure that all information published as part of the IPS is discoverable, understandable and re-usable
- ensure that the format of online content conforms with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0
- measure the success of the IPS by reference to any feedback.
Administering the Classification Review Board’s IPS entry
The Classification Branch in the Department of Communications and the Arts provides secretariat services to the Classification Review Board. The Director of Operations and Business Services in the Classification Branch is the designated senior officer responsible for liaising and coordinating with the Convenor of the Classification Review Board for access to documents not readily available on the website.
The Director of Operations and Business Services in the Classification Branch is also responsible for the ongoing administration of Classification Review Board’s IPS information holdings and compliance with the IPS, in conjunction with the Classification Review Board.
IPS information architecture
The Classification Review Board’s IPS entry will be published on this website in the following sections:
- Agency plan
- Information required to be published under the IPS
- Who we are and what we do
- Our reports and responses to Parliament
- Routinely requested information and disclosure log
- Consultation arrangements
- Contact us
- Other information to be published under the IPS
- IPS compliance review
To ensure that the IPS information is easily discoverable and easy to understand, we will:
- have a link to our FOI webpage on the homepage on this website
- publish information relating to our IPS entry on this website
- where possible provide information that can be searched, copied and transformed
- publish a sitemap for our website to help individuals identify the location of information published
- provide a search function for our website
- provide links between the FOI, IPS and disclosure log pages
- ensure our information conforms with WCAG 2.0 requirements.
Further detail about the information available under these headings is provided below.
Information required to be published under the IPS
Who we are and what we do
Learn more about the Classification Review Board including the Board’s responsibilities, the process to make classification decisions, how Classification Review Board members are appointed, statutory appointments made to the Classification Review Board, and information about current serving Review Board members.
A comprehensive overview of the functions and governance structure of the Classification Review Board can be found in the Review Board’s annual reports.
Our reports and responses to Parliament
The Convenor of the Classification Review Board prepares an annual report on the management and administrative affairs of the Review Board to the Minister. The Minister causes a copy of the report to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after its receipt by the Minister.
Consultation arrangements
Under section 8(d)(f) of the FOI Act, agencies that undertake public consultation on policy proposals for which they are responsible are required to publish details of how and to whom comments may be made.
The Classification Review Board does not develop classification policy. The Department of Communications and the Arts, which is responsible for classification policy, outlines consultation arrangements in its Information Publication Scheme Plan.
Other information published under the IPS
Classification Review Board decisions are announced by media release.
Full reports on the reasons for decisions can be found in Review decisions.
IPS compliance review
The Classification Branch in the Department of Communications and the Arts in conjunction with the Classification Review Board will review the Classification Review Board’s IPS agency plan at least annually and update it if necessary. It will also review the operation of the IPS at least every five years, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner.