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Information Publication Scheme

This Plan is made for the purpose of the Information Publication Scheme required by the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).

Introduction

The ATSB's function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport through excellence in:

  • independent investigation of transport accidents and other safety occurrences
  • safety data recording, analysis and research
  • fostering safety awareness, knowledge and action.

In discharging its function the ATSB recognises the importance of making as much information as possible available to industry and the travelling public.  This commitment must be balanced with ensuring that information required to afforded protection is kept confidential, refer e.g. privacy legislation,  the restricted information provisions of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003, on board recordings.

This Plan describes how the ATSB proposes to implement and administer the IPS in respect of its own information holdings, as required by s 8(1) of the FOI Act. The purpose of this agency plan is to:

  • assist the ATSB in planning and developing its contribution to the IPS
  • facilitate public consultation about that contribution
  • show what information the ATSB agency proposes to publish (referred to as the IPS information holdings), how and to whom the information will be published and how the ATSB will otherwise comply with the IPS requirements under s 8(1) of the FOI Act.

The ATSB's objectives for this Plan are to outline appropriate mechanisms and procedures to:

(a)   manage the IPS information holdings.

(b)  proactively identify and publish all information required to be published (s 8(2)).

(c)   proactively identify and publish any optional information to be published (s 8(4)).

(d)  review and ensure on a regular basis that information published under the IPS is accurate, up-to-date and complete (s 8B).

(e)   ensure that information published under the IPS is easily discoverable, understandable, machine-readable, re-useable and transformable.

(f)   ensure satisfactory conformance with the Australian Government Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

(g)   measure the success of the ATSB's IPS contribution by reference to community feedback and compliance review process.

(h)  adopt best practice initiatives in implementing and administering the ATSB's contribution to the IPS.

Responsibility for administering the ATSB's IPS contribution

The ATSB’s FOI function is responsible for coordinating the ATSB’s IPS adminmistation and coordination functions. Chief Executive Officer/Chief Commissioner is responsible for leading the agencies work on implementing FOI reforms, including establishing and administering the IPS.

Information architecture

The ATSB will publish its IPS information holdings to members of the public either on its website, via links on its website or by advising other details of how the information may be obtained.

The IPS information holdings that are available on the ATSB website, will be published under the following headings:

  • Agency plan (subs 8(2)(a))
  • Who we are (subss 8(2)(b) and 8(2)(d))
  • What we do (subss 8(2)(c) and 8(2)(j))
  • Our reports and responses to Parliament (subss 8(2)(e) and 8(2)(h))
  • Routinely requested information and disclosure log (subss 8(2)(g) and 11C)
  • Consultation arrangements (subs 8(2)(f))
  • Our priorities (subs 8(4))
  • Our finances (subs 8(4))
  • Our lists (subs 8(4))
  • Contact us (s 8(2)(i))

To ensure that the IPS information holdings (and individual IPS documents) are easily discoverable, understandable and machine-readable, the ATSB will:

  • design and publish an IPS entry point on its website
  • wherever possible, provide online content in a format that can be searched, copied and transformed
  • publish a sitemap of its website, to help individuals identify the location of information published under ss 8(2) and 8(4)
  • provide a search function for its website
  • establish links to this agency plan and to the sitemap at www.directory.gov.au
  • seek and respond to community feedback about whether the IPS information holdings (and individual IPS documents) are easily discoverable, understandable and machine-readable.

The ATSB will, so far as possible, makes its IPS information holdings available for reuse on open licensing terms.

Where the ATSB has deposited or published IPS documents under a scheme such as the Commonwealth Library Deposit and the National Sound and Film Archive, the ATSB will publish on its website information about the deposits (including links where available).

Corporate Plan 

Who we are

Please see the following links:

What we do

This includes information about the functions of the ATSB and its decision making powers.  The following links will take you to those parts of the ATSB website where the functions and powers of the ATSB are explained in greater depth:

Overview of the ATSB

The following links will take you to mode-specific information covering Aviation, Marine and Rail investigations:

The following link will take you to details of Frequently Asked Questions about the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 which can assist with an understanding of the ATSB's functions and operations:
Frequently asked questions

In undertaking its functions the ATSB relies on operational information, which includes policies and procedures, guidelines and operational tools. The primary link for this information is:
Investigation procedures

If you wish to obtain access to that material then please follow the directions provided.  Access charges may apply.

Our reports and responses to Parliament

Routinely requested information and disclosure log

The following links will take you to the type of information most commonly sought from the ATSB.  If you are unable to source the material you seek, then you are invited to request the specific information needed, by emailing us at atsbinfo@atsb.gov.au

Routinely request information will include information in documents to which ATSB routinely gives access in response to FOI requests.

The ATSB will clearly identify these documents in its disclosure log, published under s 11C of the FOI Act which requires agencies to publish information contained in documents to which the agency has provided access under the FOI Act.

The following is the Disclosure Log for all FOI requests received from 1 May 2011.  If you wish to have access to the material that has been disclosed, please forward your request to ATSBinfo@atsb.gov.au

The Disclosure Log also references information to which the ATSB routinely has given access in response to FOI requests.

Access charges may apply for the provision of documents to you.

Consultation

This will include information about how and to whom a comment may be submitted by members of the public, where the ATSB undertakes public consultation on a specific policy proposal.

Contact details

Contact details for access to the ATSB's information or documents under the FOI Act.

Optional information

The ATSB publishes the following optional information at the web links provided:

Our priorities

Our finances

Our lists

Accessibility

The ATSB will ensure that all online information it is required to publish under the IPS conforms with Australian Government Web Content Accessibility requirements.

Compliance review

The ATSB notes that the Information Commissioner has the specific function of reviewing, with agencies, the operation of the IPS. The ATSB will use the following to measure the ATSB's success in complying with the IPS requirements:

  • feedback from the public is positive as to the information published or information explaining how material can be accessed
  • number of complaints received regarding access or readability or useability of the material
  • Information Commissioner review shows no major compliance issues
  • reduce formal requests under the FOI Act as a result of more accessible published information.