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Publication Scheme

The RTI Act requires Council to publish a list of information on its website that is routinely available to residents, known as a 'publications scheme.' The information in the publication scheme is grouped into seven classes:

About Us - (who we are and what we do).  Agency information, location and contacts, constitutional and legal governance and historical information.


Our Services - (the services we offer).  A description of the services offered by the agency, including advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases.

Our Finances - (what we spend and how we spend it).  Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts.

Our Priorities - (What our priorities are and how we are doing). Strategy and performance information, plans assessments, inspections and reviews.

Our Decisions - (how we make decisions).  Policy proposals and decisions, decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures and consultations.

Our Policies - (our policies & procedures).  Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.

Our Lists - (lists & registers).  Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the agency.

The classes of information that council will make available through the publication scheme will not generally include information that is:

  • Prevented by law from disclosure or is exempt under the Act
  • Information in draft form
  • Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in archives or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

Information not covered by the publication scheme

Not all the information the council publishes is detailed in the publication scheme. Information that is not published can be requested using the Right to Information request form. Your request will be considered under the provisions of the Right to Information Act.

Information that is exempt

The Right to Information Act sets out a range of information that is exempt from publication. If you make a request for information which the council considers to be exempted, we will advise you of the reasons for the exemptions.

Charges for information

There will be no charge for examining any publication scheme information contained on the council’s web site. However, there may be a charge if a large volume of printed material is required. You will be told about any photocopying charges at the time of your request.

The cover price will be charged for any publications produced by the council for sale. Charges will be kept under review and there is no intention to charge for material that has previously been available for free.

Complaint Management

Townsville City Council routinely updates the information available through this publication scheme. In the case of a failure to deliver information through the scheme, you may raise a complaint through the Council’s Complaint Management Process. Click here for a copy of the Complaint Management Policy.

To lodge a complaint, please complete our online complaints form or contact the Customer Service Centre on 13 48 10.

Registers

Council has a number of listed registers open to public inspection.