Information Publication Scheme

A group of seven brown metal pear sculptures

George Baldessin, Pear - version number 2, 1973, purchased 1973.

The National Gallery of Australia (the Gallery) is established by the National Gallery Act 1975. The functions and powers of the Gallery, the Minister, the Council, the Chair and the Director are outlined in the Act. The Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts has portfolio responsibility for the Gallery.

Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act) provides as follows:

8 (1) An agency must prepare a plan showing the following:

  • what information the agency proposes to publish for the purposes of the Part;
  • how, and to whom, the agency proposes to publish information for the purposes of this Part; and
  • how the agency otherwise proposes to comply with this Part.

Subsection 8(2) of the Act requires agencies to publish certain information on their websites. 'Publish' can include a statement that the information exists along with details of how it can be obtained.

The Gallery plan required by subsection 8(1) of the Act is as follows:

Information to be published

The Gallery proposes to publish, for the purposes of this Part, the following information:

  • details of who we are (National Gallery Act 1975)
  • the structure of the Gallery, Council and Foundation Board
  • information in the Gallery's Corporate and Annual Reports
  • information on the Gallery's Freedom of Information (FOI) Policy and a log of FOI Requests
  • Information on the Gallery's Privacy Policy
  • details of arrangements for members of the public to provide feedback

How, and to whom, the information will be published

The above information will be published on the Gallery's website. In accordance with the requirements of subsection 8D (3) of the Act, the information will be published by:

  • making it available for downloading from the website (where practicable to do so)
  • publishing on the website a link to another website from which the information can be downloaded, or
  • publishing on the website other details of how the information may be obtained – for instance, the name and contact details of relevant Gallery officers from whom the information or document can be obtained

The above information will be published to members of the public generally and, where the Gallery considers it appropriate to do so, to particular classes of persons or entities.

How the Gallery proposes to otherwise comply with the requirements of Part II of the Act

The Gallery intends to comply with the other requirements of Part II as follows:

  • An FOI contact officer has been appointed for the Gallery. This officer will be responsible for publishing, the above information and documents held and then ensuring that the information and documents remain accurate and up to date. They will also be responsible for ensuring that all the other requirements of Part II of the Act are complied with.
  • Officers in the FOI and Privacy Section will provide final clearance of material to be published. They will also be available to provide advice on the requirements of Part II, including:
    • advice as to what information and documents should and should not be published; and
    • the circumstances in which charges may be levied and how they should be calculated and published.
  • The FOI contact officer will ensure that all relevant guidelines issued by the Commonwealth Ombudsman under section 93A of the Act are complied with.
  • In performing a function or exercising a power under Part II of the Act, the Gallery will also have regard to the objects of the Act as set out in sections 3 and 3A.
  • The Gallery will cooperate with the regular reviews of the Gallery's handling of the publication scheme which will be carried out by the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
  • The Gallery will ensure that, if some of its 'operational information' in relation to a function or power of the Gallery has not been published on our website and a person engages in conduct relevant to the performance of the function or exercise of the power and, at the time of engaging in that conduct the person was not aware of the unpublished information, the person will not be subjected to any prejudice by reason only of the application of any rule, guideline or practice in the unpublished information if the person could have avoided that prejudice had he or she been aware of the unpublished information.

Information in documents to which the Gallery routinely give access in response to FOI requests made to it

The Gallery does not routinely or regularly give access to any particular type or class of information.

Information routinely provided by the Gallery to Parliament in response to requests or orders from the Parliament

Senate Order for the Production of Indexed Lists of Gallery Files (also known as the Harradine Order or Harradine List)

Who we are

What we do

Relevant policies

File List

Entity contracts

Gifts & Benefits Register

Complaints, Feedback and Disclosure

The Gallery's operational information - some issues

  • Acquisitions policy
  • Business continuity plan
  • Statement of Intent
  • Complaints handling guidelines
  • Enterprise Agreement
  • Directors statement
  • Environmental policy statement
  • Freedom of information policy
  • Indigenous Australia art charter of principles
  • Loans guidelines
  • National Gallery Act
  • Privacy Policy
  • Reproductions of works of art
  • Risk management plan
  • Service charter
  • Website copyright statement
  • Work health and safety policy

Copies of the documents listed above are readily available on the Policies & Plans page. Additional documents may be obtained by contacting the Gallery's FOI and Privacy Section at foi@nga.gov.au