Information publication scheme agency plan

About the information publication scheme

The Taxation Ombudsman is an agency subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) and is required to comply with the Information Publication Scheme (IPS) provisions. This agency plan describes how the Tax Ombudsman proposes to do this as required by section 8(1) of the FOI Act. All legislative references in this agency plan are to the FOI Act, unless otherwise specified. 

The agency plan describes: 

• the establishment and administration of Tax Ombudsman’s IPS contribution 

• information architecture 

• the information required to be published 

• accessibility of the information published 

• compliance review mechanisms 

• better practice initiatives (including promoting community engagement). 

The Tax Ombudsman recognises that public sector information is a national resource managed for public purposes. The Tax Ombudsman will implement and administer the IPS in accordance with the objects of the FOI Act to promote Australia’s representative democracy by contributing towards increased public participation in Government processes. 

Purpose 

The purpose of this agency plan is to: 

• assist the Tax Ombudsman in planning, developing and enhancing its contribution to the IPS 

• manage the information holdings relevant to the IPS 

• identify the information the agency proposes to publish (referred to as the IPS information holdings), how and to whom the information will be published and how Tax Ombudsman will otherwise comply with the IPS requirements (section 8(1)). 

Objectives

The Tax Ombudsman’s objectives are to outline appropriate mechanisms and procedures to: 

• manage the IPS information holdings 

• proactively identify and publish all information required to be published (section 8(2)) 

• proactively identify and publish any optional information to be published (section 8(4)) 

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

• ensure the information published under the IPS is easily discoverable, understandable, machine-readable, reusable and transformable 

• ensure the format conforms where possible to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2(WCAG 2.0) and provide alternative access arrangements 

• measure the success of IGT’s IPS contribution by reference to community feedback and compliance review processes 

• adopt best practice initiatives in implementing and administering Tax Ombudsman’s contribution to the IPS. 

Establishing and administering Tax Ombudsman’s IPS contribution

The Deputy Tax Ombudsman – Reviews is responsible for leading Tax Ombudsman’s work on implementing and adhering to FOI Act requirements, including the IPS. 

Establishing Tax Ombudsman’s IPS contribution by 1 May 2011 

The Tax Ombudsman’s original IPS was developed in in April 2011, with assistance from the Treasury in line with a Memorandum of Understanding at the time. As part of the development of the IPS at the time, the agency: 

• reviewed Tax Ombudsman’s functions and information holdings to identify material relevant to section 8(2) 

• identified information to be made available through the IPS portal in accordance with section 8(4). 

Administering information published under the IPS from 1 May 2011

The DIGT has responsibility to: 

• review information holdings in the IPS are up to date and complete 

• identify new material to be made available through the IPS portal in accordance with sections 8(2) and (4) and ensure this material is published in accordance with requirements. 

As new processes are developed for managing information and internet material, the DIGT will work with the relevant stakeholders to integrate the IPS management into the management frameworks and will update this agency plan accordingly. The DIGT will lead better practice initiatives to engage with the community about Tax Ombudsman’s contribution to the IPS. These include: 

• inviting members of the public to provide comments to the FOI contact officer via the Tax Ombudsman website on the IPS information holdings, particularly where documents are found not to be discoverable, understandable or machine-readable 

• providing IPS information holdings in alternative forms if possible when required. 

The Tax Ombudsman may charge a person for accessing any IPS documents which it is impracticable to publish online: 

• at the lowest reasonable cost 

• to reimburse specific reproduction costs of other specific incidental costs (section 8D(4)). 

Should any IPS documents be impracticable to publish online, Tax Ombudsman will advise the documents are available. The website will provide contact details for arranging access to any of those documents. If applicable, the advice will include any indicative charges that may be imposed for making that information available and an explanation for the charge. These charges will be consistent with charges in the Freedom of Information (Charges) Regulations 1982 (which generally apply to access requests under Part 111 of the FOI Act). 

Structure of the IPS 

Tax Ombudsman will publish its IPS information holdings on its website under the following headings: 

• Agency plan (sections 8(2)(a)) 

• Who we are (sections 8(2)(b) and 8(2)(d)) 

• What we do (sections 8(2)(c) and 8(2)(j)) 

• Our reports to Parliament (sections 8(2)(e) and 8(2)(h)) 

• Routinely requested information and disclosure log (section 8(2)(g)) 

• Consultation arrangements (section 8(2)(f)) 

• Operational information (section 8(2)(j)) 

• Our priorities (section 8(4)) 

• Our finances (section 8(4)) 
• Our lists (section 8(4)) 
• Contact us (section 8(2)(i)). 

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

• design and publish an IPS entry point on its website homepage 
• wherever possible, provide online content in a format that can be copied and transformed 
• publish a sitemap for its website, to help individuals identify the location of information published under sections 8(2) and 8(4) 
• invite feedback about whether the IPS information holdings (and individual IPS documents) are easily discoverable, understandable and machine-readable. 
• The Tax Ombudsman will make its IPS documents available through links from the IPS website. 

Information required to be published under the IPS

This website provides links to documents required to be published under the IPS (section 8(2)). Tax Ombudsman will publish these documents under the following headings: 

Agency plan

Who we are

This will include an organisational chart and information about statutory appointments. For statutory appointees, Tax Ombudsman will publish the name of the person appointed, the length or term of appointment, the position to which the person is appointed, and the provisions of the Act under which the person is appointed. 

What we do

This will outline Tax Ombudsman’s roles and responsibilities. 

Our reports and responses to Parliament 

This will link to documents currently published under the headings Annual reports and Corporate Information. 

Routinely requested information and disclosure log

From 1 May 2011 Tax Ombudsman will publish a disclosure log of information accessed under the FOI Act. 

Consultation arrangements 

This will include a link to reports on Tax Ombudsman reviews already completed by the Tax Ombudsman on behalf of the Government. Generally consultation between the Tax Ombudsman and the public for reviews is enabled through the ability of members of the public to provide confidential submissions during the period following release of Terms of Reference for a review. 

Our priorities 

Our priorities are set out in our Corporate Plan which is published annually by 31 August each year. The Tax Ombudsman’s Corporate Plans are located on the Tax Ombudsman website on the Publications page. 

Our finances 

Information regarding Tax Ombudsman legal expenditure and grants is located on the Tax Ombudsman website on the Corporate plan and reports page. 

Our lists

Information regarding Tax Ombudsman lists is located on the Tax Ombudsman website on the Senate Orders page. 

Operational information 

This includes a link to key information that assists Tax Ombudsman perform or exercise the agency’s functions or powers in making decisions or recommendations affecting members of the public. 

Contact us

This will include the email address and a generic telephone number for assistance with access to information or documents under the FOI Act. Enquiries and/or complaint regarding Tax Ombudsman’s administration of FOI and the IPS can also be made via these medium. 

Other information to be published under the IPS

The Tax Ombudsman will publish on the IPS website or provide links from the IPS section to other information that it holds (in addition to the information published under section 8(2)), taking into account the objects of the FOI Act (section 8(4)). 

Accessibility under the IPS

Approach to accessibility by commencement of the IPS

The Tax Ombudsman will ensure that all online information it is required to publish under the IPS (section 8(2)) and optional information (section 8(4)) conforms as far as possible with WCAG 2.0 on commencement of the IPS. Tax Ombudsman’s dedicated IPS section of its website will state that where a document is not available in an accessible format, it will be made available in an accessible format if possible on request through the contact details provided on the site. 

Approach to accessibility after commencement of the IPS

From commencement of the IPS, Tax Ombudsman will publish any new IPS documents as soon as they are available for publication. Tax Ombudsman will ensure that all information newly published on the Tax Ombudsman website conforms with the WCAG 2.0 as far as possible. 

IPS compliance review

The DIGT will review and revise this agency plan at least annually. The DIGT will also review the operation of the IPS from time to time, at least every 5 years, and in accordance with guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner about IPS compliance review. 

Best practice initiatives

Tax Ombudsman will adopt best practice approaches identified through: 

• feedback from members of the public 

• better practice guidelines and advice from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner 

• consultation with other government agencies 

• internal review. 

Last reviewed: September 2023