Online Content Requirements
The Online Content Requirements guarantee the public access to a minimum level of information across all Australian Government agencies.
Why Must I?
Departments and agencies are required to publish a range of public accountability information online.
The requirements below supersede the Online Information Service Obligations (OISOs) released in 2001. The OISOs were originally published as part of the 2000 Government Online Strategy.
How Do I?
Requirements:
For organisational websites, the following public accountability information must be available:
- Information about the organisation including its role, legislation administered, functions, structure, key personnel and services.
- Contact details for the organisation and the services it provides to the public.
- Organisational planning and performance information, including but not limited to annual reports, strategic plans, service charters and portfolio budget statements.
- File lists and contract information.
- Agency and Ministerial media releases, speeches, and other public information such as public notices, warnings and advice.
- New non-commercial agency publications, including reports submitted to Parliament, released in print or other formats.
For product, program and cross agency websites, the following public accountability information must be available:
- Identification of the Australian Government Agency(s) responsible for managing the site and/or service contact details.
For government services, the following information must be available:
- Contact details for government services.
- Information that will help citizens to understand their responsibilities, obligations, rights and entitlements (benefits, grants etc.) in relation to government assistance.
- Forms for public use (printable or online versions).
Advice
- Reuse information and avoid duplication - where practicable, follow the principle of ‘create once, use many times’. For example, link to agency information stored in other repositories of government information. These include the legal information retrieval system (www.comlaw.gov.au), the Government Online Directory (www.directory.gov.au), www.australia.gov.au and www.grantslink.gov.au.
- Provide information about ordering arrangements where an agency publication is not available online eg a commercial publication.
- If it is not possible for a form to be made available online, then information about alternative ways of obtaining and completing the form are to be provided.
Who Can Help?
For assistance contact:
Web Publishing
Tel: (02) 6215 1653
webpublishing@finance.gov.au
