Information on this website
Open access information
Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act), we are required to make certain information available on our website, free of charge. This is called 'open access information' and includes our:
- agency information guide
- policy documents
- disclosure log
- register of government contracts
- major assets, acquisitions and disposals
- advertising compliance certificates
- information about grants administration.
Open access information also includes any information about the agency which is contained in any document tabled in parliament (other than information which is published as a result of an order of parliament). The Service NSW Annual Report is available on our website. Other documents within this category, including submissions made to various Committee hearings, are published and available on the NSW parliament website.
Any standard, code or other publication that has been applied, adopted or incorporated by reference in any Act or statutory rule that is administered by Service NSW can be found on our website.
Some publications may only be available on the payment of a fee, but we will let you know if that is the case.
We must also keep a record of any open access information that we do not make publicly available because of an overriding public interest against disclosure. During 2022-23, no open access information was withheld by Service NSW.
Proactive release of information
We also proactively release a large volume of other information. Our agency information guide outlines the kind of information we hold and release publicly, or you can review our proactive release register.
Request Service NSW information
If you cannot find the information you are looking for on this website and you wish to ask a question or access information held by Service NSW under the GIPA Act you can:
- contact us by email at gipa@customerservice.nsw.gov.au
- call 02 9219 3700 to find out if the information has been released proactively in some other form
- make an informal request or submit a formal access application.
Contact a department or agency
If your enquiry relates to Transport for NSW or the NSW Police Force you can contact them directly.
Transport for NSW (GIPA)
Apply directly to Transport for NSW (including Roads and Maritime Services) by completing the online request form for information relating to:
- vehicle registration
- transfer of ownership
- notice of disposal
- driving and address history
- public transport including Sydney and regional trains, Metro light rail
- point-to-point transport such as taxis.
Find out more about how Transport for NSW meets its obligations for access to information.
Transport for NSW (access your own records)
Submit an application for access to your own personal records such as your:
- driver licence
- motor vehicle and trailers
- driving, address and name history
- registration details
- NSW licence details.
NSW Police Force
For information about issues reported to the NSW Police Force, such as incident reports, apply directly to NSW Police Force.
NSW Government departments
To get the contact details for government departments, agencies and offices, go to the NSW Government Directory.
Make an informal request
If the information you are after is not available, but is information which raises no particular concerns of why it should not be released, then Service NSW may be able to release it to you on request.
If you think this applies to you, make an informal request by emailing gipa@customerservice.nsw.gov.au or calling 02 9219 3700.
Generally, we try to release information we hold without the need for you to make a formal access application, unless there are good reasons to require one.
Under the GIPA Act, however, government agencies are not required to release information without an access application. You may need to lodge a formal application if any of the following applies:
- the information relates to a third party
- there are significant public interest considerations that need to be considered
- you request a large volume of information, or
- it would take a significant amount of time to consider your request.
Make a formal access application
If the information you are seeking is not available on this website and is not otherwise routinely provided by Service NSW on request, then you have a right to formally apply for access to specific information.
Note: Service NSW does not hold information related to other NSW government agencies. If you wish to access information related to driver licensing and vehicle registration, you should contact Transport for NSW.
You can make a formal application by downloading and completing the Government Information Access Application Form – PDF and lodging it by:
- email to gipa@customerservice.nsw.gov.au or
- at a Service NSW Centre or
- posting your application with a money order or cheque (we do not accept cash by post) to:
Service NSW GIPA Team
McKell Building
2-24 Rawson Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Application checklist
Your application must:
- be in writing and lodged via email, at a Service NSW Centre, or sent to us by post
- clearly state you are requesting information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW)
- include the $30 application fee
- include your name, an email address or return postal address
- include specific information to enable us to identify the information you are asking for.
Processing times
We will acknowledge receipt of a valid access application within 5 working days, and will process your application within 20 working days (subject to any extension allowed for under the Act).
If any extension of time is required to process your application, we will let you know in writing.
Application fees and processing charges
The fee for making an access application is $30.
Processing charges can also be imposed at the rate of $30 per hour.
In some circumstances an advance fee may be required. We will let you know in writing if that applies to your application.
Certain discounts may apply, including on financial hardship and public interest grounds. For more details, see the Information and Privacy Commission's Fact Sheets. The discount only applies to the processing charge, not the application fee.
Payment options
You can pay by EFT payment (preferred), cheque, money order or in person at a Service NSW Centre.
EFT payment details:
Subject description: your surname – GIPA application fee
Pay: Department of Customer Service
Bank: Westpac
BSB: 032 001
Account number: 203164
ABN: 81 913 830 179
If paying by cheque or money order, please enclose with the application form payable to 'Department of Customer Service'.
Review rights
You can request an internal review by the agency by completing the form Internal Review Application – PDF.
An application for internal review is $40, and must be made within 20 working days of a decision being notified to an applicant.
You can also request a review by the Information and Privacy Commission and the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). This request must be made within 40 working days of a decision being made.
Subpoenas
Information on serving a subpoena on Service NSW.