Open data, information sharing, access and use policy

Purpose

This policy defines the Queensland Government's approach to open data, government information sharing, access, exchange and licensing, ensuring alignment with evolving technological and legislative environments, and fostering a culture that supports innovation and open data practices.

This policy:

• promotes a shift in organisational culture toward openness and proactive data release, aligning with the Queensland Government's open data priorities.
• supports the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI) by using a 'push' model as the default position for the proactive release of government information, including data, to be embedded in the administrative practices and organisational culture of the public service.
• supports maintaining the integrity, currency and accuracy of information released under RTI, through the Publication Scheme, Administrative access schemes, the open data portal and as business as usual.
• supports the Information Privacy Act 2009 which recognises the importance of protecting personal information and sets rules for how personal information must be handled.
• supports the requirements of the Queensland Government Information and cyber security policy and the Queensland Government information security classification framework to ensure that information released to the public is appropriately classified and suitable for public release.
• supports the Cabinet-endorsed Queensland Public Sector Intellectual Property Principles as high-level policy for the management of intellectual property by Queensland Government departments.
• supports the Human Rights Act 2019 by ensuring that information access, sharing, and release practices respect and uphold the rights protected under the Act.
• supports the Queensland Government Enterprise architecture information principles.

Policy statement

The Queensland Government is dedicated to proactively providing and facilitating the timely, transparent, and effective use of government information to the public, free of charge, and commits to sharing information within and across government to make informed decisions and improve the services delivered to citizens.

Policy requirements

1. Agencies should provide public access to Queensland government information in accessible formats and foster an environment that supports the administrative release of information using open formats

The Queensland Government recognises the importance of providing government information to the public. Agencies should routinely and proactively provide government information to the public to the maximum extent possible, subject to legislative and policy requirements by:

• establishing an authorising and accountability environment that creates a clear framework for the release of government information, ensuring that accountability and authorisation processes are in place
• proactive and routine publishing of information in open formats, making it easily accessible and reusable, this includes regular updates to ensure the information remains current and relevant
• ensuring that information is accessible to all, including those disadvantaged geographically, socio-economically, or due to disabilities, this involves using user-friendly formats and addressing any accessibility barriers
• using clear and open licenses to facilitate the reuse of government information, ensuring intellectual property rights are managed responsibly
• release government information administratively wherever possible, making formal applications under the Right to Information Act 2009 a last resort.

2. Agencies must support the exchange of government information where there is a legitimate business need, ensuring that privacy and security requirements are upheld while facilitating permissible shared access to the greatest extent practicable

Accurate and complete information is essential for governments to provide efficient and effective services. Agencies must support the proactive exchange of government information with other government entities where there is a legitimate business need, ensuring compliance with legislative and policy requirements (e.g., confidentiality, privacy, information security). While privacy and security requirements must be met, they should not inhibit permissible shared access to government information. Agencies must continuously monitor and align with legislative changes, provide regular training to staff, and engage with stakeholders to facilitate seamless and compliant information sharing.

3. Agencies must provide government information free of charge to the maximum extent possible, while ensuring sustainable data provision and management

The Queensland Government is committed to fostering a sustainable approach to the provision of government information, where sustainability involves managing resources effectively to streamline the cost of data production while maximising the value and utility of the information for the community. By doing so, agencies must strive to provide government information, free of charge to the maximum extent possible, encouraging its creative use and ensuring its continued availability and relevance for the community.

4. Agencies must apply a consistent and clear information licensing framework to government information, with the default being the least restrictive Creative Commons licence

The Queensland Government recognises the importance of a consistent licensing framework to facilitate the use and reuse of government information. Agencies must:

• Use Creative Commons licenses version 4.0 (international licence) for government information. The default license should be the least restrictive, CC Attribution (CC BY), to maximise the potential for reuse and innovation.
• Apply a consistent licensing framework to all government information made available to the public, where copyright is owned by the State of Queensland.
• Follow the guidelines in the Queensland Public Sector Intellectual Property Principles for instances where it may be necessary to depart from the default CC BY license. Agencies may select one of the five other Creative Commons licenses based on specific needs and circumstances.
• Regularly monitor and review the application of the licensing framework to ensure it remains effective and aligned with evolving legal and policy requirements.

5. Agencies must actively manage and release open data to foster innovation and public value by making non-sensitive government data accessible using open standards and machine-readable formats

The Queensland Government is committed to enhancing transparency, participation, and collaboration through the proactive management and release of open data. Agencies must systematically and proactively release non-sensitive government data to the public, wherever possible within legislative and policy frameworks, by:

• Establishing robust governance processes to ensure clear authorisation and accountability for data release, ensuring that data is shared responsibly and in accordance with public expectations.
• Regularly publishing open data in interoperable and machine-readable formats to maximise accessibility and reuse and maintaining the currency of datasets to ensure ongoing relevance and utility. Agencies should determine the most suitable format(s) for each information release on a case-by-case basis, considering the intended audience, the nature of the data, and its potential use.
• Making open data equally accessible to all members of society, including those facing geographical, socio-economic, or disability-related challenges, and using formats and dissemination channels that accommodate diverse needs.
• Adopting licences that promote the free use, reuse, and redistribution of government data while appropriately managing intellectual property rights.
• Prioritising the administrative release of government data in open formats, resorting to formal applications under the Right to Information Act 2009 only when necessary, to streamline public access and reduce administrative burden.
• Encouraging the use of open data to stimulate economic activity, support evidence-based policy decisions, and enhance public services, fostering an ecosystem of innovation and growth across sectors by enabling access to high-value government datasets.
• Implementing user-friendly platforms to facilitate access to open data, providing tools and support to maximise individuals and businesses to discover, understand, and apply data insights effectively.

Advice

Implementation advice for this policy is available within the:

• Information access and use guideline
• Queensland Public Sector intellectual property principles factsheet
• Creative commons licensing
• Data sharing framework (under development)
• Open Data Best Practice guideline.

Applicability

This policy applies to all Queensland Government departments (as defined by the Public Sector Act 2022). This policy also applies to accountable officers (not already in scope of the Public Sector Act 2022) and statutory bodies under the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019 in the context of internal controls, financial information management systems and risk management. Please see How to apply the QGEA for further information.

Implementation

This policy comes into effect from the issue date.

Policy benefits

Implementation of this policy will:

• strengthen government accountability and transparency
• enhance the community's ability to engage with, use, and repurpose government information
• create initiatives that carry social and economic benefits through the innovative use of government information
• remove barriers that limit access to and use of government information to the maximum extent practicable.

Issue and approval

Issue date: 10 December 2025

This policy is published within the QGEA and administered by the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business.