Government and rights
Find out about how to make a complaint or get information from a government department, and about discrimination, Centrelink and immigration.
Getting information from government agencies
You can request information from Federal and state government agencies.
Online books
The Find Legal Answers Tool Kit is a collection of plain English books about the law. You can read them online or at your local public library.
Use the Tool Kit online books below to find information about access to government information.
The law handbook: your practical guide to the law in NSW
A practical guide to the law.
Useful links
- Information and Privacy Commission NSW – How to access NSW government information
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner – Freedom of information
Legislation
In NSW, the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) sets out the system for public access to government information.
The Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 allows individuals to obtain access to, and to apply for amendment of, information held about them by NSW government agencies.
You can request Commonwealth government information under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
Making a complaint about government agencies
If you have a complaint about a government agency, it is often a good idea to contact the agency first. If the agency does not fix the problem, there are ombudsman and other complaints bodies you can contact.
Online books
The Find Legal Answers Tool Kit is a collection of plain English books about the law. You can read them online or at your local public library.
Use the Tool Kit online books below to find information about access to government information.
The law handbook: your practical guide to the law in NSW
A practical guide to the law.
Useful links
- Legal Aid NSW – Complaints about a business, service or agency
- Ombudsman NSW – How to make a complaint
- Commonwealth Ombudsman – How to make a complaint
Legislation
The powers and duties of the NSW and Commonwealth Ombudsman are set out in the Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW) and the Ombudsman Act 1976 (Cth).
Centrelink
There are various payment and review options available if you owe money to Centrelink.
Online books
The Find Legal Answers Tool Kit is a collection of plain English books about the law. You can read them online or at your local public library.
Use the Tool Kit online books below to find information about Centrelink payments and debts.
The law handbook: your practical guide to the law in NSW
A practical guide to the law.
Dealing with debt: a legal guide to personal debt in NSW
A guide that helps debtors understand common types of debt and debt recovery processes, consider alternatives for managing debt issues, and respond to debt recovery action in the Local Court of NSW.
Useful links
- Legal Aid NSW – Centrelink
- Australian Department of Social Services – Social security guide
- Welfare Rights Centre – Dealing with Centrelink debts
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal – Centrelink debts fact sheet
Legislation
The Social Security Act 1991 and the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 are two Commonwealth Acts that govern social security in Australia.
Discrimination
Discrimination means treating someone unfairly because of personal characteristics such as their race, disability, age, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Discrimination is against the law if it happens in certain areas of life including at work, in education, where goods and services are provided or where accommodation is provided.
Online books
The Find Legal Answers Tool Kit is a collection of plain English books about the law. You can read them online or at your local public library.
Use the Tool Kit online books below to find information about discrimination.
The law handbook: your practical guide to the law in NSW
A practical guide to the law.
Useful links
- Legal Aid NSW – Discrimination
- Legal Aid NSW – Discrimination tool kit
- Anti-Discrimination NSW
- Australian Human Rights Commission
Legislation
The Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) is the most important NSW anti-discrimination law.
Federal laws dealing with discrimination include the:
Immigration
Immigration law deals with non-citizens seeking to enter Australia as a temporary or permanent resident.
Useful links
- Legal Aid NSW – Visas and immigration
- Australian Department of Home Affairs – Immigration and citizenship
- Immigration Advice and Rights Centre – Fact sheets
- Refugee Advice and Casework Service – Legal information
Legislation
The main laws dealing with migration in Australia are the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) and the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth).
Getting help
Legal Aid NSW, community legal centres and other organisations may give free legal help to people with a legal problem in NSW.
- Legal Aid NSW
- Community Legal Centres NSW
- Welfare Rights Centre
- Immigration Advice and Rights Centre
- Refugee Advice and Casework Service
- Legal Aid NSW Immigration Service
- Legal Aid NSW Refugee Service
Find more sources of help on the Getting help page.
Legal information at the State Library
The Library has a large collection of textbooks, legal commentaries, legal encyclopaedias, databases, journals, legislation and court reports - everything you need for advanced legal research.
Finding legal information at the State Library.
Recommended
- Find in the Library catalogue: Federal administrative law
- Find in the Library catalogue: Australian administrative law service
- Find in the Library catalogue: New South Wales administrative law
- Use at the Library: CCH law resources online
- Find in the Library catalogue: Australian social security guide
- Find in the Library catalogue: Australian immigration law