Information Statement
Freedom of Information
S U P E R A N N U AT I O N
The Freedom of Information Act 1992 (FOI Act) was designed to make state and local government agencies more
open and accountable to the public by creating a general right of access to documents held by those agencies.
In addition, individuals have the right to apply to see their
GESB has three operational divisions each with distinct
own records and have them amended where they believe
roles and responsibilities:
them to be inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or
•
Operations look after our members, incorporating the
misleading.
Members Services, Key Account Management and
This Information Statement is published in accordance with
Administration teams
Section 94 of the FOI Act and provides information about
•
Finance and Business Services looks after
our operations, the types of documents we hold and
management and financial accounting, as well as
outlines the way in which members of the public may
investment operations, procurement and facilities
obtain access to these documents.
management. This division also takes responsibility for
A copy of the Information Statement is available on our
our Human Resources, IT and Security
website, gesb.com.au, or by contacting your Member
•
Investments oversees our external investment
Services Centre on 13 43 72.
managers, who work to deliver returns for our members
See page 4 (Appendix 1) for our organisational chart.
At GESB we achieve our purpose by adhering to the
Functions
fol owing core values in everything we do.
As the WA public sector’s default super provider, our
•
Members first: we are committed to providing
functions affect current and former WA public sector
excel ent superannuation and retirement products
workers who are our members.
and related services that meet members’ needs
As a super provider many of the decisions made by the
•
Achieve together: we partner with our members,
Board relate to the financial wel being of our members.
the state, employers and other stakeholders to
Therefore, many of the Board’s decisions relate to how to
successful y deliver on our purpose
best manage the Government Employees Superannuation
•
Sustainable performance: we are committed to
Fund (GES Fund) and administer the schemes to maximise
continual y delivering cost effective, risk control ed
returns for members. In administering our schemes and
products and services with wel -regarded
managing the GES Fund, the Board acts against declared
performance
objectives and ensures that we comply with super related
•
Act with integrity: we approach every aspect of
legislation and policies. The Board sets high standards of
our work ethical y, and operate transparently and
governance, with a focus on risk, return, diversification,
with full accountability. We demonstrate our sense
liquidity and sustainability to meet the needs of members.
of responsibility by ‘taking ownership’ of issues
In addition to these investment decisions, the SSA
ensure a satisfactory outcome
empowers the Board with some discretionary powers
in relation to products and/or services it offers members
(i.e. providing insurance within their super) and also how
Structure and functions of the agency
certain benefits are paid to members. Members have a
GESB is a statutory authority with powers and functions
right to an internal review and an independent review
conferred on us by the
State Superannuation Act 2000
through the Super Complaints Tribunal if they are
(SSA). The
State Superannuation Regulations 2001 contain
aggrieved by a decision of the Board.
the rules of each superannuation scheme.
The best interest of members is central to the decision
making process of the Board.
Structure
GESB’s seven-member Board is responsible for our overal
governance and performance in accordance with the SSA
and is ultimately accountable to the State Treasurer.
Our Board is assisted by a number of committees to help
carry out our functions. Our CEO reports directly to the
Board on our operations.
Participation in the formulation of the agency’s policy and performance of functions
There are no specific arrangements where members of the public can directly affect the agency’s policy or performance.
Superannuation policy is not set by us. It is predominantly set by the Commonwealth government and applies to regulated
super funds. We are not a regulated super fund but as a signatory to the Heads of Government Agreement, WA (and
therefore GESB as a super provider) has undertaken to comply, as far as practicable, with the retirement income policy set
by the Commonwealth. Therefore our schemes’ rules comply with most regulated super funds.
The WA State Government (through the Treasurer) may have a policy position about certain aspects of the defined benefit
schemes as there is a financial impact to the State in operating these schemes. The WA State Government may also make
policy decisions on super that differ to Commonwealth policy if it is unable to comply or wishes to offer its employees
greater benefits than those required by the Commonwealth retirement income policy.
Indirectly, our members may participate in the formulation of super policy as they relate to our schemes through:
• Member Directors on our Board,
• Their employers, and
• Public sector unions
Members of the public may participate in the formulation of super policy more general y through submissions to the
Commonwealth Minister responsible for super.
Description of the kinds of documents held and arrangements for public access
Documents
which can be
inspected at Documents which can
Documents which can be obtained
Types of documents held
the agency1
be purchased
free of charge
Publications – these documents
Yes
We do not charge for
Visit gesb.com.au or phone your
are available outside FOI
each publication but may Member Services Centre on 13 43 72
charge for the cost of
posting in accordance
with the Charge Schedule
Relevant legislation – these
Yes
Can be obtained via the
State Law Publisher has a website,
documents are available outside
State Law Publisher
www.slp.wa.gov.au, where you can access
FOI
documents containing relevant legislation
free of charge. If you require hard copies of
these documents charges will apply, as
outlined on the State Law Publisher’s
website
Board and committee meeting
Yes
Charged in accordance
Not applicable
documents – these documents
with Charge Schedule
are not available
to members of the public;
however, a summary or extract
on certain matters may be
available on request
Member records – electronic
Yes
No fee payable if the
Documents that relate to personal
and hard copy records including
application relates to
information can be obtained free of charge
data such as application forms,
personal information
Non–personal information may be charged
medical information and
in accordance with the Charge Schedule
personal information
Corporate files covering
Yes
Copies of documents are Not applicable
correspondence with various
charged in accordance
agencies and other
with the Charge Schedule
organisations
Administration procedure
Yes
Copies of documents are Not applicable
documents detailing how
charged in accordance
member benefits are processed.
with the Charge Schedule
Please note that commercial y
sensitive information will be
redacted before being released.
Corporate documents such as
Yes
Copies of documents are Not applicable
Corporate plans
charged in accordance
with the Charge Schedule
1 The inspection of documents will be at our offices and an appointment is necessary. Interested persons should phone
Member Services on 13 43 72 to make an appointment.
2
Making an FOI application
A formal application under FOI must:
• Be
in writing
• Give enough detail so the information can be identified
• Give an address to which notices can be sent (telephone numbers and email addresses may result in
quicker responses)
• Be accompanied by a $30 application fee (note that requests for personal information are free), and
• Be addressed to:
FOI Coordinator
GESB
PO Box J 755
PERTH WA 6842
We will acknowledge all FOI applications in writing and provide a decision within 45 days. Members of the public
can make general enquiries or seek assistance in relation to FOI matters by contacting the FOI Coordinator via your
Member Services Centre on 13 43 72.
FOI charges
The fol owing is a scale of fees and charges set under the FOI Regulations. However, apart from the application fee for
non-personal information, all charges are discretionary.
Charge description
Fee payable
Personal information
No fee payable
Application fee for non-personal information
$30
Charge for time taken by staff dealing with the application $30 per hour or pro-rata for part of an hour
Charge for access time supervised by staff
$30 per hour or pro-rata plus the actual additional cost to
the agency of any special arrangements (e.g. hire of
facilities or equipment)
Charges for photocopying
$30 per hour or pro-rata for part of an hour plus 20c
per photocopy
Charge for time taken by staff transcribing information
$30 per hour or pro-rata for part of an hour
from a tape or other device
Charge for duplicating a tape, film or computer
Actual cost
information
Charge for delivery, packaging and postage
Actual cost
Under the FOI Act, we can also request:
• Advance deposit of the estimated charges – 25%
• Further advance deposit to meet charges for dealing with the application – 75%
For financially disadvantaged applicants or those issued with prescribed pensioner concession cards, these charges
are reduced by 25%.
How to amend personal information
We only hold personal information about our members. A member may request the amendment of any incorrect personal
information we hold. A request to amend personal information must be in writing and should clearly demonstrate how or
why the personal information is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading.
Requests should be sent to:
Manager
Member Services
PO Box J 755, Perth
WA 6842
If, for any reason, we decline the member’s request to amend personal information, the member has the right to both an
internal review and external review under the provisions of the FOI Act.
Right of review
Applicants who are dissatisfied with a decision we have made about access to information are entitled to ask for an internal
review. Applications should be made in writing within 30 days of receiving notice of the decision. The applicants will be
notified of the outcome of the review within 15 days. If the applicants stil disagree with the result they then can apply to the
Information Commissioner for an external review. No fees or charges apply for internal or external reviews.
3
Appendix 1
GESB organisational structure
S U P E R A N N U AT I O N
GESB Board
GESB CEO
Superannuation
Finance and
Services
Business Services
Investments
Disclaimer: while every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this fact sheet is accurate, GESB make no
warranty beyond the rights and terms implied by law regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information. The information in
this fact sheet may also change occasional y and GESB reserves the right to alter any information or representations contained within
this fact sheet at any time without prior notice, subject to legislative restrictions.
How to contact us
T Member Services Centre 13 43 72
F 1800 300 067
W gesb.com.au
PO Box J 755, Perth WA 6842
8/16 ISS1
Government Employees Superannuation Board ABN 43 418 292 917
1282.7 0
