Right to Know Statistics

Here you can see how well public bodies have responded to requests on Right to Know and meet the people most actively using it. You can also find statistics about requests over time.

Public Bodies

This section on public body statistics is currently experimental, so there are some caveats that should be borne in mind:

  • The percentages are calculated with respect to the total number of requests, which includes invalid requests; this is a known problem that will be fixed in a later release.
  • The classification of requests (e.g. to say whether they were successful or not) is done manually by users and administrators of the site, which means that they are subject to error.
  • Requests are considered successful if they were classified as either 'Successful' or 'Partially Successful'.
  • Requests are considered overdue if they are in the 'Overdue' or 'Very Overdue' states.
  • The error bars shown are 95% confidence intervals for the hypothesized underlying proportion (i.e. that which you would obtain by making an infinite number of requests through this site to that authority). In other words, the population being sampled is all the current and future requests to the authority through this site, rather than, say, all requests that have been made to the public body by any means.
  • Hidden requests are not counted. Unclassified requests do not count towards the percentages.

These graphs were partly inspired by some statistics that Mark Goodge produced for WhatDoTheyKnow, so thanks are due to him.

Public bodies with the most requests

Public Body Number of requests
Australian Federal Police 200
Attorney-General's Department 219
Australian Taxation Office 230
Department of Veterans' Affairs 231
Department of Defence 235
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 299
Services Australia 319
Department of Health 324
National Disability Insurance Agency 339
Department of Home Affairs 1367

Public bodies with the most successful requests

Public Body Percentage of total requests
Digital Transformation Agency 57
Commonwealth Ombudsman 58
Australian Crime Commission 58
Australian Public Service Commission 60
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner 61
Blacktown City Council 65
Reserve Bank of Australia 71
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation 75
eSafety Commissioner 76
Classification Board 76

Public bodies with the fewest successful requests

Public Body Percentage of total requests
Department of the House of Representatives 4
NSW Ministry of Health 6
Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety 9
Victorian Department of Health 9
NSW Police Force 10
Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General 10
Roads and Maritime Services 11
Victoria Police 14
Prime Minister 17
Sydney Trains 21

Public bodies with most overdue requests

Public Body Percentage of requests that are overdue
Brisbane City Council 23
Department of Veterans' Affairs 24
Victoria Police 25
Transport for NSW 25
NSW Police Force 26
Victorian Department of Health 27
Roads and Maritime Services 31
NSW Ministry of Health 32
Queensland Department of Education 38
Department of the House of Representatives 42

Public bodies that most frequently replied with "Not Held"

Public Body Percentage of total requests
Department of the Treasury 23
Department of Education 24
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency 26
Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety 26
Australian Communications and Media Authority 27
Fair Work Ombudsman 28
NSW Ministry of Health 29
Department of the House of Representatives 29
Department of Health 31
Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General 33

People

Most frequent requesters

Last 28 days

  1. C

    CR

    Joined in 2023

    20

  2. B

    Bob Buckley

    Joined in 2024

    5

  3. J

    James Smith

    Joined in 2023

    4

  4. I

    Ivy

    Joined in 2024

    4

  5. D

    Dan Collins

    Joined in 2024

    4

  6. C

    clementine saber

    Joined in 2024

    3

  7. A

    Andrew

    Joined in 2023

    3

  8. O

    Oliver Smith

    Joined in 2022

    3

  9. J

    Julie Keys

    Joined in 2024

    2

  10. T

    Trav S

    Joined in 2020

    2

All time

  1. Profile image for Ben Fairless

    Ben Fairless

    Joined in 2013

    470

  2. J

    James Smith

    Joined in 2016

    339

  3. Profile image for Phillip Sweeney

    Phillip Sweeney

    Joined in 2014

    289

  4. N

    Nigel Gladstone

    Joined in 2016

    158

  5. J

    Jackson Gothe-Snape

    Joined in 2014

    138

  6. O

    Oliver Smith

    Joined in 2022

    119

  7. Profile image for Verity Pane

    Verity Pane

    Joined in 2016

    109

  8. J

    John Smith

    Joined in 2020

    108

  9. A

    Alex Pentland

    Joined in 2022

    94

  10. T

    Trent Morrison-Francis

    Joined in 2020

    86

Most frequent annotators

Last 28 days

  1. C

    CR

    Joined in 2023

    9

  2. E

    Emily Lacey

    Joined in 2023

    8

  3. Profile image for Ben Fairless (Right to Know)

    Ben Fairless (Right to Know)

    Joined in 2024

    5

  4. Profile image for Ben Fairless

    Ben Fairless

    Joined in 2013

    3

  5. D

    Dan Collins

    Joined in 2024

    2

  6. R

    Rob Stewart

    Joined in 2023

    1

  7. B

    BZ

    Joined in 2024

    1

  8. Profile image for : Deborah-May: Torrens

    : Deborah-May: Torrens

    Joined in 2021

    1

  9. S

    Sally R

    Joined in 2024

    1

All time

  1. Profile image for Locutus Sum

    Locutus Sum

    Joined in 2013

    599

  2. Profile image for Ben Fairless

    Ben Fairless

    Joined in 2013

    338

  3. Profile image for Verity Pane

    Verity Pane

    Joined in 2016

    164

  4. Profile image for Henare Degan

    Henare Degan

    Joined in 2012

    158

  5. Profile image for Posty

    Posty

    Joined in 2013

    75

  6. M

    Mark R. Diamond

    Joined in 2013

    66

  7. Profile image for Alex Sadleir

    Alex Sadleir

    Joined in 2012

    56

  8. Profile image for Dan Monceaux

    Dan Monceaux

    Joined in 2016

    51

  9. C

    CR

    Joined in 2023

    48

  10. J

    James Baldwin

    Joined in 2016

    39

Requests

Hidden

From time to time requests need to be hidden on Right to Know. This can happen for a number of reasons. For example, the request could be about someone’s personal information that shouldn’t be public or the contents could be abusive.

Here you can see how often Right to Know administrators have hidden requests.

Week starting Request hide events
2012-10-15 0
2012-10-22 0
2012-10-29 0
2012-11-05 0
2012-11-12 0
2012-11-19 0
2012-11-26 1
2012-12-03 0
2012-12-10 0
2012-12-17 0
2012-12-24 0
2012-12-31 0
2013-01-07 0
2013-01-14 0
2013-01-21 0
2013-01-28 0
2013-02-04 2
2013-02-11 1
2013-02-18 0
2013-02-25 0
2013-03-04 0
2013-03-11 0
2013-03-18 0
2013-03-25 0
2013-04-01 0
2013-04-08 0
2013-04-15 0
2013-04-22 0
2013-04-29 0
2013-05-06 0
2013-05-13 0
2013-05-20 0
2013-05-27 0
2013-06-03 0
2013-06-10 0
2013-06-17 1
2013-06-24 2
2013-07-01 1
2013-07-08 1
2013-07-15 0
2013-07-22 1
2013-07-29 1
2013-08-05 3
2013-08-12 1
2013-08-19 3
2013-08-26 0
2013-09-02 0
2013-09-09 1
2013-09-16 3
2013-09-23 1
2013-09-30 1
2013-10-07 0
2013-10-14 0
2013-10-21 0
2013-10-28 0
2013-11-04 0
2013-11-11 0
2013-11-18 0
2013-11-25 0
2013-12-02 0
2013-12-09 0
2013-12-16 0
2013-12-23 0
2013-12-30 0
2014-01-06 0
2014-01-13 1
2014-01-20 0
2014-01-27 1
2014-02-03 0
2014-02-10 3
2014-02-17 3
2014-02-24 0
2014-03-03 0
2014-03-10 0
2014-03-17 1
2014-03-24 0
2014-03-31 0
2014-04-07 0
2014-04-14 0
2014-04-21 1
2014-04-28 0
2014-05-05 0
2014-05-12 0
2014-05-19 0
2014-05-26 0
2014-06-02 0
2014-06-09 0
2014-06-16 2
2014-06-23 0
2014-06-30 0
2014-07-07 0
2014-07-14 0
2014-07-21 0
2014-07-28 1
2014-08-04 0
2014-08-11 0
2014-08-18 0
2014-08-25 0
2014-09-01 0
2014-09-08 0
2014-09-15 0
2014-09-22 0
2014-09-29 0
2014-10-06 0
2014-10-13 0
2014-10-20 1
2014-10-27 0
2014-11-03 0
2014-11-10 0
2014-11-17 1
2014-11-24 0
2014-12-01 0
2014-12-08 0
2014-12-15 0
2014-12-22 2
2014-12-29 1
2015-01-05 0
2015-01-12 0
2015-01-19 0
2015-01-26 0
2015-02-02 0
2015-02-09 0
2015-02-16 0
2015-02-23 0
2015-03-02 0
2015-03-09 0
2015-03-16 0
2015-03-23 0
2015-03-30 0
2015-04-06 0
2015-04-13 0
2015-04-20 0
2015-04-27 0
2015-05-04 0
2015-05-11 0
2015-05-18 0
2015-05-25 0
2015-06-01 0
2015-06-08 0
2015-06-15 0
2015-06-22 1
2015-06-29 0
2015-07-06 0
2015-07-13 1
2015-07-20 1
2015-07-27 5
2015-08-03 2
2015-08-10 5
2015-08-17 2
2015-08-24 2
2015-08-31 2
2015-09-07 4
2015-09-14 3
2015-09-21 0
2015-09-28 0
2015-10-05 2
2015-10-12 3
2015-10-19 0
2015-10-26 0
2015-11-02 5
2015-11-09 2
2015-11-16 1
2015-11-23 1
2015-11-30 2
2015-12-07 2
2015-12-14 1
2015-12-21 0
2015-12-28 2
2016-01-04 3
2016-01-11 6
2016-01-18 1
2016-01-25 0
2016-02-01 1
2016-02-08 5
2016-02-15 0
2016-02-22 2
2016-02-29 1
2016-03-07 3
2016-03-14 3
2016-03-21 4
2016-03-28 5
2016-04-04 2
2016-04-11 2
2016-04-18 1
2016-04-25 2
2016-05-02 3
2016-05-09 0
2016-05-16 4
2016-05-23 1
2016-05-30 0
2016-06-06 2
2016-06-13 4
2016-06-20 2
2016-06-27 6
2016-07-04 0
2016-07-11 2
2016-07-18 15
2016-07-25 3
2016-08-01 3
2016-08-08 2
2016-08-15 2
2016-08-22 2
2016-08-29 3
2016-09-05 8
2016-09-12 2
2016-09-19 38
2016-09-26 4
2016-10-03 12
2016-10-10 9
2016-10-17 4
2016-10-24 6
2016-10-31 1
2016-11-07 0
2016-11-14 4
2016-11-21 2
2016-11-28 4
2016-12-05 6
2016-12-12 2
2016-12-19 1
2016-12-26 2
2017-01-02 1
2017-01-09 7
2017-01-16 2
2017-01-23 3
2017-01-30 8
2017-02-06 5
2017-02-13 4
2017-02-20 3
2017-02-27 3
2017-03-06 3
2017-03-13 3
2017-03-20 4
2017-03-27 1
2017-04-03 2
2017-04-10 3
2017-04-17 2
2017-04-24 3
2017-05-01 4
2017-05-08 3
2017-05-15 7
2017-05-22 7
2017-05-29 3
2017-06-05 5
2017-06-12 1
2017-06-19 7
2017-06-26 3
2017-07-03 3
2017-07-10 1
2017-07-17 0
2017-07-24 2
2017-07-31 0
2017-08-07 1
2017-08-14 2
2017-08-21 2
2017-08-28 2
2017-09-04 0
2017-09-11 0
2017-09-18 0
2017-09-25 0
2017-10-02 1
2017-10-09 1
2017-10-16 1
2017-10-23 1
2017-10-30 1
2017-11-06 2
2017-11-13 0
2017-11-20 1
2017-11-27 0
2017-12-04 0
2017-12-11 0
2017-12-18 0
2017-12-25 0
2018-01-01 4
2018-01-08 2
2018-01-15 0
2018-01-22 0
2018-01-29 1
2018-02-05 0
2018-02-12 1
2018-02-19 0
2018-02-26 0
2018-03-05 2
2018-03-12 0
2018-03-19 0
2018-03-26 0
2018-04-02 0
2018-04-09 1
2018-04-16 0
2018-04-23 0
2018-04-30 0
2018-05-07 0
2018-05-14 3
2018-05-21 0
2018-05-28 1
2018-06-04 0
2018-06-11 0
2018-06-18 0
2018-06-25 0
2018-07-02 0
2018-07-09 0
2018-07-16 0
2018-07-23 2
2018-07-30 1
2018-08-06 0
2018-08-13 3
2018-08-20 0
2018-08-27 0
2018-09-03 0
2018-09-10 0
2018-09-17 1
2018-09-24 0
2018-10-01 1
2018-10-08 0
2018-10-15 0
2018-10-22 0
2018-10-29 0
2018-11-05 0
2018-11-12 0
2018-11-19 0
2018-11-26 0
2018-12-03 0
2018-12-10 0
2018-12-17 1
2018-12-24 0
2018-12-31 0
2019-01-07 1
2019-01-14 0
2019-01-21 0
2019-01-28 0
2019-02-04 0
2019-02-11 0
2019-02-18 0
2019-02-25 0
2019-03-04 2
2019-03-11 0
2019-03-18 0
2019-03-25 0
2019-04-01 0
2019-04-08 0
2019-04-15 0
2019-04-22 0
2019-04-29 5
2019-05-06 1
2019-05-13 0
2019-05-20 2
2019-05-27 0
2019-06-03 0
2019-06-10 0
2019-06-17 0
2019-06-24 1
2019-07-01 0
2019-07-08 0
2019-07-15 0
2019-07-22 4
2019-07-29 0
2019-08-05 5
2019-08-12 0
2019-08-19 1
2019-08-26 0
2019-09-02 0
2019-09-09 0
2019-09-16 0
2019-09-23 0
2019-09-30 0
2019-10-07 1
2019-10-14 7
2019-10-21 5
2019-10-28 4
2019-11-04 5
2019-11-11 10
2019-11-18 0
2019-11-25 0
2019-12-02 0
2019-12-09 2
2019-12-16 0
2019-12-23 0
2019-12-30 0
2020-01-06 0
2020-01-13 0
2020-01-20 0
2020-01-27 0
2020-02-03 1
2020-02-10 0
2020-02-17 0
2020-02-24 0
2020-03-02 0
2020-03-09 4
2020-03-16 0
2020-03-23 0
2020-03-30 0
2020-04-06 0
2020-04-13 0
2020-04-20 0
2020-04-27 0
2020-05-04 0
2020-05-11 0
2020-05-18 0
2020-05-25 0
2020-06-01 0
2020-06-08 0
2020-06-15 0
2020-06-22 0
2020-06-29 0
2020-07-06 0
2020-07-13 0
2020-07-20 0
2020-07-27 0
2020-08-03 0
2020-08-10 0
2020-08-17 0
2020-08-24 0
2020-08-31 0
2020-09-07 0
2020-09-14 1
2020-09-21 0
2020-09-28 0
2020-10-05 0
2020-10-12 0
2020-10-19 0
2020-10-26 1
2020-11-02 0
2020-11-09 0
2020-11-16 0
2020-11-23 0
2020-11-30 0
2020-12-07 9
2020-12-14 4
2020-12-21 0
2020-12-28 7
2021-01-04 0
2021-01-11 0
2021-01-18 1
2021-01-25 1
2021-02-01 1
2021-02-08 2
2021-02-15 0
2021-02-22 1
2021-03-01 5
2021-03-08 1
2021-03-15 1
2021-03-22 0
2021-03-29 0
2021-04-05 0
2021-04-12 3
2021-04-19 0
2021-04-26 0
2021-05-03 7
2021-05-10 0
2021-05-17 0
2021-05-24 0
2021-05-31 1
2021-06-07 0
2021-06-14 0
2021-06-21 0
2021-06-28 0
2021-07-05 0
2021-07-12 1
2021-07-19 0
2021-07-26 0
2021-08-02 0
2021-08-09 1
2021-08-16 0
2021-08-23 0
2021-08-30 1
2021-09-06 2
2021-09-13 7
2021-09-20 4
2021-09-27 1
2021-10-04 0
2021-10-11 2
2021-10-18 1
2021-10-25 0
2021-11-01 2
2021-11-08 2
2021-11-15 0
2021-11-22 0
2021-11-29 0
2021-12-06 3
2021-12-13 0
2021-12-20 0
2021-12-27 0
2022-01-03 0
2022-01-10 0
2022-01-17 2
2022-01-24 0
2022-01-31 0
2022-02-07 0
2022-02-14 0
2022-02-21 0
2022-02-28 0
2022-03-07 5
2022-03-14 0
2022-03-21 0
2022-03-28 2
2022-04-04 4
2022-04-11 0
2022-04-18 0
2022-04-25 1
2022-05-02 0
2022-05-09 0
2022-05-16 0
2022-05-23 0
2022-05-30 11
2022-06-06 0
2022-06-13 0
2022-06-20 0
2022-06-27 2
2022-07-04 0
2022-07-11 1
2022-07-18 0
2022-07-25 0
2022-08-01 1
2022-08-08 0
2022-08-15 1
2022-08-22 0
2022-08-29 0
2022-09-05 2
2022-09-12 0
2022-09-19 0
2022-09-26 0
2022-10-03 1
2022-10-10 0
2022-10-17 2
2022-10-24 0
2022-10-31 0
2022-11-07 0
2022-11-14 4
2022-11-21 10
2022-11-28 0
2022-12-05 0
2022-12-12 0
2022-12-19 3
2022-12-26 0
2023-01-02 0
2023-01-09 0
2023-01-16 2
2023-01-23 2
2023-01-30 0
2023-02-06 255
2023-02-13 1
2023-02-20 3
2023-02-27 0
2023-03-06 3
2023-03-13 4
2023-03-20 1
2023-03-27 0
2023-04-03 8
2023-04-10 0
2023-04-17 4
2023-04-24 0
2023-05-01 0
2023-05-08 2
2023-05-15 0
2023-05-22 0
2023-05-29 3
2023-06-05 0
2023-06-12 3
2023-06-19 0
2023-06-26 1
2023-07-03 0
2023-07-10 0
2023-07-17 7
2023-07-24 1
2023-07-31 0
2023-08-07 0
2023-08-14 0
2023-08-21 2
2023-08-28 0
2023-09-04 1
2023-09-11 1
2023-09-18 1
2023-09-25 0
2023-10-02 0
2023-10-09 1
2023-10-16 6
2023-10-23 1
2023-10-30 0
2023-11-06 0
2023-11-13 7
2023-11-20 0
2023-11-27 2
2023-12-04 4
2023-12-11 1
2023-12-18 0
2023-12-25 0
2024-01-01 1
2024-01-08 4
2024-01-15 0
2024-01-22 0
2024-01-29 10
2024-02-05 0
2024-02-12 4
2024-02-19 0
2024-02-26 1
2024-03-04 0
2024-03-11 2
2024-03-18 0
2024-03-25 0
2024-04-01 1
2024-04-08 6
2024-04-15 2
2024-04-22 1
2024-04-29 7
2024-05-06 0
2024-05-13 3
2024-05-20 1
2024-05-27 11
2024-06-03 3
2024-06-10 2
2024-06-17 2
2024-06-24 8
2024-07-01 4
2024-07-08 0
2024-07-15 2
2024-07-22 3
2024-07-29 1
2024-08-05 1
2024-08-12 5
2024-08-19 7
2024-08-26 2
2024-09-02 5
2024-09-09 5
2024-09-16 1
2024-09-23 0
2024-09-30 2
2024-10-07 1