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
Department of Defence 148
Department of Veterans' Affairs 156
Australian Federal Police 173
National Disability Insurance Agency 180
Attorney-General's Department 185
Australian Taxation Office 202
Services Australia 242
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 243
Department of Health 251
Department of Home Affairs 930

Public bodies with the most successful requests

Public Body Percentage of total requests
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission 52
Australian Securities and Investments Commission 53
Department of Social Services 53
Digital Transformation Agency 55
Department of Veterans' Affairs 55
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency 56
Department of the Environment and Energy 57
Australian Crime Commission 58
Blacktown City Council 61
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner 70

Public bodies with the fewest successful requests

Public Body Percentage of total requests
Victorian Department of Health and Human Services 0
Department of the House of Representatives 4
NSW Ministry of Health 7
NSW Police Force 8
Victorian Department of Justice & Regulation 10
Roads and Maritime Services 12
Prime Minister 13
Victoria Police 17
Transport for NSW 17
Federal Court of Australia 18

Public bodies with most overdue requests

Public Body Percentage of requests that are overdue
NSW Department of Education 22
Administrative Appeals Tribunal 23
Victoria Police 24
Federal Court of Australia 24
Department of Veterans' Affairs 27
Transport for NSW 28
Roads and Maritime Services 29
Victorian Department of Health and Human Services 29
NSW Ministry of Health 30
Department of the House of Representatives 39

Public bodies that most frequently replied with "Not Held"

Public Body Percentage of total requests
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources 20
Department of the Treasury 21
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications 22
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency 24
Department of Education 26
Australian Communications and Media Authority 27
Fair Work Ombudsman 29
NSW Ministry of Health 30
Department of the House of Representatives 30
Department of Health 32

People

Most frequent requesters

Last 28 days

  1. V

    Velan

    Joined in 2022

    6

  2. M

    Marcus

    Joined in 2022

    6

  3. D

    Dean Miles

    Joined in 2021

    5

  4. C

    Caitlin

    Joined in 2022

    4

  5. R

    Rich

    Joined in 2022

    4

  6. R

    raphael

    Joined in 2022

    4

  7. A

    Austin LI

    Joined in 2022

    4

  8. A

    Alex

    Joined in 2022

    3

  9. P

    Peter Berlyn

    Joined in 2021

    3

  10. J

    Jake S

    Joined in 2022

    3

All time

  1. Profile image for Ben Fairless

    Ben Fairless

    Joined in 2013

    438

  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. J

    John Smith

    Joined in 2020

    108

  7. Profile image for Verity Pane

    Verity Pane

    Joined in 2016

    94

  8. S

    Shirley

    Joined in 2021

    77

  9. J

    JS

    Joined in 2014

    76

  10. Profile image for Dan Monceaux

    Dan Monceaux

    Joined in 2016

    75

Most frequent annotators

Last 28 days

  1. Profile image for Verity Pane

    Verity Pane

    Joined in 2016

    6

  2. J

    Julie

    Joined in 2018

    2

  3. J

    John

    Joined in 2018

    1

  4. M

    Marek

    Joined in 2022

    1

  5. D

    D

    Joined in 2022

    1

  6. F

    Florence

    Joined in 2022

    1

  7. R

    Ray B1

    Joined in 2022

    1

  8. S

    Stork

    Joined in 2022

    1

  9. M

    Michael V

    Joined in 2022

    1

  10. M

    Martin

    Joined in 2022

    1

All time

  1. Profile image for Locutus Sum

    Locutus Sum

    Joined in 2013

    600

  2. Profile image for Ben Fairless

    Ben Fairless

    Joined in 2013

    297

  3. Profile image for Henare Degan

    Henare Degan

    Joined in 2012

    158

  4. Profile image for Verity Pane

    Verity Pane

    Joined in 2016

    145

  5. Profile image for Posty

    Posty

    Joined in 2013

    75

  6. M

    Mark R. Diamond

    Joined in 2013

    63

  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. J

    James Baldwin

    Joined in 2016

    39

  10. E

    Evelyn Doyle

    Joined in 2012

    35

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