Requesting information and comments

As a government entity, we provide certain information to the public through the Information Publication Scheme (IPS), Freedom of Information (FOI) and the Government’s open data policy.

Before asking for information, see if it’s publicly available. If not, you can request information from the Registrar.

Information provided by ORIC

Members and officers of a corporation – as well as other stakeholders – can contact ORIC for information about:

• registering a corporation under the CATSI Act
• support provided by ORIC such as training and pre-incorporation and rule book workshops
• obligations of corporations, officers and members under the CATSI Act
• corporation rules as set out in its rule book, including their operation
• governance of a corporation
• a corporation’s compliance with reporting obligations
• regulatory action being taken by ORIC
• the Registrar's powers to intervene
• ORIC policies. 

The public Register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations on ORIC’s website provides information and documentation for every registered and deregistered corporation under the CATSI Act. Information that is not available on the public register may be searchable via ORIC. Learn more about ORIC's data sharing policy.  

When ORIC cannot provide the information being sought by a member of a corporation we will provide information on their rights under the CATSI Act to seek the information directly from the corporation. ORIC is limited in what information we can provide to people who are not members of a corporation. 

ORIC aims to provide information that builds the capability and confidence of corporations, their directors and members to be self-determining and well-governed. This includes information that clarifies the requirements of the CATSI Act and rules in a corporation’s rule book.

When ORIC provides information, it should not be considered or treated as legal advice.

Information ORIC cannot provide

ORIC cannot provide information or advice on:

• the operations of a corporation, including employment matters, contracts and funding agreements
• functions or services that are not regulated under the CATSI Act, including native title matters
• legal matters that require independent legal advice
• details about ongoing investigations or enforcement actions that are not yet public
• personal details of individual members or officers of a corporation unless it is legally required
• internal documents or communications of a corporation that are not required to be publicly available under the CATSI Act
• information that is protected by privacy laws or other legal restrictions
• financial details or commercial arrangements that are not part of publicly lodged documents
• proprietary business information or trade secrets. 

ORIC must uphold values of independence and impartiality when providing information. 

ORIC cannot provide advice to officers or members on what decision or action they should take in certain circumstances. ORIC can provide information about what action can be taken under the CATSI Act and/or the corporation’s rule book. But it is the responsibility of members and officers to make decisions and take any action.

Also, ORIC cannot deem meetings or director elections to be invalid. Only a court can declare such matters to be invalid, as referred to in Section 576-15 of the CATSI Act.

Recipients of information provided by ORIC should not:

• interpret the information as ORIC’s support for their position
• misrepresent any information provided by ORIC to other parties.

Handling of information 

ORIC generally treats requests for information as an enquiry. Enquiries can be made via email, over the phone or using the online enquiry form via myCorp on ORIC’s website. 

ORIC will also provide information in person when the opportunity arises such as if a person attends an ORIC office, asks for information at a forum or seeks information during training offered by ORIC. Depending on the circumstance, ORIC may record such an interaction as an enquiry.

The Registrar will receive and treat documents and information given to ORIC in connection with the performance of a function or exercise of a power of the Registrar as protected information. There is more information about this in ORIC’s Confidentiality position statement. 

pdf document Position statement - Confidentiality (634.21 KB)

Available on ORIC’s website is the:

• public Register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations which includes information and documentation for every registered and deregistered corporation under the CATSI Act
• Register of disqualified officers, which is a list of people disqualified from being an officer of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation. 

ORIC maintains the Register of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations and the Register of disqualified officers in accordance with the CATSI Act. 

ORIC has a policy that outlines our position on sharing corporation data. 

Accessing further information

See if you can find what you’re looking for through our IPS page.

You can also:

• make an FOI request
• contact us if you can’t find what you’re looking for.