Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner 2025-26 annual report
Summary
The report's own summary: Commissioner's foreword, page 4
Generated summary: written by an AI model from the report text and checked against the cited pages.
The Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner reported on 2025–2026, overseeing public access to information, privacy and public sector information security.
The office reported updating guidance on government use of artificial intelligence and publishing advice for people using it to communicate with government.
It reported closing 1,806 reviews and complaints against a target of 950, while completing 49.1 per cent of freedom of information reviews within agreed timeframes.
The office argued that freedom of information, privacy and information security legislation needed reform.
In its unaudited financial overview, it reported an actual net surplus of $0.21 million after allowing for approved access to its previous year’s surplus.
In the body's own words
- Conclusion
Privacy and information security reforms are also needed to ensure that Victorian legislation is in step with other jurisdictions and that as an integrity agency we have the appropriate compliance tools at our disposal to prevent and remediate harms caused by data breaches.
Finances 3
Total expenses from transactions
$8,456,147
Printed as
Total expenses from transactions $8,456,147 $9,815,496
Total employee expense
$7,393,074
Printed as
Total employee expense $7,393,074 $8,152,206
Net result from transactions (funded)
-$155,647
Printed as
Net result from transactions (funded) -$155,647 -$503,196
Consultancies 2
Consultancies over $10,000
$29,409
Printed as
The total expenditure during 2025-2026 in relation to this consultancy was $29,409 (excluding GST)
Ethan Group
$29,409
Printed as
Ethan Group Business continuity planning exercise 1 May 2026 5 June 2026 $29,409 $29,409 $0
Complaints and investigations 3
Breakdown of applicants by reviews received
797
Printed as
Breakdown of applicants by reviews received Total 797
Breakdown of complaints received
1135
Printed as
Breakdown of complaints received Total 1135
Complaints received
156
Printed as
Complaints received Complaints finalised 2024-2025 162 2025-2026 156 2024-2025 127 2025-2026 160
Other figures 8
information security incident notifications
925
Printed as
925 information security incident notifications
Reviews completed within the timeline agreed with applicant
773
Printed as
Total 773 (accepted reviews only)
Breakdown of complaints finalised
873
Printed as
Breakdown of complaints finalised Total 873
Privacy complaints finalised
160
Printed as
160 Privacy complaints finalised
breaches identified across 47 regulated entities regarding delayed decision making under section 21 of the FOI Act
409
Printed as
409 breaches identified across 47 regulated entities regarding delayed decision making under section 21 of the FOI Act
FOI Professional Standards engagements concerning 19 standards across 87 regulated entities
225
Printed as
225 FOI Professional Standards engagements concerning 19 standards across 87 regulated entities
consultations with VPS regulated entities
99
Printed as
99 consultations with VPS regulated entities
attendees to OVIC events and training
3,759
Printed as
3,759 attendees to OVIC events and training
About the document
- Edition
- Current edition
- Reading status
- Read by OPAX
- Pages
- 69
- Figures not found in the report
- Executive average remuneration; Executive count; Executive remuneration total; Head remuneration; Investigations commenced; Investigations finalised; Recommendations made; Staff fte; Staff headcount; Total income