Section 7 of the RTI Act gives any person a legally enforceable right to be provided with information in the possession of a public authority or a Minister, provided that it is not exempt information. The Act promotes the proactive release of information by public authorities and Ministers, and refers to four types of disclosure:
- Required disclosures, which are disclosures required by law such as annual reports.
- Routine disclosures, which are those made by a public authority in relation to information it decides may be of public interest.
- Active disclosures, which are disclosures in response to a request made other than under the RTI Act, such as an informal request for information by telephone.
- Assessed disclosures, which are disclosures made in response to a formal request under the RTI Act for information in the possession of a public authority or Minister that is not otherwise available.