- Explanations for the reasons for not publishing as open data - 

As described in the initial strategy, the department holds datasets, which at this point in time, it is unable to release as part of the Open Data initiative. There are seven criteria for which a dataset may not be able to be released. One or more of the criteria may apply to individual datasets. The criteria are explained below. In certain circumstances, access to some of this information may be possible, particularly for government purposes.  The data custodian is responsible for deciding access to ‘Closed’ data and they may be contacted via email at opendata@resources.qld.gov.au

Privacy: In some datasets, personal information is contained. At this time no logical aggregation of this information has been identified, so that the information, in a de-personalised manner can be made available without the risk of breaching privacy. Some of this information is held in public registers and is only able to be released on a single record basis as required by legislation in the form of a search. In the case of some property valuation and sales data with personal details, it is only able to be supplied as a dataset where the customer has become a subscriber to the Personal Identification Information in Property Data Code of Conduct http://www.propertydatacodeofconduct.com.au/ttsvr/home. This requires the customer to enter into a specific licence and to pay an appropriate fee to access the dataset.

Intellectual Property or Confidentiality: Often the department acquires data from other parties for use in business activities. The acquired data is provided with licence conditions and generally does not permit the department to release this information. The department also receives some information in accordance with legislation that requires the department not to release the information for specified time periods. After these time periods, the information becomes available.

Revenue / Funding Subscription Model: There are a number of datasets which while accessible in various forms (e.g. property searches, data files, etc) are not available freely or with an open licence. In some cases, this is due to the amount of revenue generated to support government activities. In other cases, the ongoing data capture programs to maintain the currency of the datasets (e.g. aerial photography and LiDAR) rely on subscription models to assist in funding the capture programs. While the data resources are not available initially for free, after a number of years they are released as open data resources. 

Release would breach statutory or legislative requirements: There is information held by the department for which specific statutory or legislative provisions govern its release. In these cases the department is unable to release this information unless statutory or legislative frameworks are modified.

Public Safety or Security: Some of the data that is required to be submitted to the department contains information that if released could result in a risk to public safety or security. At this time no logical aggregation of this information has been identified so that the information can be provided in a form removing the risk to public safety or security.

Alternative source: Some of the data held by the department is available from other sources, typically other levels of government. One such example if where the native title information for all of Australia is available from the National Native Title Tribunal. The department believes that where up-to-date information is available from other sources, then the effort is not warranted in duplicating these access arrangements.

Current technical limitations: Some data held by the department is very large in size. This data is typically available from the department using portable hard drives, but the infrastructure to make the information available online has not yet been established. The department is working towards having infrastructure available that would permit online access to the information, but timeframes for when this will be achieved are not finalised.