FOI information for the public in general, and specifically for Australia

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My FOI pages are for people who respond to FOI requests. If you are submitting an FOI request (for yourself or on behalf of an organisation), the web resources you need to consult depend on where you are located. Each country and jurisdiction has different laws and judicial decisions that affect what you can obtain using FOI. Helpful links for Australia are below. Some useful basic questions to ask:

• How do I make a request? and what must the request include?

• How much will my request cost?

• How quickly can I expect a response?

• If my request is refused, in full or in part, how can I request a review of the decision?

Because answers to these questions vary so much from country to country, and even by state within countries, this page cannot give specific advice.

 

Also bear in mind that you may be able to obtain the information you need in other ways. For example, as an individual you may have certain specific rights to see your files because you are a patient or student, or an employee of a government organisation. For more general information (not about yourself), vast amounts of information are already available on the websites of government organisations and does not require an FOI request for access.

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Good luck searching for information!

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How do I make a request? and what must the request include?

 

Almost all countries require an FOI request to be made in writing. Say that you are making it under the FOI Act. Be as specific as you can in what you are asking for. If you have reference numbers or file numbers, include these. You should send the request to the government department or agency which you think would have the information. Address it to the "FOI Officer". Most government departments have the address and phone number of the FOI Unit on their website. Specific information for requesters from Australia is below.

You will usually need to provide your name and address. If the request is for your own personal information, you will need to provide proof of your identity (to protect your privacy).

How much will my request cost?

If you only want information about yourself, there is usually only a small application fee; in some places it is completely free. There may be hourly processing charges for larger amounts of information.

If you want other types of information, there is usually an application fee plus hourly processing charges and copying charges per page. This is an important reason to make your request as precise as possible. The FOI officer at each government agency can help you do this.

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How quickly can I expect a response?

This varies from place to place; a maximum response time is usually set under each FOI Act. However it would often be a period between three and six weeks. If you do not get an answer within this time, you should contact them again.

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If my request is refused, in full or in part, how can I request a review of the decision?

All FOI officers must, when informing you of their decision on your request, tell you the reasons why it has been refused. They will also advise you of your rights to seek a review, including any procedures, costs, and the address to send it to. Most of the time you can ask first for an internal review which is by a more senior officer. If you are still unhappy you may appeal to an Ombudsman, to a Tribunal, or an Information Commissioner, depending where you live.

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Australian FOI Requests: Quick Links

Please do not send FOI requests to this web site. You need to send the request to the government agency which has the information you want.

Each of the federal and state or territory governments in Australia has an FOI law. They are slightly different in their specific requirements, so the links below will give you specific information on how to get access to information. Some organisations have administrative access schemes that make it easy to ask for your own personal information without using the FOI Act. Ask the organisation's FOI Officer for details. Many government agencies also have a great deal of information on their web sites.

If your enquiry relates to an Australian Commonwealth government agency, you may find the links below helpful:

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Australian Taxation Office
Centrelink
Child Support Agency

If your enquiry is for a government agency in New South Wales:

Office of the NSW Information Commissioner
Department of Community Services
NSW Office of Fair Trading
NSW Ombudsman
NSW Police

If your enquiry is for a government agency in Victoria:

How to make a request, or complain about an existing request
Victorian Police

If your enquiry is for a government agency in Queensland:

Queensland Information Commissioner
Queensland’s Department of Justice and the Attorney General
Queensland Health
Queensland Police

If your enquiry is for a government agency in South Australia:

State Records Office
SA Police

If your enquiry is for a government agency in Western Australia:

WA Information Commissioner
WA Police

If your enquiry is for a government agency in Tasmania:

Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Tasmania Police
Treasury

If your enquiry is for a government agency in the Australian Capital Territory:

ACT Ombudsman
ACT Health

If your enquiry is for a government agency in the Northern Territory:

Northern Territory Information Commissioner
NT Police