FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982
Table of Provisions
PART I--PRELIMINARY
- 1 Short title
- 2 Commencement
- 3 Objects--general
- 3A Objects--information or documents otherwise accessible
- 4 Interpretation
- 4A Certain legislation relating to Australian Capital Territory not to be enactment
- 5 Act to apply to courts in respect of administrative matters
- 6 Act to apply to certain tribunals in respect of administrative matters
- 6A Official Secretary to the Governor-General
- 6C Requirement for Commonwealth contracts
- 7 Exemption of certain persons and bodies
PART II--INFORMATION--PUBLICATION SCHEME
DIVISION 1--Guide to this Part- 7A Information publication scheme--guide DIVISION 2--Information to be published
- 8 Information to be published--what information?
- 8A Information to be published--what is?
- 8B Information to be published--accuracy etc.
- 8C Information to be published--restrictions
- 8D Information to be published--how (and to whom) information is to be published
- 8E Information to be published--Information Commissioner to assist agencies DIVISION 3--Review of information publication scheme
- 8F Review of scheme--Information Commissioner functions
- 9 Review of scheme--by agencies DIVISION 4--Guidelines
- 9A Functions and powers under this Part DIVISION 5--Miscellaneous
- 10 Unpublished operational information
- 10A Who performs functions etc. given to agencies
- 10B Transitional--Norfolk Island authorities
PART III--ACCESS--TO DOCUMENTS
- 11 Right of access
- 11A Access to documents on request
- 11B Public interest exemptions--factors
- 11C Publication of information in accessed documents
- 12 Part not to apply to certain documents
- 13 Documents in certain institutions
- 15 Requests for access
- 15AA Extension of time with agreement
- 15AB Extension of time for complex or voluminous requests
- 15AC Decision not made on request within time--deemed refusal
- 15A Request for access to personnel records
- 16 Transfer of requests
- 16A Requests transferred from the ACT
- 17 Requests involving use of computers etc.
- 20 Forms of access
- 21 Deferment of access
- 22 Access to edited copies with exempt or irrelevant matter deleted
- 23 Decisions to be made by authorised persons
- 24 Power to refuse request--diversion of resources etc.
- 24AA When does aexist?
- 24AB What is a?
- 24A Requests may be refused if documents cannot be found, do not exist or have not been received
- 25 Information as to existence of certain documents
- 26 Reasons and other particulars of decisions to be given
- 26A Consultation--documents affecting Commonwealth-State relations etc.
- 27 Consultation--business documents
- 27A Consultation--documents affecting personal privacy
- 29 Charges
- 31 Decision to impose charge--extended period for processing request
PART IV--EXEMPT--DOCUMENTS
DIVISION 1--Preliminary- 31A Access to exempt and conditionally exempt documents
- 31B Exempt documents for the purposes of this Part
- 32 Interpretation DIVISION 2--Exemptions
- 33 Documents affecting national security, defence or international relations
- 34 Cabinet documents
- 37 Documents affecting enforcement of law and protection of public safety
- 38 Documents to which secrecy provisions of enactments apply
- 42 Documents subject to legal professional privilege
- 45 Documents containing material obtained in confidence
- 45A Parliamentary Budget Office documents
- 46 Documents disclosure of which would be contempt of Parliament or contempt of court
- 47 Documents disclosing trade secrets or commercially valuable information
- 47A Electoral rolls and related documents DIVISION 3--Public interest conditional exemptions
- 47B Public interest conditional exemptions--Commonwealth-State relations etc.
- 47C Public interest conditional exemptions--deliberative processes
- 47D Public interest conditional exemptions--financial or property interests of the Commonwealth
- 47E Public interest conditional exemptions--certain operations of agencies
- 47F Public interest conditional exemptions--personal privacy
- 47G Public interest conditional exemptions--business
- 47H Public interest conditional exemptions--research
- 47J Public interest conditional exemptions--the economy
PART V--AMENDMENT--AND ANNOTATION OF PERSONAL RECORDS
- 48 Application for amendment or annotation of personal records
- 49 Requirements of an application for amendment
- 50 Amendment of records
- 51 Annotations of records etc. following unsuccessful applications for amendments of records
- 51A Requirements of an application for annotation
- 51B Annotation of records
- 51C Transfer of requests
- 51D Notification etc. of a decision under this Part
- 51DA Decision not made on request for amendment or annotation within time--deemed refusal
- 51E Comments on annotations
PART VI--INTERNAL--REVIEW OF DECISIONS
- 52 Internal review of decisions--guide
- 53 Interpretation
- 53A What is an?
- 53B What is an?
- 53C Internal review--who is an?
- 54 Internal review--access refusal decision
- 54A Internal review--access grant decision
- 54B Internal review--application for review
- 54C Internal review--decision on internal review
- 54D Internal review--deemed affirmation of original decision
- 54E Internal review--decisions to which this Part does not apply
PART VII--REVIEW--BY INFORMATION COMMISSIONER
DIVISION 1--Guide to this Part- 54F Review by the Information Commissioner--guide DIVISION 2--Key concepts
- 54G Key concepts--what is an?
- 54H Key concepts--what is an?
- 54J Key concepts--who is an?
- 54K Key concepts--what is an? DIVISION 3--IC reviewable decisions
- 54L IC reviewable decisions--access refusal decisions
- 54M IC reviewable decisions--access grant decisions DIVISION 4--IC review applications
- 54N IC review applications--application
- 54P IC review applications--requirement to notify affected third parties
- 54Q IC review applications--circumstances in which not giving notice is appropriate
- 54R IC review applications--withdrawal
- 54S IC review applications--time limits
- 54T IC review applications--extension of time DIVISION 5--Decision to review
- 54U Decision to review--interpretation
- 54V Decision to review--preliminary inquiries
- 54W Decision to review--discretion not to review
- 54X Decision to review--notice requirement if discretion not to review exercised
- 54Y Decision to review--actual decisions made after IC review has commenced DIVISION 6--Procedure in IC review
- 54Z Procedure in IC review--general notice requirement
- 55 Procedure in IC review--general
- 55A Procedure in IC review--parties to proceeding
- 55B Procedure in IC review--application for hearing
- 55C Procedure in IC review--representation
- 55D Procedure in IC review--onus
- 55DA Decision-maker must assist Information Commissioner
- 55E Procedure in IC review--inadequate reasons from decision maker
- 55F Procedure in IC review--review parties reach agreement
- 55G Procedure in IC review--revocation or variation of access refusal decision
- 55H Procedure in IC review--reference of questions of law to Federal Court of Australia
- 55J Procedure in IC review--sending of documents to, and disclosure of documents by, the Federal Court of Australia DIVISION 7--Decision on IC review
- 55K Decision on IC review--decision of Information Commissioner
- 55L Decision on IC review--no power to give access to exempt documents
- 55M Decision on IC review--limitation on amending records
- 55N Decision on IC review--obligation to comply with decision
- 55P Decision on IC review--enforcement of decision against agency
- 55Q Decision on IC review--correction of errors DIVISION 8--Information gathering powers
- 55R Information gathering powers--obliging production of information and documents
- 55S Information gathering powers--dealings with documents
- 55T Information gathering powers--production of exempt documents generally
- 55U Information gathering powers--production of national security, Cabinet or Parliamentary Budget Office documents
- 55V Information gathering powers--further searches for a document
- 55W Information gathering powers--obliging persons to appear
- 55X Information gathering powers--administration of oath or affirmation
- 55Y Information gathering powers--no loss of legal professional privilege
- 55Z Information gathering powers--protection from liability DIVISION 9--Evidence by Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security
- 55ZA Evidence by Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security--scope
- 55ZB Evidence by Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security--request to give evidence
- 55ZC Evidence by Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security--compliance with request
- 55ZD Evidence by Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security--procedural matters DIVISION 10--Appeals
- 56 Appeals--appeals to Federal Court of Australia on questions of law
- 56A Appeals--Federal Court of Australia may make findings of fact
PART VIIA--REVIEW--BY THE TRIBUNAL
DIVISION 1--Guide to this Part- 57 Review by the Tribunal--guide DIVISION 2--Tribunal reviewable decisions
- 57A Tribunal reviewable decisions--which decisions are reviewable? DIVISION 3--Powers of Tribunal
- 58 Powers of Tribunal
- 58A Powers of Tribunal--requiring further searches
- 58AA Powers of Tribunal--limitation on amending records DIVISION 4--Procedure in Tribunal
- 58B Constitution of Tribunal for proceedings about certain exempt documents
- 58D Modification of section 42 of the
- 58E Production to the Tribunal of certain exempt documents
- 60 Procedure in Tribunal--parties
- 60AA Procedure in Tribunal--requirement to notify affected third parties
- 60AB Procedure in Tribunal--circumstances in which not giving notice is appropriate
- 60A Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security must be requested to give evidence in certain proceedings
- 61 Onus
- 61A Modification of the
- 62 Application of section 28 of Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act etc. DIVISION 5--Protection of information in Tribunal
- 63 Tribunal to ensure non-disclosure of certain matters
- 64 Production of exempt documents DIVISION 6--Recommendations as to costs
- 66 Tribunal may make recommendation that costs be available in certain circumstances DIVISION 7--Automatic stay of certain decisions
- 67 Automatic stay of certain decisions on appeal
PART VIIB--INVESTIGATIONS--AND COMPLAINTS
DIVISION 1--Guide to this Part- 68 Investigations and complaints--guide DIVISION 2--Information Commissioner investigations
- 69 Information Commissioner investigations--power to investigate
- 70 Information Commissioner investigations--making complaints
- 71 Information Commissioner investigations--interpretation
- 72 Information Commissioner investigations--preliminary inquiries
- 73 Information Commissioner investigations--discretion not to investigate
- 74 Information Commissioner investigations--transfer to Ombudsman
- 75 Information Commissioner investigations--notice requirements
- 76 Information Commissioner investigations--conduct of investigation
- 77 Information Commissioner investigations--general power to enter premises
- 78 Information Commissioner investigations--places for which approval required before entry
- 79 Information Commissioner investigations--obliging production of information and documents
- 80 Information Commissioner investigations--dealings with documents
- 81 Information Commissioner investigations--exempt documents
- 82 Information Commissioner investigations--obliging persons to appear
- 83 Information Commissioner investigations--administration of oath or affirmation
- 84 Information Commissioner investigations--no loss of legal professional privilege
- 85 Information Commissioner investigations--protection from liability
- 86 Information Commissioner investigations--notice on completion
- 87 Information Commissioner investigations--what are the?
- 88 Information Commissioner investigations--what are the?
- 89 Information Commissioner investigations--failure to implement investigation recommendation
- 89A Information Commissioner investigations--failure to take action in response to implementation notice
- 89B Information Commissioner investigations--requirements for report
- 89C Information Commissioner investigations--ensuring non-disclosure of certain matters
- 89D Information Commissioner investigations--limitation on amending records
- 89E Information Commissioner investigations--protection from civil action DIVISION 3--Complaints to Ombudsman
- 89F Complaints to Ombudsman--powers not affected
- 89G Complaints to Ombudsman--report must not contain certain information
- 89H Complaints to Ombudsman--certain rights not affected by certificates
- 89J Complaints to Ombudsman--limitation on amending records in reports under the
PART VIII--MISCELLANEOUS
DIVISION 1--Vexatious applicants- 89K Vexatious applicants--declaration
- 89L Vexatious applicants--grounds for declaration
- 89M Vexatious applicants--effect of declaration
- 89N Vexatious applicants--review by Tribunal DIVISION 2--General
- 89P Staff to hold appropriate security clearance
- 90 Protection against civil liability--general
- 91 Protection against civil liability--particular situations
- 92 Protection against criminal liability
- 93 Agencies to provide information to Information Commissioner
- 93A Guidelines
- 93B Review of operation of Act
- 94 Regulations