Commonwealth Numbered Acts

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982 No. 3 of 1982 - SECT 3

3. (1) The object of this Act is to extend as far as possible the right of the
Australian community to access to information in the possession of the
Government of the Commonwealth by -

   (a)  making available to the public information about the operations of
        departments and public authorities and, in particular, ensuring that
        rules and practices affecting members of the public in their dealings
        with departments and public authorities are readily available to
        persons affected by those rules and practices; and

   (b)  creating a general right of access to information in documentary form
        in the possession of Ministers, departments and public authorities,
        limited only by exceptions and exemptions necessary for the protection
        of essential public interests and the private and business affairs of
        persons in respect of whom information is collected and held by
        departments and public authorities.

(2) It is the intention of the Parliament that the provisions of this Act
shall be interpreted so as to further the object set out in sub-section (1)
and that any discretions conferred by this Act shall be exercised as far as
possible so as to facilitate and promote, promptly and at the lowest
reasonable cost, the disclosure of information.