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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982 - NOTES

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982 - NOTES

Version No. 111

No. 9859 of 1982

Version incorporating amendments as at

26 April 2023

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Version No. 111

Freedom of Information Act 1982

No. 9859 of 1982

Version incorporating amendments as at

26 April 2023

Endnotes

    1     General information

See www.legislation.vic.gov.au for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was assented to on 5 January 1983 and came into operation as follows:

All of Act (except Part 2) on 5 July 1983: section 1(2); Part 2 on 5 July 1984: section 1(3).

INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)

Style changes

Section 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.

References to ILA s. 39B

Sidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided section or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subsections or subclauses, the original section or clause becomes subsection or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression "(1)" at the beginning of the original section or clause.

Interpretation

As from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:

•     Headings

All headings included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any heading inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; sections; clauses; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms. See section 36(1A)(2A).

•     Examples, diagrams or notes

All examples, diagrams or notes included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Act. See section 36(3A).

•     Punctuation

All punctuation included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 forms part of that Act. Any punctuation inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. See section 36(3B).

•     Provision numbers

All provision numbers included in an Act form part of that Act, whether inserted in the Act before, on or after 1 January 2001. Provision numbers include section numbers, subsection numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).

•     Location of "legislative items"

A "legislative item" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of an Act is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.

•     Other material

Any explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of an Act.

See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).

    2     Table of Amendments

This publication incorporates amendments made to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 by Acts and subordinate instruments.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Freedom of Information Act 1982, No. 9859/1982

Assent Date:

5.1.83

Commencement Date:

S. 73(4) inserted on 26.4.21 by No. 11/2021 s. 149: s. 2(2)

Note:

S. 73(4) repealed s. 73 on 26.4.23

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Public Service (Amendment) Act 1984, No. 10046/1984

Assent Date:

1.5.84

Commencement Date:

S. 32 on 20.6.84: Government Gazette 13.6.84 p. 1886

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Statute Law Revision Act 1984, No. 10087/1984

Assent Date:

22.5.84

Commencement Date:

22.5.84: subject to s. 3(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Adoption Act 1984, No. 10150/1984

Assent Date:

13.11.84

Commencement Date:

S. 3(1)(Sch.) on 16.11.87: Government Gazette 28.10.87 p. 2880

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1984, No. 10155/1984

Assent Date:

20.11.84

Commencement Date:

S. 67 on 1.3.85: Government Gazette 30.1.85 p. 191

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Infertility (Medical Procedures) Act 1984, No. 10163/1984 (as amended by No. 86/1987)

Assent Date:

20.11.84

Commencement Date:

S. 34 on 1.7.88: Government Gazette 4.5.88 p. 1123

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Health (Amendment) Act 1985, No. 10262/1985

Assent Date:

10.12.85

Commencement Date:

S. 4(Sch.) on 1.3.86: Government Gazette 26.2.86 p. 451

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Local Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1989, No. 12/1989

Assent Date:

9.5.89

Commencement Date:

S. 4(1)(Sch. 2 items 46.1, 46.2) on 1.11.89: Government Gazette 1.11.89 p. 2798

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 1990, No. 84/1990

Assent Date:

11.12.90

Commencement Date:

11.12.90: s. 2

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 1993, No. 58/1993 (as amended by No. 7/1993)

Assent Date:

8.6.93

Commencement Date:

Ss 16, 815 on 8.6.93: s. 2(1); s. 7 on 1.7.93: s. 2(2); ss 1625 on 1.1.94: s. 2(3)

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Public Sector Management (Amendment) Act 1993, No. 97/1993

Assent Date:

16.11.93

Commencement Date:

S. 44 on 16.11.93: s. 2(4)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Medical Practice Act 1994, No. 23/1994

Assent Date:

17.5.94

Commencement Date:

S. 118(Sch. 1 items 22.1, 22.2) on 1.7.94: Government Gazette 23.6.94 p. 1672

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Legal Practice Act 1996, No. 35/1996

Assent Date:

6.11.96

Commencement Date:

S. 453(Sch. 1 item 34) on 1.1.97: s. 2(3)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Public Sector Reform (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998, No. 46/1998

Assent Date:

26.5.98

Commencement Date:

S. 7(Sch. 1) on 1.7.98: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Tribunals and Licensing Authorities (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998, No. 2/1998

Assent Date:

2.6.98

Commencement Date:

S. 311(Sch. 1 item 32) on 1.7.98: Government Gazette 18.6.98 p. 1512

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Public Sector Reform (Further Amendments) Act 1999, No. 12/1999

Assent Date:

11.5.99

Commencement Date:

S. 4(Sch. 2 item 5) on 11.5.99: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 1999, No. 38/1999

Assent Date:

8.6.99

Commencement Date:

1.7.99: s. 2

Current State:

All of Act in operation

Freedom of Information (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1999, No. 57/1999

Assent Date:

21.12.99

Commencement Date:

Ss 410 on 1.1.2000: s. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Statute Law Revision Act 2000, No. 74/2000

Assent Date:

21.11.00

Commencement Date:

S. 3(Sch. 1 item 53) on 22.11.00: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Health Records Act 2001, No. 2/2001

Assent Date:

10.4.01

Commencement Date:

Ss 101, 102 on 1.7.02: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001, No. 44/2001

Assent Date:

27.6.01

Commencement Date:

S. 3(Sch. item 50) on 15.7.01: s. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003, No. 7/2003

Assent Date:

15.4.03

Commencement Date:

Ss 4244 on 16.4.03: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Monetary Units Act 2004, No. 10/2004

Assent Date:

11.5.04

Commencement Date:

S. 15(Sch. 1 item 9) on 1.7.04: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Public Administration Act 2004, No. 108/2004

Assent Date:

21.12.04

Commencement Date:

S. 117(1)(Sch. 3 item 84) on 5.4.05: Government Gazette 31.3.05 p. 602

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Legal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2005, No. 18/2005

Assent Date:

24.5.05

Commencement Date:

S. 18(Sch. 1 item 45) on 12.12.05: Government Gazette 1.12.05 p. 2781

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Health Professions Registration Act 2005, No. 97/2005

Assent Date:

7.12.05

Commencement Date:

S. 182(Sch. 4 item 22) on 1.7.07: s. 2(3)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Statute Law (Further Revision) Act 2006, No. 29/2006

Assent Date:

6.6.06

Commencement Date:

S. 3(Sch. 1 item 12) on 7.6.06: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Terrorism (Community Protection) (Further Amendment) Act 2006, No. 30/2006

Assent Date:

6.6.06

Commencement Date:

Ss 1923 on 7.6.06: s. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008, No. 76/2008

Assent Date:

11.12.08

Commencement Date:

S. 155 on 1.1.10: s. 2(3)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Statute Law Amendment (Evidence Consequential Provisions) Act 2009, No. 69/2009

Assent Date:

24.11.09

Commencement Date:

S. 54(Sch. Pt 1 item 26) on 1.1.10: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Statute Law Amendment (National Health Practitioner Regulation) Act 2010, No. 13/2010

Assent Date:

30.3.10

Commencement Date:

S. 51(Sch. item 25) on 1.7.10: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Freedom of Information Amendment (Freedom of Information Commissioner) Act 2012, No. 6/2012 (as amended by No. 82/2012)

Assent Date:

6.3.12

Commencement Date:

Ss 4, 6, 8, 33 on 7.11.12: Special Gazette (No. 373) 7.11.12 p. 1; ss 5, 7, 932, 34, 35 on 1.12.12: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Statute Law Revision Act 2012, No. 43/2012

Assent Date:

27.6.12

Commencement Date:

S. 3(Sch. item 20) on 28.6.12: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Integrity and Accountability Legislation Amendment Act 2012, No. 82/2012

Assent Date:

18.12.12

Commencement Date:

S. 252 on 10.2.13: Special Gazette (No. 32) 6.2.13 p. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Statute Law Revision Act 2013, No. 70/2013

Assent Date:

19.11.13

Commencement Date:

S. 3(Sch. 1 item 16) on 1.12.13: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Court Services Victoria Act 2014, No. 1/2014

Assent Date:

11.2.14

Commencement Date:

Ss 66, 67 on 1.7.14: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014, No. 17/2014

Assent Date:

25.3.14

Commencement Date:

S. 160(Sch. 2 item 45) on 1.7.15: Special Gazette (No. 151) 16.6.15 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Victoria Police Amendment (Consequential and Other Matters) Act 2014, No. 37/2014

Assent Date:

3.6.14

Commencement Date:

S. 10(Sch. item 69) on 1.7.14: Special Gazette (No. 200) 24.6.14 p. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Freedom of Information and Victorian Inspectorate Acts Amendment Act 2014, No. 59/2014

Assent Date:

2.9.14

Commencement Date:

Ss 324 on 3.9.14: s. 2(1)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014, No. 60/2014

Assent Date:

2.9.14

Commencement Date:

S. 140(Sch. 3 item 20) on 17.9.14: Special Gazette (No. 317) 16.9.14 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Inquiries Act 2014, No. 67/2014

Assent Date:

23.9.14

Commencement Date:

S. 147(Sch. 2 item 18) on 15.10.14: Special Gazette (No. 364) 14.10.14 p. 2

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Emergency Management Amendment (Critical Infrastructure Resilience) Act 2014, No. 76/2014

Assent Date:

21.10.14

Commencement Date:

Ss 6, 7 on 1.7.15: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Sex Offenders Registration Amendment Act 2014, No. 82/2014

Assent Date:

21.10.14

Commencement Date:

S. 29 on 1.6.15: s. 2(3)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Health Complaints Act 2016, No. 22/2016

Assent Date:

3.5.16

Commencement Date:

Ss 171–176 on 1.2.17: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Freedom of Information Amendment (Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner) Act 2017, No. 20/2017

Assent Date:

16.5.17

Commencement Date:

Ss 4–77 on 1.9.17: s. 2(3)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Family Violence Protection Amendment (Information Sharing) Act 2017, No. 23/2017[2]

Assent Date:

14.6.17

Commencement Date:

Ss 2830 on 1.9.17: s. 2(3)‒(5); ss 2327 on 26.2.18: Special Gazette (No. 40) 6.2.18 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Children Legislation Amendment (Information Sharing) Act 2018, No. 11/2018

Assent Date:

10.4.18

Commencement Date:

Ss 3337, 44, 45 on 27.9.18: Special Gazette (No. 405) 4.9.18 p. 1

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Integrity and Accountability Legislation Amendment (Public Interest Disclosures, Oversight and Independence) Act 2019, No. 2/2019

Assent Date:

5.3.19

Commencement Date:

Ss 195, 198–201 on 6.3.19: s. 2(1); ss 108–110 on 31.12.19: Special Gazette (No. 537) 17.12.19 p. 1; ss 142–144 on 1.1.20: s. 2(3)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Local Government Act 2020, No. 9/2020

Assent Date:

24.3.20

Commencement Date:

S. 390(Sch. 1 item 44.1) on 6.4.20; s. 390(Sch. 1 item 44.3) on 1.5.20: Special Gazette (No. 150) 24.3.20 p. 1; s. 390(Sch. 1 item 44.2) on 24.10.20: s. 2(3)(f)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Justice Legislation Amendment (System Enhancements and Other Matters) Act 2021, No. 11/2021

Assent Date:

23.3.21

Commencement Date:

Ss 140–149 on 26.4.21: s. 2(2)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Regulatory Legislation Amendment (Reform) Act 2022, No. 13/2022

Assent Date:

29.3.22

Commencement Date:

S. 67 on 30.3.22: s. 2(3)

Current State:

This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Freedom of Information Act 1982

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

    3     Explanatory details


[1] S. 51(2): The amendment proposed by section 43(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Amendment (Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner) Act 2017, No. 20/2017 (repealed) is not included in this publication as the words "office of the Freedom of Information Commissioner" do not appear in section 51.

Section 43(3)(b) read as follows:

        43     Information Commissioner may be called on to assist Tribunal

    (3)     In section 51 of the Principal Act—

        (b)     for "office of the Freedom of Information Commissioner" substitute "Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner".

[2] Table of Amendments (Family Violence Protection Amendment (Information Sharing) Act 2017): The amendment proposed by section 30 of the Family Violence Protection Amendment (Information Sharing) Act 2017, No. 23/2017 (repealed) is not included in this publication because section 49P(3A) was not part of this Act when section 30 of the amending Act came into operation.

Section 30 read as follows:

        30     Decision on review

In section 49P(3A) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, for "Freedom of Information Commissioner" substitute "Information Commissioner".



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