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
Adoption Act 1984 , No. 10150/1984
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 1 –6 , 8 –15 on 8.6.93: s. 2(1); s. 7 on 1.7.93:
s. 2(2); ss 16 –25 on 1.1.94: s. 2(3)
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Public Sector Management (Amendment) Act 1993 , No.
97/1993
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
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
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
Statute Law Revision Act 2000, No.
74/2000
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
Terrorism (Community Protection) Act 2003 ,
No. 7/2003
Monetary Units Act 2004 ,
No. 10/2004
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
Terrorism (Community Protection) (Further Amendment) Act
2006, No. 30/2006
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
Statute Law Amendment (National Health Practitioner
Regulation) Act 2010, No. 13/2010
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 , 9 –32 , 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
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
Court Services Victoria Act 2014 ,
No. 1/2014
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
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
Sex Offenders Registration Amendment Act 2014,
No. 82/2014
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 28 –30 on 1.9.17: s. 2(3)‒(5); ss 23 –27
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 33 –37 , 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
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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".