Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Freedom of Information Act 1982 - SECT 3

Object of Act

3. Object of Act



(1) The object of this Act is to extend as far as possible the right of the
community to access to information in the possession of the Government of
Victoria and other bodies constituted under the law of Victoria for certain
public purposes by-

   (a)  making available to the public information about the operations of
        agencies and, in particular, ensuring that rules and practices
        affecting members of the public in their dealings with agencies 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 and agencies 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 agencies.

(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 subsection (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.