Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

   PART I--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Short title [see Note 1]  
   2.      Commencement [see Note 1]  
   3.      Object  
   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  
   6B.     Eligible case managers  
   7.      Exemption of certain persons and bodies  

   PART II--PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION

   8.      Publication of information concerning functions and documents of agencies  
   9.      Certain documents to be available for inspection and purchase  
   10.     Unpublished documents not to prejudice public  

   PART III--ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS

   11.     Right of access  
   12.     Part not to apply to certain documents  
   13.     Documents in certain institutions  
   14.     Access to documents apart from Act  
   15.     Requests for access  
   15A.    Request for access to personnel records  
   16.     Transfer of requests  
   17.     Requests involving use of computers etc.  
   18.     Access to documents to be given on request  
   20.     Forms of access  
   21.     Deferment of access  
   22.     Deletion of exempt matter or irrelevant material  
   23.     Decisions to be made by authorised persons  
   24.     Requests may be refused in certain cases  
   24A.    Requests may be refused if documents cannot be found or do not exist  
   25.     Information as to existence of certain documents  
   26.     Reasons and other particulars of decisions to be given  
   26A.    Procedure on request in respect of documents likely to affect Commonwealth-State relations  
   27.     Procedure on request in respect of documents relating to business affairs etc.  
   27A.    Procedure on request in respect of documents containing personal information  
   28.     Information Access Offices  
   29.     Charges  
   30A.    Remission of application fees  
   31.     Certain periods to be disregarded for the purposes of processing requests  

   PART IV--EXEMPT DOCUMENTS

   32.     Interpretation  
   33.     Documents affecting national security, defence or international relations  
   33A.    Documents affecting relations with States  
   34.     Cabinet documents  
   35.     Executive Council documents  
   36.     Internal working documents  
   36A.    Periods for which certain certificates remain in force  
   37.     Documents affecting enforcement of law and protection of public safety  
   38.     Documents to which secrecy provisions of enactments apply  
   39.     Documents affecting financial or property interests of the Commonwealth  
   40.     Documents concerning certain operations of agencies  
   41.     Documents affecting personal privacy  
   42.     Documents subject to legal professional privilege  
   43.     Documents relating to business affairs etc.  
   43A.    Documents relating to research  
   44.     Documents affecting national economy  
   45.     Documents containing material obtained in confidence  
   46.     Documents disclosure of which would be contempt of Parliament or contempt of court  
   47.     Certain documents arising out of companies and securities legislation  
   47A.    Electoral rolls and related documents  

   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  
   51E.    Comments on annotations  

   PART VI--REVIEW OF DECISIONS

   53.     Interpretation  
   54.     Internal review  
   55.     Applications to Administrative Appeals Tribunal  
   56.     Application to Tribunal where decision delayed  
   57.     Complaints to Ombudsman  
   58.     Powers of Tribunal  
   58A.    Proceedings upon exercise of powers under subsection 58(4), (5) or (5A)  
   58B.    Constitution of Tribunal for purposes of proceedings under subsection 58(4), (5) or (5A)  
   58C.    Hearing of certain proceedings before the Tribunal  
   58D.    Modification of section 42 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975  
   58E.    Production to the Tribunal of documents in relation to which a certificate has been issued  
   58F.    Review of certain decisions in respect of documents relating to the Government of a State  
   59.     Review of certain decisions in respect of documents relating to business affairs etc.  
   59A.    Review of certain decisions in respect of documents containing personal information  
   60.     Parties  
   61.     Onus  
   62.     Application of section 28 of Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act etc.  
   63.     Tribunal to ensure non-disclosure of certain matters  
   64.     Production of exempt documents  
   65.     Evidence of certificates  
   66.     Tribunal may make recommendation that costs be available in certain circumstances  

   PART VIII--MISCELLANEOUS

   91.     Protection against certain actions  
   92.     Protection in respect of offences  
   92A.    Notices etc. may be given by post  
   93.     Reports to Parliament  
   94.     Regulations  
           SCHEDULE 1 Courts and tribunals exempt in respect of non-administrative matters
           SCHEDULE 2
           SCHEDULE 3 Secrecy provisions
           SCHEDULE 4 Research institutions