Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsAct No. 3 of 1982 as amended
This compilation was prepared on
10 July 2008
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 66 of 2008
The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated
may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and
Publishing,
Attorney‑General's Department, Canberra
Contents
Part I--Preliminary 1
1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1
2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1
3............ Object ................................................................................................. 1
4............ Interpretation ...................................................................................... 2
4A......... Certain legislation relating to Australian Capital Territory not to be enactment 10
5............ Act to apply to courts in respect of administrative matters ............ 10
6............ Act to apply to certain tribunals in respect of administrative matters 11
6A......... Official Secretary to the Governor‑General ...................................... 11
6B......... Eligible case managers ....................................................................... 12
7............ Exemption of certain persons and bodies ......................................... 12
Part II--Publication of certain documents and information 14
8............ Publication of information concerning functions and documents of agencies 14
9............ Certain documents to be available for inspection and purchase ....... 15
10.......... Unpublished documents not to prejudice public .............................. 19
Part III--Access to documents 20
11.......... Right of access .................................................................................. 20
12.......... Part not to apply to certain documents ............................................ 20
13.......... Documents in certain institutions ..................................................... 21
14.......... Access to documents apart from Act ............................................... 22
15.......... Requests for access ........................................................................... 22
15A....... Request for access to personnel records ........................................... 23
16.......... Transfer of requests .......................................................................... 24
17.......... Requests involving use of computers etc. ........................................ 26
18.......... Access to documents to be given on request .................................... 26
20.......... Forms of access ................................................................................ 27
21.......... Deferment of access .......................................................................... 28
22.......... Deletion of exempt matter or irrelevant material .............................. 28
23.......... Decisions to be made by authorised persons ................................... 29
24.......... Requests may be refused in certain cases ......................................... 30
24A....... Requests may be refused if documents cannot be found or do not exist 32
25.......... Information as to existence of certain documents ............................. 32
26.......... Reasons and other particulars of decisions to be given .................... 33
26A....... Procedure on request in respect of documents likely to affect Commonwealth‑State relations 34
27.......... Procedure on request in respect of documents relating to business affairs etc. 35
27A....... Procedure on request in respect of documents containing personal information 36
28.......... Information Access Offices .............................................................. 38
29.......... Charges ............................................................................................. 38
30A....... Remission of application fees ........................................................... 41
31.......... Certain periods to be disregarded for the purposes of processing requests 43
Part IV--Exempt documents 45
32.......... Interpretation .................................................................................... 45
33.......... Documents affecting national security, defence or international relations 45
33A....... Documents affecting relations with States ....................................... 46
34.......... Cabinet documents ........................................................................... 48
35.......... Executive Council documents ........................................................... 50
36.......... Internal working documents ............................................................. 51
36A....... Periods for which certain certificates remain in force ....................... 53
37.......... Documents affecting enforcement of law and protection of public safety 53
38.......... Documents to which secrecy provisions of enactments apply ........ 54
39.......... Documents affecting financial or property interests of the Commonwealth 55
40.......... Documents concerning certain operations of agencies ...................... 55
41.......... Documents affecting personal privacy ............................................. 56
42.......... Documents subject to legal professional privilege ............................ 58
43.......... Documents relating to business affairs etc. ...................................... 58
43A....... Documents relating to research ......................................................... 59
44.......... Documents affecting national economy ............................................ 60
45.......... Documents containing material obtained in confidence .................... 60
46.......... Documents disclosure of which would be contempt of Parliament or contempt of court 61
47.......... Certain documents arising out of companies and securities legislation 61
47A....... Electoral rolls and related documents ............................................... 62
Part V--Amendment and annotation of personal records 64
48.......... Application for amendment or annotation of personal records ........ 64
49.......... Requirements of an application for amendment ............................... 64
50.......... Amendment of records ..................................................................... 65
51.......... Annotations of records etc. following unsuccessful applications for amendments of records 66
51A....... Requirements of an application for annotation ................................ 66
51B....... Annotation of records ....................................................................... 67
51C....... Transfer of requests .......................................................................... 67
51D....... Notification etc. of a decision under this Part .................................. 69
51E........ Comments on annotations ................................................................ 70
Part VI--Review of decisions 71
53.......... Interpretation .................................................................................... 71
54.......... Internal review .................................................................................. 71
55.......... Applications to Administrative Appeals Tribunal .......................... 74
56.......... Application to Tribunal where decision delayed .............................. 76
57.......... Complaints to Ombudsman .............................................................. 78
58.......... Powers of Tribunal ........................................................................... 80
58A....... Proceedings upon exercise of powers under subsection 58(4), (5) or (5A) 82
58B....... Constitution of Tribunal for purposes of proceedings under subsection 58(4), (5) or (5A) 83
58C....... Hearing of certain proceedings before the Tribunal .......................... 84
58D....... Modification of section 42 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 87
58E........ Production to the Tribunal of documents in relation to which a certificate has been issued 87
58F........ Review of certain decisions in respect of documents relating to the Government of a State 88
59.......... Review of certain decisions in respect of documents relating to business affairs etc. 89
59A....... Review of certain decisions in respect of documents containing personal information 90
60.......... Parties ............................................................................................... 90
61.......... Onus ................................................................................................. 91
62.......... Application of section 28 of Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act etc. 91
63.......... Tribunal to ensure non‑disclosure of certain matters ....................... 92
64.......... Production of exempt documents ..................................................... 92
65.......... Evidence of certificates ..................................................................... 95
66.......... Tribunal may make recommendation that costs be available in certain circumstances 95
Part VIII--Miscellaneous 97
91.......... Protection against certain actions ..................................................... 97
92.......... Protection in respect of offences ...................................................... 99
92A....... Notices etc. may be given by post ................................................. 100
93.......... Reports to Parliament ..................................................................... 100
94.......... Regulations ..................................................................................... 102
Schedule 1--Courts and tribunals exempt in respect of non‑administrative matters 104
Schedule 2 105
Part I--Exempt agencies 105
Division 1 105
Division 2 106
Part II--Agencies exempt in respect of particular documents 107
Division 1 107
Division 2 110
Part III--Legislation relating to agencies exempt in respect of documents in relation to their commercial activities 111
Schedule 3--Secrecy provisions 112
Schedule 4--Research institutions 114
Notes 115
Notes to
the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 Note 1 The Freedom of Information Act 1982 as shown in
this compilation comprises Act No. 3, 1982 amended as indicated in the
Tables below. The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by
the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) (Consequential Amendments)
Regulations 2006 (No. 1) (SLI 2006 No. 50). The amendment is
incorporated in this compilation. The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was modified by
the A.C.T. Self-Government (Consequential Provisions) Regulations (1989 No. 3
as amended) see Table B. All other relevant information pertaining to application,
saving or transitional provisions prior to 15 July 2003 is not included in this
compilation. For subsequent
information see Table A. Table of Acts
|
Act |
Number |
Date |
Date of commencement |
Application, saving or transitional provisions |
|
3, 1982 |
9 Mar 1982 |
1 Dec 1982 (see Gazette 1982, No. G48, p. 2) |
|
|
|
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1983 |
7, 1983 |
1 June 1983 |
Ss. 1, 2, 15(1) and 24: Royal Assent |
-- |
|
81, 1983 |
3 Nov 1983 |
1 Jan 1984 (see Gazette 1983, No. S344) |
S. 46 |
|
|
63, 1984 |
25 June 1984 |
S. 151(1): 1 July 1984 (see Gazette 1984, No. S245) |
S. 151(9) |
|
|
Australian Trade Commission (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1985 |
187, 1985 |
16 Dec 1985 |
Ss. 1--4, 12, 19, 32 and 61: Royal Assent |
-- |
|
Intelligence and Security (Consequential Amendments) Act 1986 |
102, 1986 |
17 Oct 1986 |
1 Feb 1987 (see |
-- |
|
111, 1986 |
4 Nov 1986 |
18 Nov 1986 |
S. 20 |
|
|
6, 1988 |
9 Mar 1988 |
S. 69(2): 30 Apr 1988 (see Gazette 1988, No. S117) (b) |
-- |
|
|
87, 1988 |
8 Nov 1988 |
Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent |
-- |
|
|
A.C.T. Self‑Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 |
109, 1988 |
6 Dec 1988 |
S. 32 (in part): 11 May 1989 (see Gazette 1989, No. S164) (c) |
-- |
|
119, 1988 |
14 Dec 1988 |
1 Jan 1989 (see Gazette 1988, No. S399) |
S. 101(2) |
|
|
121, 1988 |
14 Dec 1988 |
Ss. 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 23(2) and 26(1): 1 Jan 1989 (see Gazette 1988, No. S402) |
-- |
|
|
126, 1988 |
14 Dec 1988 |
Ss. 4, 5, 9--11, 21(2) and 22(1): 1 Jan 1989 (see Gazette 1988, No. S402) |
-- |
|
|
ANL (Conversion into Public Company) Act 1988 |
127, 1988 |
14 Dec 1988 |
S. 11: 1 July 1989 (see Gazette 1989, No. S210) (d) |
-- |
|
OTC (Conversion into Public Company) Act 1988 |
129, 1988 |
14 Dec 1988 |
Ss. 7(2), 8(2), 9, 11--22 and 25: 1 Apr 1989 (see
Gazette 1989, No. S92) |
-- |
|
Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (Conversion into Public Company) Act 1989 |
66, 1989 |
19 June 1989 |
Ss. 4, 6(1), 7(1), |
-- |
|
150, 1989 |
27 Nov 1989 |
5 Mar 1990 (see Gazette 1990, No. S48) |
-- |
|
|
26, 1990 |
24 May 1990 |
Ss. 1--3: Royal Assent |
-- |
|
|
75, 1990 |
22 Oct 1990 |
S. 5: Royal Assent (e) |
-- |
|
|
Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (Conversion into Public Company) Act 1990 |
77, 1990 |
22 Oct 1990 |
S. 17: 1 Apr 1991 (see Gazette 1991, No. S75) (f) |
-- |
|
118, 1990 |
28 Dec 1990 |
S. 62: (g) |
-- |
|
|
Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1991 |
99, 1991 |
27 June 1991 |
Part 1 (ss. 1, 2): Royal Assent |
-- |
|
137, 1991 |
27 Sept 1991 |
25 Oct 1991 |
S. 29(2) |
|
|
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1991 |
149, 1991 |
21 Oct 1991 |
1 Nov 1991 |
-- |
|
180, 1991 |
25 Nov 1991 |
S. 116: 23 Dec 1991 (h) |
-- |
|
|
118, 1992 |
30 Sept 1992 |
28 Oct 1992 |
-- |
|
|
143, 1992 |
7 Dec 1992 |
S. 3: Royal Assent (i) |
-- |
|
|
165, 1992 |
11 Dec 1992 |
S. 4: Royal Assent (j) |
-- |
|
|
196, 1992 |
21 Dec 1992 |
Schedule (Part 1): 10 Mar 1993 (see Gazette 1993, No. GN17) (k) |
S. 2(6) (am. by 60, 1993, s. 4; 168, 1994, s. 3) |
|
|
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
|
60, 1993 |
3 Nov 1993 |
10 Mar 1993 |
-- |
|
|
168, 1994 |
16 Dec 1994 |
Schedule (item 17): Royal Assent (l) |
-- |
|
|
219, 1992 |
24 Dec 1992 |
Part 4 (ss. 35, 36): Royal Assent (m) |
-- |
|
|
Prime Minister and Cabinet (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 |
33, 1994 |
15 Mar 1994 |
Ss. 11--13: Royal Assent (n) |
S. 13 |
|
64, 1994 |
30 May 1994 |
S. 3(3): Royal Assent (o) |
-- |
|
|
84, 1994 |
23 June 1994 |
Ss. 48--70 and |
Ss. 49, 52, 53, 56, 59, 60, 66, 67, 72, 74, 75, 78, 79, 81, 82 and 84 |
|
|
177, 1994 |
19 Dec 1994 |
Ss. 2(2) and |
S. 9 |
|
|
181, 1994 |
19 Dec 1994 |
Schedule 1 (items 22--85): 13 Oct 1994 |
Sch. 5 (item 1) |
|
|
161, 1995 |
16 Dec 1995 |
Schedule (item 52): (q) |
-- |
|
|
174, 1995 |
16 Dec 1995 |
S. 4 and Schedule 2:
1 July 1995 |
-- |
|
|
43, 1996 |
25 Oct 1996 |
Schedule 5 (items 62--64): Royal Assent (r) |
-- |
|
|
67, 1997 |
5 June 1997 |
Schedule 2 (item 5): [see (s) and Note 2] |
-- |
|
|
96, 1997 |
30 June 1997 |
Schedule 4 (item 3): 1 Nov 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S562) (t) |
-- |
|
|
114, 1997 |
7 July 1997 |
Schedule 5 (item 3): 1 Oct 1997 (see Gazette 1997, No. GN36) (u) |
-- |
|
|
7, 1999 |
31 Mar 1999 |
Schedules 1--3: 1 Sept 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S395) |
-- |
|
|
118, 1999 |
22 Sept 1999 |
22 Sept 1999 |
-- |
|
|
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 |
146, 1999 |
11 Nov 1999 |
Schedule 1 (item 493): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (v) |
-- |
|
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment Act 1999 |
161, 1999 |
10 Dec 1999 |
Schedule 3 (items 1, 26--28): (w) |
-- |
|
A New Tax System (Indirect Tax and Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 |
176, 1999 |
22 Dec 1999 |
Schedule 8 (item 15): (x) |
-- |
|
194, 1999 |
23 Dec 1999 |
Schedule 15: 23 Dec 1999 (y) |
-- |
|
|
1, 2000 |
29 Feb 2000 |
Schedule 4: 10 Mar 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S112) |
-- |
|
|
Broadcasting Services Amendment (Digital Television and Datacasting) Act 2000 |
108, 2000 |
3 Aug 2000 |
Schedule 3 (item 2): 1 Jan 2001 (see Gazette 2000, No. GN50) (z) |
-- |
|
Horticulture Marketing and Research and Development Services (Repeals and Consequential Provisions) Act 2000 |
163, 2000 |
21 Dec 2000 |
Schedule 2 (items 1, 2): (za) |
-- |
|
170, 2000 |
21 Dec 2000 |
22 June 2001 (see s. 2) |
-- |
|
|
30, 2001 |
28 Apr 2001 |
Schedule 1 (item 1): (zb) |
-- |
|
|
153, 2001 |
1 Oct 2001 |
29 Oct 2001 (see s. 2) |
-- |
|
|
127, 2002 |
11 Dec 2002 |
Schedule 2 (item 18): Royal Assent |
-- |
|
|
Transport Safety Investigation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2003 |
19, 2003 |
11 Apr 2003 |
Schedule 1 (items 6, 6A, 7): (zc) |
-- |
|
Inspector‑General of Taxation Act 2003 |
28, 2003 |
15 Apr 2003 |
16 Apr 2003 |
-- |
|
Migration Legislation Amendment (Protected Information) Act 2003 |
75, 2003 |
15 July 2003 |
Schedule 1 (items 5A--5D,
6A, 8) and Schedule 2: 16 July 2003 |
Sch. 2 (item 4) [see Table A] |
|
114, 2003 |
27 Nov 2003 |
Schedule 2: 27 Mar
2003 |
-- |
|
|
135, 2003 |
17 Dec 2003 |
Schedule 2 (items 30--32): 17 June 2004 |
-- |
|
|
148, 2003 |
17 Dec 2003 |
Schedules 1 and 2: (zd) |
-- |
|
|
62, 2004 |
26 May 2004 |
Schedule 1 (items 23--37): 27 May 2004 |
-- |
|
|
38, 2005 |
1 Apr 2005 |
Schedule 1 (items 210--217): 16 May 2005 |
Sch. 1 (item 212) [see Table A] |
|
|
Australian Communications and Media Authority (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2005 |
45, 2005 |
1 Apr 2005 |
Schedule 1 (item 65): 1 July 2005 (see s. 2(1)) |
-- |
|
111, 2005 |
6 Sept 2005 |
Schedule 2 (items 90, 91, 729): 1 Oct 2005 |
Sch. 2 (item 729) [see Table A] |
|
|
118, 2005 |
23 Sept 2005 |
Schedule 1 (item 47): 24 Nov 2006 (see s. 3(1) and F2006L03997) |
-- |
|
|
Intelligence Services Legislation Amendment Act 2005 |
128, 2005 |
4 Nov 2005 |
Schedules 1--8: 2 Dec 2005 |
-- |
|
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Serious Drug Offences and Other Measures) Act 2005 |
129, 2005 |
8 Nov 2005 |
Schedule 9 (items 1,
2): Royal Assent |
Sch. 9 (item 2) [see Table A] |
|
40, 2006 |
3 May 2006 |
Schedule 1 (item 20): 13 June 2006 (see F2006L01623) |
-- |
|
|
National Health and Medical Research Council Amendment Act 2006 |
50, 2006 |
9 June 2006 |
Schedule 1: 1 July 2006 |
-- |
|
Fuel Tax (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2006 |
73, 2006 |
26 June 2006 |
Schedule 5 (item |
-- |
|
Tax Laws Amendment (Repeal of Inoperative Provisions) Act 2006 |
101, 2006 |
14 Sept 2006 |
Schedule 5 (items 113--118) and Schedule 6 (items 5--11): Royal Assent |
Sch. 6 (items |
|
Inspector of Transport Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 |
150, 2006 |
7 Dec 2006 |
Schedule 1: 7 June
2007 (see s. 2(1)) |
-- |
|
Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2006 |
170, 2006 |
12 Dec 2006 |
Schedule 1 (item 148): 13 Dec 2006 (see s. 2(1)) |
-- |
|
8, 2007 |
15 Mar 2007 |
Schedule 3 (items 23, 24): Royal Assent |
-- |
|
|
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment Act 2007 |
27, 2007 |
15 Mar 2007 |
Schedule 1 (items 14, 15, 22): 1 July 2007 (see F2007L01781) |
Sch. 1 (item 22) [see Table A] |
|
Private Health Insurance (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2007 |
32, 2007 |
30 Mar 2007 |
Schedule 2 (item 12): 1 Apr 2007 (see s. 2(1)) |
-- |
|
Tax Laws Amendment (2007 Measures No. 1) Act 2007 |
56, 2007 |
12 Apr 2007 |
12 Apr 2007 |
Sch. 1 (item 5) [see Table A] |
|
Communications Legislation Amendment (Content Services) Act 2007 |
124, 2007 |
20 July 2007 |
Schedule 1 (items 89--94): 20 Jan 2008 |
-- |
|
Quarantine Amendment (Commission of Inquiry) Act 2007 |
158, 2007 |
24 Sept 2007 |
24 Sept 2007 |
-- |
|
Wheat Export Marketing (Repeal and Consequential Amendments) Act 2008 |
66, 2008 |
30 June 2008 |
Schedule 2 (item 11): 1 July 2008 (see s. 2(1)) |
-- |
(a) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by subsection 151(1) and section 154 only of the Public Service Reform Act 1984, subsection 2(4) of which provides as follows:
(4) The remaining provisions of this Act shall come into operation on such day as is, or on such days as are, fixed by Proclamation.
(b) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by subsection 69(2) only of the Australian Airlines (Conversion to Public Company) Act 1988, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:
(2) Sections 15 and 16, subsection 52(2), sections 55, 57 and 60 and subsection 69(2) shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.
(c) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by section 32 (in part) only of the A.C.T. Self‑Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988, subsection 2(3) of which provides as follows:
(3) The remaining provisions of this Act (including the amendments made by Schedule 5) commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation.
(d) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by section 11 only of the ANL (Conversion into Public Company) Act 1988, subsection 2(3) of which provides as follows:
(3) Section 6, subsection 7(2) and sections 9 and 11 commence on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.
(e) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by section 5 only of the Defence Legislation Amendment Act 1990, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:
(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
(f) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by section 17 only of the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (Conversion into Public Company) Act 1990, subsection 2(5) of which provides as follows:
(5) Subject to subsection (6), sections 6, 10, 13 and 17 commence on a day to be fixed by Proclamation for the purposes of this subsection.
(g) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by section 62 only of the Commonwealth Banks Restructuring Act 1990, subsection 2(3) of which provides as follows:
(3) Each of the remaining provisions of this Act commences on a day, or at a time, fixed by Proclamation in relation to the provision concerned.
In pursuance of section 62 (in so far as it relates to the Freedom of Information Act 1982), the date fixed for commencement was immediately after 17 April 1991 (see Gazette 1991, No. S72).
(h) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by section 116 only of the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:
(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act commences 28 days after the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
(i) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by section 3 only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 4) 1992, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:
(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
(j) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by section 4 only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 3) 1992, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:
(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
(k) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 was amended by the Schedule (Parts 1 and 5) of the Qantas Sale Act 1992, subsections 2(2), (3)(a) and (c) of which provide as follows:
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the remaining provisions of this Act commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation.
(3) A Proclamation may fix a day that is earlier than the day on which the Proclamation is published in the Gazette but only if:
(a) in the case of sections 30, 31, 35, 37, 39, 43 and 50 and