Freedom of Information
What are you looking for?
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (‘FOI Act’) gives you the legal right to access documents in the possession of this agency.
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Documents can include minutes, submissions, files, emails, post it notes, diaries, notebooks, reports, computer print outs, tapes or disks, text messages, maps, plans, photographs, microfiche, tape recordings, films, videotapes and metadata.
What is a document for the purpose of Freedom of Information?
Legislation
Freedom of Information Act 1982
Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Act 2010
The Department of Defence is an ‘agency’ within the meaning of the Act and, for the purposes of the Act, includes the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the Australian Navy Cadets, the Australian Army Cadets and the Australian Air Force Cadets. [Accordingly, in the context of this Instruction, ‘Department of Defence’ means the Department, the ADF, the Australian Navy Cadets, the Australian Army Cadets and the Australian Air Force Cadets].
Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO), the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) and the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) are exempt bodies from the FOI Act.
Freedom of Information Directorate
Role
The Directorate of Freedom of Information provides services and support to the Department of Defence to enable it to meet its responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the FOI Directorate include:
- Receiving and coordinating departmental action, Australia-wide, on requests made to the Department of Defence under the FOI Act.
- Providing advice to departmental decision makers regarding the performance of their functions under the FOI Act, and facilitating compliance with the obligations of the Department under the Act.
- Providing advice to FOI applicants about their rights and obligations under the Act.