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.
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.
Legislation
The Department of Defence is an 'agency' within the meaning of the FOI Act and, for the purposes of the FOI Act, includes the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the Australian Navy Cadets, the Australian Army Cadets and the Australian Air Force Cadets.
Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation (AGO), the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) are exempt bodies from the FOI Act.
FOI Delegations
For the purpose of the FOI Act, the Secretary of Defence is the 'principal officer' of the agency. As the principal officer, the Secretary has the power to delegate decision-making arrangements under section 23 [Decisions to be made by authorised persons] of the Act by using the FOI instrument of authority [PDF-160 KB].
FOI Framework
The framework for the FOI function incorporates the FOI Act, Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, Guidelines issued under section 93A of the FOI Act and Defence's Guidance for FOI Decision Making.
FOI Function and Services
The FOI functions, in broad terms, are to manage the day-to-day administration of the FOI Act within the Department of Defence (which, for the purposes of the FOI Act, includes the ADF and cadet elements), on behalf of the Secretary. Clients include the government, public, journalists, members of parliament, public interest groups, current and former Defence personnel.
