How to make a Freedom of Information request
How to make a request to Defence, under section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for access to a document.
A request to Defence for access to a document under the FOI Act must:
- be in writing; and
- state that the request is an application for the purposes of this Act; and
- provide such information concerning the document as is reasonably necessary to enable a responsible officer of the agency, or the Minister, to identify it; and
- give details of how notices under this Act may be sent to the applicant (for example, by providing an electronic address to which notices may be sent by electronic communication).
There is no application fee involved with making a FOI request but there may be processing charges associated with processing your FOI request. If your FOI request has processing charges involved, the FOI Directorate will advise you in writing before formally proceeding with your FOI request.
Please note: Should your request be subject to charges then Defence will require an address to process any payments.
Fees and Charges
The amended FOI Act commenced 1 November 2010.
Under the amended Act there are significant changes to the fees and charges associated with processing FOI requests.
In summary these changes are:
- no application fee is payable for an FOI request or application for internal review
- an applicant who seeks access to their own personal information does not pay any charges;
- for all other applications the first five hours of decision-making time is free of charge; and
- any charges are not payable where an agency or Minister fails to notify a decision within a period prescribed in the Act (including a permitted extension period).
For all other requests the following fee changes will apply:
Fee |
With effect 1 November 2010 |
Application |
No fee |
Search and retrieval |
No change - $15 an hour |
Decision making |
First five hours free, after that $20 an hour |
When FOI request is not responded to within the statutory time limit |
No fees |
Internal review |
No fee |
For further information please visit the Information Commissioner’s Website: http://www.oaic.gov.au/foi-portal/about_foi.html