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). For the purposes of the FOI Act, the Department of Defence includes the Australian Defence Force and the Army, Navy and Air Force cadets.

Authority to make decisions on requests under the FOI Act has been widely devolved throughout the department. However, administrative support and advisory services for decision-makers are provided by the FOI Directorate.

All requests made to the Department of Defence under the FOI Act, or purporting to be made under the Act, are received through the FOI Directorate.

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.

Making a request
The requirements for making a request for access to documents under the FOI Act are set out in section 15 of the Act. There is no form required for making such a request, but the request must be made in writing. Other conditions also apply, including the requirement to pay or obtain remission of the $30.00 application fee. Charges may also be imposed. Some requests are exempt from the fee and from charges.
If you are a member or former member of the Australian Defence Force, or are a current or former employee of the Department of Defence, and you wish to have access to personnel records relating to yourself, you must apply for access outside the FOI Act in the first instance. You should write direct to the office where your records are held. Only if you make a request outside the Act and you are not satisfied with the outcome, or if you do not receive a decision within 30 days of making your request, may you then seek access under the FOI Act.
You may also apply, under the FOI Act, for amendment or annotation of a record of your personal information that you consider to be incomplete, incorrect, out of date or misleading. However, several conditions must be met to make a valid request for amendment or annotation. These are set out in sections 48 and 49 of the FOI Act.
If you wish to make a request to the Department of Defence for access to a document under the FOI Act, or if you wish to apply for amendment or annotation of a record of your personal information, you can contact the FOI Directorate and obtain notes to guide you. Contact details for the FOI Directorate are provided above.

Link to Attorney-General’s Department FOI Web page

Address
Defence Legal - DFOI
Department of Defence
CP2-3-055
CAMPBELL PARK ACT 2600

Tel : 02 6266 4434
Fax: 02 6266 2112
email:FOI.enquiries@defence.gov.au