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Freedom of Information Act 1982
- PART I - PRELIMINARY
- SECTION 1 Short title
- SECTION 2 Commencement
- SECTION 3 Objects - general
- SECTION 3A Objects - information or documents otherwise accessible
- SECTION 4 INTERPRETATION
- SECTION 4A Certain legislation relating to Australian Capital Territory not to be enactment
- SECTION 4B Extension to Norfolk Island
- SECTION 5 Act to apply to courts in respect of administrative matters
- SECTION 6 Act to apply to certain tribunals in respect of administrative matters
- SECTION 6A Official Secretary to the Governor-General
- SECTION 6B Eligible case managers
- SECTION 6C Requirement for Commonwealth contracts
- SECTION 7 EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN PERSONS AND BODIES
- PART II - INFORMATION PUBLICATION SCHEME
- Division 1 - Guide to this Part
- SECTION 7A Information publication scheme - guide
- Division 2 - Information to be published
- SECTION 8 Information to be published - what information?
- SECTION 8A Information to be published - what is operational information ?
- SECTION 8B Information to be published - accuracy etc.
- SECTION 8C Information to be published - restrictions
- SECTION 8D Information to be published - how (and to whom) information is to be published
- SECTION 8E Information to be published - Information Commissioner to assist agencies
- Division 3 - Review of information publication scheme
- SECTION 8F Review of scheme - Information Commissioner functions
- SECTION 9 Review of scheme - by agencies
- Division 4 - Guidelines
- SECTION 9A Functions and powers under this Part
- Division 5 - Miscellaneous
- SECTION 10 Unpublished operational information
- SECTION 10A Who performs functions etc given to agencies
- SECTION 10B Transitional - Norfolk Island authorities
- PART III - ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS
- SECTION 11 Right of access
- SECTION 11A ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS ON REQUEST
- SECTION 11B PUBLIC INTEREST EXEMPTIONS - FACTORS
- SECTION 11C PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION IN ACCESSED DOCUMENTS
- SECTION 12 PART NOT TO APPLY TO CERTAIN DOCUMENTS
- SECTION 13 DOCUMENTS IN CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS
- SECTION 14 Access to documents apart from Act
- SECTION 15 Requests for access
- SECTION 15AA Extension of time with agreement
- SECTION 15AB Extension of time for complex or voluminous requests
- SECTION 15AC Decision not made on request within time - deemed refusal
- SECTION 15A REQUEST FOR ACCESS TO PERSONNEL RECORDS
- SECTION 16 Transfer of requests
- SECTION 16A Requests transferred from the ACT
- SECTION 17 Requests involving use of computers etc.
- SECTION 18 Access to documents to be given on request
- SECTION 20 Forms of access
- SECTION 21 Deferment of access
- SECTION 22 Access to edited copies with exempt or irrelevant matter deleted
- SECTION 23 Decisions to be made by authorised persons
- SECTION 24 POWER TO REFUSE REQUEST - DIVERSION OF RESOURCES ETC
- SECTION 24AA When does a practical refusal reason exist?
- SECTION 24AB What is a request consultation process ?
- SECTION 24A Requests may be refused if documents cannot be found, do not exist or have not been received
- SECTION 25 Information as to existence of certain documents
- SECTION 26 Reasons and other particulars of decisions to be given
- SECTION 26A Consultation - documents affecting Commonwealth-State relations etc.
- SECTION 26AA Consultation - documents affecting Norfolk Island intergovernmental relations
- SECTION 27 Consultation - business documents
- SECTION 27A Consultation - documents affecting personal privacy
- SECTION 28 Information access offices
- SECTION 29 CHARGES
- SECTION 30A Remission of application fees
- SECTION 31 Decision to impose charge - extended period for processing request
- PART IV - EXEMPT DOCUMENTS
- Division 1 - Preliminary
- SECTION 31A Access to exempt and conditionally exempt documents
- SECTION 31B Exempt documents for the purposes of this Part
- SECTION 32 Interpretation
- Division 2 - Exemptions
- SECTION 33 Documents affecting national security, defence or international relations
- SECTION 33A DOCUMENTS AFFECTING RELATIONS WITH STATES
- SECTION 34 Cabinet documents
- SECTION 35 Executive Council documents
- SECTION 36 Internal working documents
- SECTION 36A Periods for which certain certificates remain in force
- SECTION 37 Documents affecting enforcement of the law and protection of public safety
- SECTION 38 Documents to which secrecy provisions of enactments apply
- SECTION 39 Documents affecting financial or property interests of the Commonwealth
- SECTION 40 Documents concerning certain operations of agencies
- SECTION 41 Documents affecting personal privacy
- SECTION 42 Documents subject to legal professional privilege
- SECTION 43 Documents relating to business affairs etc.
- SECTION 43A Documents relating to research
- SECTION 44 Documents affecting national economy
- SECTION 45 Documents containing material obtained in confidence
- SECTION 45A Parliamentary Budget Office documents
- SECTION 46 Documents disclosure of which would be contempt of Parliament or contempt of court
- SECTION 47 Documents disclosing trade secrets or commercially valuable information
- SECTION 47A Electoral rolls and related documents
- Division 3 - Public interest conditional exemptions
- SECTION 47B Public interest conditional exemptions - Commonwealth-State relations etc.
- SECTION 47C Public interest conditional exemptions - deliberative processes
- SECTION 47D Public interest conditional exemptions - financial or property interests of the Commonwealth
- SECTION 47E Public interest conditional exemptions - certain operations of agencies
- SECTION 47F Public interest conditional exemptions - personal privacy
- SECTION 47G Public interest conditional exemptions - business
- SECTION 47H Public interest conditional exemptions - research
- SECTION 47J Public interest conditional exemptions - the economy
- PART V - AMENDMENT AND ANNOTATION OF PERSONAL RECORDS
- SECTION 48 Application for amendment or annotation of personal records
- SECTION 49 Requirements of an application for amendment
- SECTION 50 Amendment of records
- SECTION 51 Annotations of records etc following unsuccessful applications for amendments of records
- SECTION 51A Requirements of an application for annotation
- SECTION 51B Annotation of records
- SECTION 51C Transfer of requests
- SECTION 51D Notification etc. of a decision under this Part
- SECTION 51DA Decision not made on request for amendment or annotation within time - deemed refusal
- SECTION 51E Comments on annotations
- PART VI - INTERNAL REVIEW OF DECISIONS
- SECTION 52 Internal review of decisions - guide
- SECTION 53 Interpretation
- SECTION 53A What is an access refusal decision ?
- SECTION 53B What is an access grant decision ?
- SECTION 53C Internal review - who is an affected third party ?
- SECTION 54 Internal review - access refusal decision
- SECTION 54A Internal review - access grant decision
- SECTION 54B Internal review - application for review
- SECTION 54C Internal review - decision on internal review
- SECTION 54D Internal review - deemed affirmation of original decision
- SECTION 54E Internal review - decisions to which this Part does not apply
- PART VII - REVIEW BY INFORMATION COMMISSIONER
- Division 1 - Guide to this Part
- SECTION 54F Review by the Information Commissioner - guide
- Division 2 - Key concepts
- SECTION 54G Key concepts - what is an IC review ?
- SECTION 54H Key concepts - what is an IC review application ?
- SECTION 54J Key concepts - who is an IC review applicant ?
- SECTION 54K Key concepts - what is an IC reviewable decision ?
- Division 3 - IC reviewable decisions
- SECTION 54L IC reviewable decisions - access refusal decisions
- SECTION 54M IC reviewable decisions - access grant decisions
- Division 4 - IC review applications
- Subdivision A - Making an application
- SECTION 54N IC review applications - application
- SECTION 54P IC review applications - requirement to notify affected third parties
- SECTION 54Q IC review applications - circumstances in which not giving notice is appropriate
- SECTION 54R IC review applications - withdrawal
- Subdivision B - Time limits
- SECTION 54S IC review applications - time limits
- SECTION 54T IC review applications - extension of time
- Division 5 - Decision to review
- SECTION 54U Decision to review - interpretation
- SECTION 54V Decision to review - preliminary inquiries
- SECTION 54W Decision to review - discretion not to review
- SECTION 54X Decision to review - notice requirement if discretion not to review exercised
- SECTION 54Y Decision to review - actual decisions made after IC review has commenced
- Division 6 - Procedure in IC review
- SECTION 54Z Procedure in IC review - general notice requirement
- SECTION 55 Procedure in IC review - general
- SECTION 55A Procedure in IC review - parties to proceeding
- SECTION 55B Procedure in IC review - application for hearing
- SECTION 55C Procedure in IC review - representation
- SECTION 55D Procedure in IC review - onus
- SECTION 55DA Decision-maker must assist Information Commissioner
- SECTION 55E Procedure in IC review - inadequate reasons from decision maker
- SECTION 55F Procedure in IC review - review parties reach agreement
- SECTION 55G Procedure in IC review - revocation or variation of access refusal decision
- SECTION 55H Procedure in IC review - reference of questions of law to Federal Court of Australia
- SECTION 55J Procedure in IC review - sending of documents to, and disclosure of documents by, the Federal Court of Australia
- Division 7 - Decision on IC review
- SECTION 55K Decision on IC review - decision of Information Commissioner
- SECTION 55L Decision on IC review - no power to give access to exempt documents
- SECTION 55M Decision on IC review - limitation on amending records
- SECTION 55N Decision on IC review - obligation to comply with decision
- SECTION 55P Decision on IC review - enforcement of decision against agency
- SECTION 55Q Decision on IC review - correction of errors
- Division 8 - Information gathering powers
- SECTION 55R Information gathering powers - obliging production of information and documents
- SECTION 55S Information gathering powers - dealings with documents
- SECTION 55T Information gathering powers - production of exempt documents generally
- SECTION 55U Information gathering powers - production of national security, Cabinet or Parliamentary Budget Office documents
- SECTION 55V Information gathering powers - further searches for a document
- SECTION 55W Information gathering powers - obliging persons to appear
- SECTION 55X Information gathering powers - administration of oath or affirmation
- SECTION 55Y Information gathering powers - no loss of legal professional privilege
- SECTION 55Z Information gathering powers - protection from liability
- Division 9 - Evidence by Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security
- SECTION 55ZA Evidence by Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security - scope
- SECTION 55ZB Evidence by Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security - request to give evidence
- SECTION 55ZC Evidence by Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security - compliance with request
- SECTION 55ZD Evidence by Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security - procedural matters
- Division 10 - Appeals
- SECTION 56 Appeals - appeals to Federal Court of Australia on questions of law
- SECTION 56A Appeals - Federal Court of Australia may make findings of fact
- PART VIIA - REVIEW BY THE TRIBUNAL
- Division 1 - Guide to this Part
- SECTION 57 Review by the Tribunal - guide
- Division 2 - Tribunal reviewable decisions
- SECTION 57A Tribunal reviewable decisions - which decisions are reviewable?
- Division 3 - Powers of Tribunal
- SECTION 58 Powers of Tribunal
- SECTION 58A Powers of Tribunal - requiring further searches
- SECTION 58AA Powers of Tribunal - limitation on amending records
- Division 4 - Procedure in Tribunal
- SECTION 58B Constitution of Tribunal for proceedings about certain exempt documents
- SECTION 58C Hearing of certain proceedings before the Tribunal
- SECTION 58D Modification of section 42 of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975
- SECTION 58E Production to the Tribunal of certain exempt documents
- SECTION 58F Review of certain decisions in respect of documents relating to the Government of a State
- SECTION 59 Review of certain decisions in respect of documents relating to business affairs etc.
- SECTION 59A Review of certain decisions in respect of documents relating to personal affairs
- SECTION 60 Procedure in Tribunal - parties
- SECTION 60AA Procedure in Tribunal - requirement to notify affected third parties
- SECTION 60AB Procedure in Tribunal - circumstances in which not giving notice is appropriate
- SECTION 60A Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security must be requested to give evidence in certain proceedings
- SECTION 61 Onus
- SECTION 61A Modification of the Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024
- SECTION 62 Application of section 268 of Administrative Review Tribunal Act etc.
- Division 5 - Protection of information in Tribunal
- SECTION 63 Tribunal to ensure non-disclosure of certain matters
- SECTION 64 Production of exempt documents
- SECTION 65 Evidence of certificates
- Division 6 - Recommendations as to costs
- SECTION 66 Tribunal may make recommendation that costs be available in certain circumstances
- Division 7 - Automatic stay of certain decisions
- SECTION 67 Automatic stay of certain decisions on appeal
- PART VIIB - INVESTIGATIONS AND COMPLAINTS
- Division 1 - Guide to this Part
- SECTION 68 Investigations and complaints - guide
- Division 2 - Information Commissioner investigations
- Subdivision A - Power to investigate
- SECTION 69 Information Commissioner investigations - power to investigate
- Subdivision B - Making complaints
- SECTION 70 Information Commissioner investigations - making complaints
- Subdivision C - Decision to investigate
- SECTION 71 Information Commissioner investigations - interpretation
- SECTION 72 Information Commissioner investigations - preliminary inquiries
- SECTION 73 Information Commissioner investigations - discretion not to investigate
- SECTION 74 Information Commissioner investigations - transfer to Ombudsman
- SECTION 75 Information Commissioner investigations - notice requirements
- Subdivision D - Investigation procedure
- SECTION 76 Information Commissioner investigations - conduct of investigation
- SECTION 77 Information Commissioner investigations - general power to enter premises
- SECTION 78 Information Commissioner investigations - places for which approval required before entry
- SECTION 79 Information Commissioner investigations - obliging production of information and documents
- SECTION 80 Information Commissioner investigations - dealings with documents
- SECTION 81 Information Commissioner investigations - exempt documents
- SECTION 82 Information Commissioner investigations - obliging persons to appear
- SECTION 83 Information Commissioner investigations - administration of oath or affirmation
- SECTION 84 Information Commissioner investigations - no loss of legal professional privilege
- SECTION 85 Information Commissioner investigations - protection from liability
- Subdivision E - Outcome of investigation
- SECTION 86 Information Commissioner investigations - notice on completion
- SECTION 87 Information Commissioner investigations - what are the investigation results ?
- SECTION 88 Information Commissioner investigations - what are the investigation recommendations ?
- SECTION 89 Information Commissioner investigations - failure to implement investigation recommendation
- SECTION 89A Information Commissioner investigations - failure to take action in response to implementation notice
- SECTION 89B Information Commissioner investigations - requirements for report
- SECTION 89C Information Commissioner investigations - ensuring non-disclosure of certain matters
- SECTION 89D Information Commissioner investigations - limitation on amending records
- SECTION 89E Information Commissioner investigations - protection from civil action
- Division 3 - Complaints to Ombudsman
- SECTION 89F Complaints to Ombudsman - powers not affected
- SECTION 89G Complaints to Ombudsman - report must not contain certain information
- SECTION 89H Complaints to Ombudsman - certain rights not affected by certificates
- SECTION 89J Complaints to Ombudsman - limitation on amending records in reports under the Ombudsman Act 1976
- PART VIII - MISCELLANEOUS
- Division 1 - Vexatious applicants
- SECTION 89K Vexatious applicants - declaration
- SECTION 89L Vexatious applicants - grounds for declaration
- SECTION 89M Vexatious applicants - effect of declaration
- SECTION 89N Vexatious applicants - review by Tribunal
- Division 2 - General
- SECTION 89P Staff hold appropriate security clearance
- SECTION 90 Protection against civil liability - general
- SECTION 91 Protection against civil liability - particular situations
- SECTION 92 Protection against criminal liability
- SECTION 92A Notices etc. may be given by post
- SECTION 93 Agencies to provide information to Information Commissioner
- SECTION 93A Guidelines
- SECTION 93B Review of operation of Act
- SECTION 94 Regulations
- SCHEDULE 1
- SCHEDULE 2
- PART I Exempt agencies
- Division 1
- Division 2
- PART II Agencies exempt in respect of particular documents
- Division 1
- Division 2
- PART III Legislation relating to agencies exempt in respect of documents i
- SCHEDULE 3
- SCHEDULE 4 - RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
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