Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Act 2010 (51 of 2010)

Schedule 3   Exemptions

Part 2   Main exemption amendments

Freedom of Information Act 1982

22   Before section 32

Insert:

Division 1 - Preliminary

31A Access to exempt and conditionally exempt documents

The following table summarises how this Act applies to exempt documents and documents that are conditionally exempt:

How this Act applies to exempt and conditionally exempt documents

Item

If …

then …

because of …

1

a document is an exempt document under Division 2 (exemptions) or under paragraph (b) or (c) of the definition of exempt document in subsection 4(1)

access to the document is not required to be given

subsection 11A(4).

2

a document is a conditionally exempt document under Division 3 (public interest conditional exemptions)

access to the document is required to be given, unless it would be contrary to the public interest

subsection 11A(5) (see also section 11B (public interest factors)).

3

a document is an exempt document as mentioned in item 1, and also a conditionally exempt document under Division 3

access to the document is not required to be given

subsections 11A(4) and (6), and section 32 (interpretation).

4

access to a document is refused because it contains exempt matter, and the exempt matter can be deleted

(a) an edited copy deleting the exempt matter must be prepared (if practicable); and

(b) access to the edited copy must be given;

section 22.

5

a document is an exempt document because of any provision of this Act

access to the document may be given apart from under this Act

section 3A (objects - information or documents otherwise accessible).

31B Exempt documents for the purposes of this Part

A document is exempt for the purposes of this Part if:

(a) it is an exempt document under Division 2; or

(b) it is conditionally exempt under Division 3, and access to the document would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest for the purposes of subsection 11A(5).

Note 1: A document is an exempt document for the purposes of this Act (see subsection 4(1)) if:

(a) it is exempt under this section; or

(b) it is exempt because of section 7 (exemption of certain persons and bodies); or

(c) it is an official document of a Minister that contains matters not relating to the affairs of an agency or a Department of State.

Note 2: Access must generally be given to a conditionally exempt document unless it would be contrary to the public interest (see section 11A).


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