Protecting information rights – advancing information policy

Agency Resources

On this page:

General agency resources

Freedom of information agency resources

Information policy agency resources

Privacy agency resources

General agency resources

Information Contact Officer Network (ICON) resources

Information about ICON including upcoming meeting dates is available on our networks page.

Agendas, audio files and other resources from past ICON meetings are available from these links:

Freedom of information agency resources

Freedom of information – Agency Resources series

This is a series of resources for agencies relating to responding to FOI requests. It is particularly useful for FOI request decision makers:

  1. 12 tips for FOI decision makers – HTML (PDF)
  2. Calculating and imposing charges for FOI access requests – HTML (PDF)
  3. Processing requests for amendment and annotation of personal records – HTML (PDF)
  4. Key amendments to exemption provisions under the FOI Act – HTML (PDF)
  5. Summary of exemptions under the FOI Act – HTML (PDF)
  6. Making a decision on an FOI access request – HTML (PDF)
  7. Statement of reasons checklist – HTML (PDF)
  8. Review of decisions made under the FOI Act – HTML (PDF)
  9. Complaint and own motion investigations under the FOI Act – HTML (PDF)
  10. Internal review – HTML (PDF)
  11. Sample FOI notices – HTML (PDF)
  12. Defining an agency – HTML (PDF)

Guide to the Freedom of Information Act 1982

The OAIC has produced a short guide to the Freedom of Information Act 1982which explains the main provisions and underlying principles of the FOI Act. The historical and philosophical underpinnings of the Act are described, as well as the key features of the 2010 reforms:

Extensions of time for freedom of information requests

Guidance:

The OAIC has guidance for agencies on notifying and requesting extensions of FOI processing time from the Information Commissioner (HTML), (PDF), (RTF).

Smartform:

The OAIC has developed an online smartform for agencies to submit extension of time (EOT) notifications and requests under sections 15AA, 15AB, 15AC, 54D and 54DA of the Freedom of Information Act 1982. The form can be downloaded from https://forms.australia.gov.au/forms/oaic/foi-agency-extension-of-time/

Public holidays and agency shut-down periods - calculating timeframes

Information Publication Scheme agency help

The Information Publication Scheme (IPS) – your responsibilities and obligations

From 1 May 2011, all Australian Government agencies subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act) are required to publish a broad range of information on their website, along with a plan that explains how the agency intends to implement and administer the IPS (the IPS agency plan).
To assist agencies in meeting their IPS obligations, the Australian Information Commissioner has prepared a number of resources which set out the key considerations for each agency in developing an appropriate response to the IPS.

Part 13: Information Publication Scheme guidelines

Part 13 of the FOI guidelines:

  • provides information to assist agencies in the development of their IPS agency plan. The OAIC’s own agency plan can be found at www.oaic.gov.au/ips/.
  • sets out the types of information that must be made available (Required information)
  • sets out the types of information that agencies may proactively wish to publish (Other information) and
  • provides other information that must be considered by agencies, such as how the information will be provided, and whether there are any fees or charges for providing non-web based information holdings.

The Part 13 Guidelines are available in two formats, HTML, PDF.

Agency self assessment checklist

The Information Commissioner has also developed an agency self-assessment checklist which sets out the key compliance requirements of the IPS. Agencies should use this checklist to assess how well the IPS requirements have been implemented across their areas of operation, and identify any potential compliance gaps which need to be addressed.

The agency self-assessment checklist is designed to help agencies to identify

  • their actions and progress against each of the key IPS compliance requirements, and
  • any compliance gaps which need to be addressed during the implementation of the IPS.

The Agency self assessment checklist is available in three formats, HTML, PDF and RTF

Other guidance for agencies

Agencies should also refer to other guidance issued by the Information Commissioner, such as the Guidance for Agency Websites which discusses the use of the IPS icon on agency websites and, if seeking relief from publication of information, the IPS and Disclosure Log determinations policy and procedure on our Guidelines page.

Reviewing agency compliance with the IPS

All agencies are required to complete a review of their IPS, in conjunction with the Information Commissioner, before 1 May 2016. General information on how the Information Commissioner intends to assist agencies in their review of the IPS is found in the publication: Information Publication Scheme Compliance Program. In April 2012 a letter was sent by the Information Commissioner to the heads of Australian Government agencies about the OAIC's forthcoming IPS compliance activity.

Guidance on agency FOI statistical returns to the OAIC

Guide to the quarterly and annual FOI Act statistical returns to the OAIC (PDF), (RTF) (as at 7 May 2012)

If you need further assistance please email foistats@oaic.gov.au

IPS and Disclosure Log icons for agency websites

The OAIC’s 'Guidance for agency websites’ in relation to the Information Publication Scheme and the Disclosure Log suggest the use of easily identifiable IPS and Disclosure Log icons on the homepage of agency websites. This will assist in ensuring that both the IPS and Disclosure Log pages are easily discoverable. The icons appear below in various formats for agency use.

IPS icons

IPS icon

Vector graphic

Large pixel graphic

Medium pixel graphic

Small pixel graphic

Disclosure log icons

IPS icon

Vector graphic

Large pixel graphic

Medium pixel graphic

Small pixel graphic

Training materials for the 2010 FOI reforms

Below are a package of training materials used by the OAIC in training other Australian Government agencies on the 2010 major reforms to the Freedom of Information Act 1982, current as at 16 March 2011. Note that some of the web links in these materials may now be out of date.

Information policy agency resources

Principles on open public sector information