We encourage electronic service of all legal documents. Electronic service allows the OAIC to deal with your matter more quickly than if you serve the documents physically. If you are unable to serve documents electronically, please see below for further information.
If the Commissioner is already a party to proceedings, legal documents should be served at the address for service we nominate in those proceedings.
Serving legal documents on the Australian Information Commissioner electronically
If you are serving legal documents on the Commissioner electronically, please refer to the table below for how you should serve different categories of documents.
Category | How to serve the documents |
|---|---|
I am serving a new application | Please serve the Commissioner at legal@oaic.gov.au |
The Commissioner is already a party to proceedings | If the Commissioner is already a party to litigation or proceedings, documents should be served at the address for service we nominate. Please do not copy legal@oaic.gov.au on communications with any court or other legal practitioners. |
I am serving a subpoena issued to the Commissioner | You may email the subpoena to legal@oaic.gov.au to serve it on the Commissioner. An OAIC lawyer will respond to your email and accept service on behalf of the Commissioner. If your subpoena is served through this email address and we acknowledge service of the subpoena, we will not dispute that it was validly served merely because it was served electronically. |
I am serving another kind of legal document | If your legal document does not match any of the above categories, you may email it to legal@oaic.gov.au to serve it on the Commissioner. An OAIC lawyer will respond to your email and accept service on behalf of the Commissioner. If your document is served through this email address and we acknowledge service of the document, we will not dispute that it was validly served merely because it was served electronically. |
Please do not serve documents on the Commissioner by post in addition to serving them electronically.
I can’t serve my documents electronically
If you cannot serve your legal documents electronically, you may serve them by post to:
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Legal Services
GPO Box 5288
SYDNEY NSW 2001
If you are unable to serve by email or post, please contact us at 1300 363 992, legal@oaic.gov.au or via our webform to make alternative arrangements. If you intend to serve legal documents in person, please note that the OAIC’s only permanently staffed office is in Sydney.
Documents that should not be sent to the legal email address
Please do not use legal@oaic.gov.au for applications for access to documents under the freedom of information (FOI) legislation. For information on the process for making an FOI request, please see our FOI requests webpage.
Where can I get more information?
For more information, call the OAIC on 1300 363 992.
Important notice
This information sheet is a summary giving you basic information about a particular topic. It does not cover the whole of the relevant law regarding that topic, and it is not a substitute for professional advice. Omission of any matter on this information sheet will not relieve any person or entity from its legal obligations.
You should also note that because this information sheet avoids legal language wherever possible, it might include some generalisations about the application of the law. Some provisions of the law referred to have exceptions or important qualifications. In most cases your particular circumstances must be taken into account when determining how the law applies to you.
