Home / Freedom of information

Guidance and advice

RSS feed

We've developed these guides to help organisations and agencies understand and comply with the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Agencies and ministers must also have regard to Australian Information Commissioner’s freedom of information (FOI) Guidelines when performing a function or exercising a power under the FOI Act.

Administrative access

25 September 2018
This agency resource explains administrative access, why it may be beneficial for agencies to release information outside the formal FOI request process and how agencies can set up an administrative access arrangement.
Tags: access
Read more: Administrative access

Calculating and imposing charges for FOI access requests

1 August 2011
Guidance to help decision makers identify the steps in calculating and imposing a charge.
Tags: access
Read more: Calculating and imposing charges for FOI access requests

Defining an agency

30 April 2012
Which bodies and offices are covered by the FOI Act, and those that are excluded
Read more: Defining an agency

Documents held by government contractors

30 October 2010
Agencies must take contractual measures to ensure that they receive documents held by certain contractors or subcontractors if a person requests access to those documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
Tags: access
Read more: Documents held by government contractors

Exemptions and conditional exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982

1 September 2011
The exemptions and conditional exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 ensure that sensitive information is properly protected. A person has a legally enforceable right of access to a document of an agency or an official document of a minister unless the document is exempt or conditionally exempt.
Tags: exemptions
Read more: Exemptions and conditional exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982

Extension of time for processing requests

1 July 2014
How to apply to the OAIC for an extension of time for processing FOI requests.
Read more: Extension of time for processing requests

FOI Guide

1 November 2011

The Guide to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 provides guidance on the application of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 for individuals and government agencies.

Download the print version from Trove

Read more: FOI Guide

FOIstats guide

10 June 2019
Quarterly and annual FOI Act statistical returns to the OAIC
Read more: FOIstats guide