The basic function of the freedom of information act is to ensure informed citizens, vital to the functioning of a democratic society. Freedom of information act 2011 laws of the federation of nigeria arrangement of sections 1. Freedom of information act 1982 table of provisions long title part ipreliminary 1. Freedom of information comasters law firm and notary public. The freedom of information act 1982 foi act gives you a general right of access to information held by us and other commonwealth agencies departments and authorities. In new south wales, the government information public access act. Freedom of info around the world national democratic institute. The act defines agency records subject to disclosure, outlines mandatory disclosure procedures, and defines nine exemptions to the statute. The act covers any recorded information that is held by a public authority in england, wales and northern ireland, and. The oco receives foi requests for a wide range of documents, however, the two main requests are.
Commonwealth agencies have received a total of 601,277 access requests. On one view, any release of information pursuant to a request made under the foi act is an authorised release of information. When the united states freedom of information act was passed in 1966, the idea of free online datasets,3 open to anyone. The freedom of information act the freedom of information act foia generally provides that any person has the right to request access to federal agency records or information except to the extent the records are protected from disclosure by any of nine exemptions contained in the law or by one of three special law enforcement record exclusions. This book is a comprehensive summary of the law that includes a discussion of the foias nine exemptions and three exclusions as well as its most important procedural aspects. The department of justice guide to the freedom of information act is updated approximately every two years by the justice departments office of information policy. Access to information under the freedom of information act. It applies to federal government agencies and ministers.
Under freedom of information foi you have a right, with limited exceptions, to access documents we hold. This compilation of the freedom of information act is unofficial and for the convenience of the public only. Freedom of information under the freedom of information act 1991 a person has a legal right to apply for access to an agencys documents. Remove mandatory 15 charge new fees structure first request up to 5hrs in retrieval time now free repeals the foi acts of 1997 and 2003. The objects clause in section 3 of the foi act expands on this concept and provides clear direction on. This is a compilation of the freedom of information act 1982 that shows the text of the. The law on free access to information was adopted in may 1999 and went into effect. Review of the freedom of information act 1989 nsw the barbour report. All newly enacted provisions in boldface type replace the strikethrough text. The freedom of information act foia is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government. The freedom of information act foia is a federal law that gives any person, including u.
An act to make provision for the disclosure of information held by public authorities or by persons providing services for them and to amend the data protection act 1998 and the public records act 1958. There are independent bodies which provide information and advice on access to information laws. Below is the full text of the freedom of information act in a form showing all amendments. Individuals have the right to access documents from australian government ministers and most australian government agencies under the freedom of information act 1982 foi act. Carclew is a peak body operating in the youth arts sector in. We make a range of documents available for public access. The freedom of information act 2000 provides public access to information held by public authorities.
The freedom of information act 1982 cth foia was designed to enhance government accountability, allowing individuals to gain insight into policy and administrative decisionmaking. One hundred fourteenth congress of the united states of. A foi applicant is not required to explain their reason for seeking access, or demonstrate a special need for or interest in a document. This right to access is limited when such information is protected from disclosure by one of foias nine statutory exemptions. Request for access to documents under the freedom of. This is the right to information bill 2009 as introduced into parliament. Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the foreign intelligence surveillance act of 1978 50 u. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us.
Civil and political rights provide that every person shall have the right to free. Freedom of information act legal definition of freedom of. Act to apply to courts in respect of administrative matters 6. If you are searching for documents in the open period relating to migration and citizenship, family history, indigenous australia or war service records, for example, access can be sought under the. Freedom of information act 1982 cth s 47 documents disclosing trade secrets or commercially valuable information. Third reading of the right to information bill 2009.
Extension of time limit for granting or refusing application 7. Put simply, governmentheld information is a national resource2, and the public is entitled to have access to it within reasonable limits. Freedom of information act 2000 gives the public the right to access information possessed by and pertaining to the entities that perform functions funded by the taxpayer money and affect the life of the public, at large. The freedom of information act 1982 gives you the right to request access to governmentheld information. This plan is prepared in accordance with section 81 of the foi act. A freedom of information request to the national archives of australia applies only to documents and records created by the national archives. Access to australian government information, the relevant law is the freedom of information act 1982 cth foi act. Under the foi act, you have a legal right subject to some exceptions to see documents we hold and get copies of those documents. This includes information they hold about you or about government policies and decisions.
You can formally request access under the freedom of information act 1982 foi act to documents we hold. The disclosure log lists information which has been released in response to an foi access request. Objectsinformation or documents otherwise accessible 4. The freedom of information act 1982 foi act gives any person the right to. This site can help you determine if filing a foia request is the best option for you and help you create your request when youre ready. A citizens guide on using the freedom of information act. The freedom of information act 1982 cth foi act is built around a basic principle. Freedom of information act united states wikipedia. In this act, unless the context otherwise requires. To date, 12 commonwealth countries have adopted foi laws and bills are. Freedom of information act 1982 cth s 47b public interest conditional exemptionscommonwealthstate. The freedom of information act foia generally provides that any person has the right to request access to federal agency records or information except to the extent the records are protected from disclosure by any of nine exemptions contained in the law or by one of.
Acara is required by the freedom of information act 1982 s11c to publish a disclosure log on its website. An act to give to members of the public rights of access to official documents of the government of the commonwealth and of its agencies. Freedom of information actus freedom of information act. In some cases, requests for dart documents will be sent to the defence force ombudsman inbox. House of representatives completed action on the electronic free. Federal register of legislation australian government. The legislation governing access to information held at the commonwealth level is the freedom of information act 1982 cth freedom of information act. You must have the current version of free adobe reader to take full advantage of the enabled functions such as. You can also see most manuals, rules and guidelines that we use to make decisions about the. Individuals have the right to request access to documents from australian government ministers and most australian government agencies under the freedom. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in. Freedom of information act at 35 freedom of information act, today released its annual freedom of information act birthday posting, 37 years to the day after president johnson grudgingly signed the u. Freedom of information act 1982 federal register of legislation. If you are lodging a freedom of information foi request on behalf of another person, you must provide evidence to demonstrate that you are authorised to act on their behalf to.
This act may be cited as the freedom of information act 1982. The freedom of information act department of justice. Legal right for any person to obtain reasons for an act of foi body in which they have a material interest continued from 1997 act. Request for access to documents under the freedom of information act 1982 cth personal health records the department of health department does not generally hold personal health records about individuals such as. Freedom of information act central bank of nigeria. Freedom of information act 1992 schedule 1 glossary cl. The essential features of the act, as summarised in the guide to the freedom of information act 1982 2011, are.
27 1025 628 1468 120 834 1588 506 829 1664 85 1063 646 1060 257 1529 678 1429 669 1394 1356 706 175 859 1369 28 1433 42 1407 1052 367 878 253 1304 1453 496 1170 1266 1137