Print this pageThe Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) gives individuals the right to view documents held by Australian Government ministers and agencies, with some exceptions. Section 8 of the Act requires us to report on:
- our organisation and functions (for more information, see Chapter 2)
- any arrangements for outside participation in policy formulation or administration
(see Chapter 2) - the types of documents we hold (see below), and
- our freedom of information (FOI) procedures, facilities and contact details.
Documents We Hold
The types of documents we hold include:
- submissions to, and the official records of, the Cabinet, its committees and the Federal Executive Council
- documents of Royal Commissions and other major inquiries
- representations to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary on various aspects of government activity
- working files, including departmental correspondence, analysis and advice
- internal administrative records, such as personnel files, staffing and financial records, and office procedures
- cables
- papers relating to new and amending legislation, drafting instructions and draft legislation
- briefing papers and submissions prepared for the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Secretary and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
- documents relating to meetings (such as agendas, minutes and reports)
- copies of questions in the parliament, together with related replies
- tender documents, and
- government policy statements, communiqués, guidelines and media releases.
Our annual report and selected other documents relating to the department are available on our website at www.pmc.gov.au
More information about the classes of personal information we hold is available from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at www.privacy.gov.au/government/digests
How to Lodge an FOI Request
If you want to view one or more documents, you must send us a request in writing – by mail, fax or email. You need to provide an address in Australia where we can send you notices under the Act, and you also need to include:
- the $30 application fee (a cheque or money order made out to the Collector of Public Monies), and
- as much detail as possible about the document(s) you want to access.
It would also be useful if you could provide a phone number in case we need to clarify your request.
If access is granted to the documents under the FOI Act, you will be provided with either a copy of the document(s) or the opportunity to inspect them at our Canberra office. You may have to pay a copying charge.
You can apply to the National Archives of Australia for access to records that are more than 30 years old. Under the Archives Act 1983, special access may be available to:
- former Governors-General, Ministers and Secretaries who want to refresh their memories of records they personally dealt with while in office
- authorised biographers of the above people
- people connected to government who have placed their personal records in the custody of the National Archives of Australia, and
- people researching major works that are considered to be of national importance.
More Information
For more information, contact our Freedom of Information Coordinator in one of the following ways:
FOI Coordinator
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO Box 6500
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Email: foi@pmc.gov.au
Phone: (02) 6271 5849
Fax: (02) 6271 5776