The Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act 1982  came into effect on 1 December 1982 and gives individuals a right to:

  • see documents (including those containing personal information about themselves) held by federal government ministers, their departments and most statutory authorities;
  • ask for information concerning them to be changed, if it is incomplete, out of date, incorrect or misleading; and
  • appeal against a decision not to grant access to a document or amend or annotate a personal record.

The FOI Act also requires federal government agencies to make available detailed information about the way they are organised, their functions and decision-making processes and the documents they hold.

For further information about the FOI Act see:

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Last Updated: 22 May 2008