Commonwealth FOI
The federal regime. Broad right of access to documents held by Commonwealth agencies and ministers, subject to exemptions.
At a glance
| Act | Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Office of the Australian Information Commissioner |
| Application fee | No application fee; processing charges may apply |
| Statutory response period | 30 days |
| Internal review | Available on application to the agency |
| External review | Information Commissioner review, then the Administrative Review Tribunal |
General description of the regime only. It is not legal advice, and time limits and fees change — check the Act and the regulator before relying on anything here.
The statutory period is a starting point rather than a description of experience. It can be extended by agreement, for third-party consultation, and for complex requests, and time spent waiting on a charges notice does not count against it.
That gap between the legislated clock and the elapsed clock is exactly the distinction the sister project Australian Red Tape makes for approval processes, and it applies here with equal force. A regime that answers in thirty statutory days but nine elapsed months is not a thirty-day regime.
Sources
- Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth)