Source: http://www.oaic.gov.au/publications/guidelines.html
Timestamp: 2013-05-20 04:42:59
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Guidelines; Office of the Australian Information Commissioner - OAIC
Freedom of information About FOI FOI reviews and complaints FOI resources for agencies FOI decisions, case notes and reports Information Publication Scheme Privacy About privacy Privacy complaints Privacy resources for agencies and businesses Privacy decisions, case notes and reports Privacy Advisory Committee Information policy About information policy Information policy resources for agencies Information policy reports Information Advisory Committee Contact us: 1300 363 992 email us | more contact info OAIC mailing list media enquiries twitter OAIC Blog You are here: Home > Publications and resources > Guidelines Guidelines On this page: Freedom of information guidelines Other freedom of information guidance Privacy guidelines Other privacy guidance Information policy guidance Freedom of information guidelines The 2010 amendments to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) are the most substantial changes to Australia's national freedom of information law since it commenced.
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has published a guide which explains the main provisions and underlying principles of the FOI Act including the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the Act and the key features of the 2010 reforms. As well the OAIC has produced detailed guidance material to help Australian Government agencies understand what the main changes to the FOI Act are, and how they affect agencies' activitiesGuidelines issued under section 93A of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 Agencies must have regard to guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner under section 93A of the FOI Act when they are performing a function or exercising a power under that Act. Below are the current Guidelines followed by a table of links to archived versions which includes a summary of significant changes between each version. Current section 93A FOI Act guidelines Combined set of s 93A FOI Act guideline parts (as at March 2013) PDF (7.3MB)
Preface (PDF) Part 1 – Introduction to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (HTML) (PDF) Part 2 – Scope of application of the Freedom of Information Act (HTML) (PDF) Part 3 – Processing requests for access (HTML) (PDF)
Part 4 – Charges for providing access (HTML) (PDF) Part 5 – Exemptions (HTML) (PDF) Part 6 – Conditional Exemptions (HTML) (PDF) Part 7 – Amendment and annotation of personal records (HTML) (PDF) Part 8 – Decisions on FOI requests (HTML) (PDF) Part 9 – Internal agency review of decisions (HTML) (PDF) Part 10 – Review by the Information Commissioner (HTML) (PDF) Part 11 – Complaints and investigations (HTML) (PDF) Part 12 – Vexatious applicant declarations (HTML) (PDF) Part 13 – Information Publication Scheme (HTML) (PDF) Part 14 – Disclosure log (HTML) (PDF) Part 15 – Reporting (HTML) (PDF) Glossary (HTML) (PDF) Back to top
Links to archived s 93A Guidelines
and a summary of version changes
Currency dates Changes and other comments
4-Feb-2011 to 27-Oct-11
28-Oct-2011 to 24-Jan-2013
25-Jan-2013 to ...
Publication date updated
Part 1 – Intro to the FOI Act
24-Dec-2010 to 24-Oct-2011
25-Oct-2011 to 24-Jan-2013
Updated regarding commencement of the IPS and Norfolk Island amendments. Stylistic changes to references to FOI guidelines.
Inclusion of new paragraph 1.8 to place greater emphasis on administrative access and releasing government information outside the formal requirement of the FOI Act.
Updated reference to Part 13 — Information publication scheme (paragraph 1.14).
Part 2 – Scope of application of the FOI Act
25-Oct-2011 to 08-May-2012
Inserted footnote at paragraph 2.6 referring to ‘B’ and Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General [2011] AICmr 6. Stylistic changes to references to FOI guidelines.
9-May-2012 to 27-Mar-2013
New paragraph about the application of the FOI Act to Commonwealth Parliamentary departments (paragraph 2.5)
28-Mar-2013 to ...
Expanded discussion of the application of the FOI Act to the Official Secretary to the Governor-General following Kline v Official Secretary to the Governor-General [2012] FCAFC 184 (paragraph 2.7).
Inclusion of Parliamentary Budget Office and Parliamentary Budget Officer in list of bodies that are not agencies for the purposes of the FOI Act and updated footnote reference to Fair Work Australia to the Fair Work Commission (paragraph 2.9)
Incorporation of footnote references to recent AAT and IC review decisions (paragraphs 2.10 and 2.19)
Included a reference to the exemption of all agencies and ministers from the FOI Act in relation to private sessions before the Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission (paragraph 2.12).
Clarification that the authorised person makes a decision on behalf of the minister in the capacity of an agent rather than in their own right as an authorised person (paragraph 2.24).
Part 3 – Processing requests for access
22-Jul-2011 to 24-Oct-2011
Stylistic changes to references to FOI guidelines.
25-Jan-2013 to 27-Mar-2013
Addition of new paragraphs encouraging agencies to develop policies and processes that facilitate the disclosure of information to the public administratively (paragraphs 3.3–3.5).
Clarification that a request may be made by one person on behalf of another person or group, or by an organisation (such as a law firm or non-government organisation) on behalf of a client or member (paragraphs 3.6, 3.36–3.39). See also the Information Commissioner's statement Who qualifies as a 'person' eligible to make a request under s 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982? (January 2013) (PDF).
Inclusion of footnote reference to Agency resource 14: Access to government information – administrative access schemes (paragraph 3.23).
Expanded discussion of requirements when making an FOI request by email or fax and referencing s 14A of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (paragraphs 3.28–29).
Incorporation of footnote references to IC review decisions: 'G' and Australian Taxation Office [2012] AICmr 9 and 'H' and Australian Broadcasting Corporation [2012] AICmr 10 (paragraph 3.54 fn 14). Part 3 – Processing requests for access
Clarification that the processing period commences on the day after the day the request is received (paragraph 3.31)
Removed inaccurate footnote reference to Chu v Telstra Corporation Limited (2005) FCA 1730 (paragraph 3.58).
Updated to included references to Parliamentary Budget Office documents (s 45A) (paragraph 3.89).
4-Feb-2011 to 24-Oct-2011
25-Oct-2011 to 27-Mar-2013
Updated regarding commencement of the IPS (paragraph 4.54)
Updated fee payable to the AAT for an application for review of a decision of the Information Commissioner (paragraph 4.8)
Expanded discussion of collecting charges and whether a charge is a debt due to the Commonwealth (paragraph 4.30).
Clarification that a decision maker does not have to consider the content of a document where it is clear from the applicant's request that, if such a document exists, the Act does not apply to it (paragraph 4.53).
Discussion of good administrative practice when notifying an internal review applicant of an affirmed charges decision (paragraphs 4.64-4.66).
Incorporation of footnote references to IC review decisions (paragraphs 4.48, 4.53 and 4.56).
25-Feb-2011 to 24-Oct-2011
Reference to ‘informal’ request rather than ‘valid’ request (paragraph 5.1). Inclusion of references to ss 47E(a) and 47E(b) (paragraph 5.12). Updated regarding commencement of the IPS (paragraph 5.133). Stylistic changes to references to FOI guidelines. Part 5 – Exemptions
Inclusion of reference to the Parliamentary Budget Office documents exemption (s 45A) (paragraphs 5.6, 5.44, 5.154–5.163)
Incorporation of footnote references to IC review decisions throughout (paragraphs 5.53, 5.94, 5.110, 5.128, 5.134, 5.139, 5.181).
4-Mar-2011 to 27-Oct-2011
28-Oct-2011 to 27-Mar-2013
Insert reference to Carver and Fair Work Ombudsman [2011] AICmr 5 at paragraph 6.25 and text at paragraph 6.63
Updated cross-reference to Part 8 of FOI Guidelines at paragraph 6.49
Inserted text at paragraphs 6.49 and 6.84
Inclusion of references to ss 47E(c) and 47E(d) at paragraphs 6.87 and 6.92
Updated regarding Norfolk Island amendments
Updated regarding commencement of the IPS (paragraph 6.57)
Stylistic changes to references to FOI guidelines Part 6 – Conditional Exemptions
Incorporation of footnote references to IC review decisions throughout (paragraphs 6.25, 6.29, 6.32, 6.62, 6.68, 6.78, 6.120, 6.127, 6.166, 6.184, 6.196).
Removal of reference to Department of Social Security v Dyrenfurth (1988) 80 ALR 533 (paragraph 6.142).
Amended description of Searle Australia Pty Ltd v Public Interest Advocacy Centre and Department of Community Services and Health (1992) 108 ALR 163 to more accurately reflect ‘serious criminality' rather than ‘unlawful conduct' (paragraph 6.166).
14-Apr-2011 to 27-Oct-2011
28-Oct-2011 to ...
Amendment of references to FOI Act (paragraphs 7.40 and 7.41)
Stylistic changes to references to FOI guidelines
Part 8 – Decisions on FOI requests
28-Mar-2013 to ... Amendment to include references to Parliamentary Budget Office documents (s 45A) (paragraphs 8.45–8.46).
Updated reference to the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 and calculating the processing period (paragraphs 8.71–8.75).
Expanded discussion of extensions of time provisions to the processing timeframes for deemed decisions following O'Donoghue v Australian Information Commissioner (No. 3) [2012] FCA 1244.
Updated to note that, where third party review rights apply only to some of the documents falling under an access grant decision, the FOI applicant should be given access to the remaining documents as soon as practicable (paragraph 8.97)
Amendment to clarify when third parties may apply for internal or IC review (paragraphs 8.100–8.104). Part 9 – Internal agency review of decisions
15-Mar-2011 to 27-Oct-2011
New paragraph clarifying guidance regarding extension of time (paragraph 9.25)
Paragraph numbers from paragraph 9.25 renumbered
Clarification of third party consultation at paragraph 9.26
Updated regarding Norfolk Island amendments Stylistic changes to references to FOI guidelines Part 9 – Internal agency review of decisions
Amendment to clarify when third parties may apply for internal review (paragraphs 9.12–9.13).
24-Dec-2010 to 27-Oct-2011
Addition of guidance regarding who should notify the FOI applicant if a third party has sought IC review of an access grant decision (paragraph 10.78)
Updated regarding Norfolk Island amendments Stylistic changes to references to FOI guidelines Part 10 – Review by the Information Commissioner
Clarification as to when third parties may apply for IC review (paragraph 10.9).
Inserted text noting that the Information Commissioner and the Inspector-General Intelligence and Security have entered into a memorandum of understanding (paragraph 10.55).
Amendment to include references to Parliamentary Budget Office documents exemption (s 45A) (paragraphs 10.69, 10.72, 10.74).
Stylistic changes to references to FOI guidelines Part 12 – Vexatious applicant declarations
Stylistic change to references to FOI guidelines
21-Apr-2011 to 27-Oct-2011
28-Oct-2011 to 28-Jun-2012
Updated regarding commencement of the IPS (paragraphs 13.1 and 13.12)
Updated regarding the publication of the Principles on Open Public Sector Information (paragraph 13.10)
Stylistic changes to references to FOI guidelines Part 13 – Information Publication Scheme
29-Jun-2012 to 24-Jan-2013
Stylistic changes throughout document
Added information about the OAIC's IPS compliance review program (paragraphs 13.24 and 13.132)
Provided clarification in regard to the listing of officers appointed under statute to a position or role in an agency on the agency's IPS entry (paragraph 13.51) Removed reference to 2011 annual reports (paragraph 13.54)
Included advice about consultation with affected staff where potential harm could arise from publishing their names in information released under s 8(2)(g) (paragraph 13.64)
Added footnote referring agencies to the Information Commissioner's Guidance for agency websites (paragraph 13.82)
Amended references to guidance from other agencies referred to in the section on ‘Other information to be published under the IPS' (paragraphs 13.106-13.111)
Updated reference providing examples of alert services agencies may provide on their IPS entries (paragraph 13.116)
Rearranged the references to guidance from other agencies about publishing information on the web (paragraph 13.117)
Provided information about agencies' current IPS statistical reporting obligations as of July 2011 and removed references to superseded proposed reporting obligations (paragraph 13.137)
Amended to reference the latest version of the Attorney-General Department's Intellectual Property Manual (paragraph 13.140)
Stylistic changes to website references throughout document.
References to the Guidance for agency websites: ‘Access to information' web page updated and included throughout document, including the annexed IPS agency plan template.
Expanded discussion of IPS website publication requirements to include reference to the ‘Access to information' icon and links to other agency online content (paragraph 13.116).
Addition of guidance regarding publication of telephone numbers of officers and publication of edited versions of documents on the disclosure log (paragraphs 14.10 and 14.11)
Paragraph numbers from paragraph 14.10 renumbered
Updated regarding Norfolk Island amendments (paragraphs 14.18, 14.19, 14.21)
Updated regarding commencement of the IPS (paragraphs 14.59)
Stylistic changes and rearrangement of content throughout document – key changes discussed below
Included reference to Disclosure Log Determination No. 2011-1 (Exempt Documents) (paragraph 14.13)
Added more discussion about what constitutes ‘unreasonable publication' on the disclosure log (paragraphs 14.15–14.19)
As part of the above update, included advice about consultation with affected staff where potential harm could arise from publishing their names in information released on the disclosure log (paragraph 14.18)
Discussed in greater detail considerations about the timing of disclosure log publication (paragraphs 14.21–14.27)
Updated to state the Information Commissioner's preference to release the same information provided to applicants through the disclosure log wherever it is practicable to do so, and to make the information available for direct download (paragraphs 14.30–14.31)
Included additional discussion about the copyright status of agency disclosure logs and referred to the latest version of the Attorney-General Department's Intellectual Property Manual (paragraph 14.38)
Expanded discussion of accessibility of online content as it applies to the disclosure log (paragraphs 14.60–14.63)
Updated regarding statistics agencies and ministers will be required to provide the OAIC about their disclosure log activity (paragraph 14.71)
Expanded discussion on supplementing the disclosure log where the information originated from internal working papers or other documents not representing the views of the agency, minister or the Government (paragraph 14.36).
Updated discussion of disclosure log discoverability to include reference to the revised Guidance for agency websites: ‘Access to information' web page (paragraph 14.53).
15-Mar-2011 to 10-May-2011
Originally published as Part 14
11-May-2011 to 9 May 2012
Renumbered and updated regarding the IPS and s 9 statements
10-May-2012 to ...
Updated annual report requirements and removal of transitional arrangements for 2010–11
4-Feb-2011 to 27-Oct-2011
23-Mar-2011 to 11-Sept-2012
Guidance superseded (see Guidance for agency websites: 'Access to information' web page under 'Agency resources')
Back to top Other Freedom of Information guidance Guide to the Freedom of Information Act 1982, PDF
Guidance for agency websites: 'Access to information' web page, PDF
Documents held by Government Contractors – Agency Obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, PDF (see also Privacy Obligations For Commonwealth Contracts) Information Publication Scheme (IPS) and Disclosure Log determinations policy and procedure: PDF, RTF Disclosure Log Determination No. 2011-1 (Exempt Documents) For other practical resources for Australian Government agencies in relation to their FOI and IPS obligations see Agency resources. Back to top Privacy guidelines Tax File Number Guidelines (December 2011)
For more information see the Tax File Numbers – information page
Note: Other privacy guidelines produced by the former Office of the Privacy Commissioner which are still current and part of the operational information of the OAIC can be found at www.privacy.gov.au/materials/types/guidelines Back to top
Other privacy guidance Guide to information security: ‘Reasonable steps’ to protect personal information (April 2013), PDF
Guide to information security summary, PDF (185KB)
Australian Privacy Principles and Information Privacy Principles – Comparison Guide (April 2013), PDF
Australian Privacy Principles and National Privacy Principles – Comparison Guide (April 2013), PDF
Privacy Impact Assessment Guide (May 2010), PDF
Data breach notification – A guide to handling personal information security breaches (April 2012), PDF Note: Other privacy guidance produced by the former Office of the Privacy Commissioner which is still current and part of the operational information of the OAIC can be found at www.privacy.gov.au/materials
Information policy guidance