Home Request for access to documents under Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act)

How to complete this form

Fields marked with an asterisk(*) must be completed before you can submit your request.

Your details

In accordance with the FOI Act, for a request to be valid it must include an address, either electronic or postal, to which correspondence can be sent. The FOI Act does not require an applicant to disclose or provide proof of their identity, nor does it prevent someone from using a pseudonym when submitting an FOI request. If, however, you are submitting an FOI request for your own personal information or for document relating to your organisation’s business affairs, or if you are seeking this information on behalf of another person, the Department of Agriculture will need to be satisfied of your identity before providing you with access to these documents.

Salutation

Family name

Given names

E-mail address *

Note: Please type in your email address correctly, so you receive a copy of your request.

Postal Address

City-Suburb

State

Country

Postcode

Contact method

E-mail is my preferred method of receiving correspondence from the department

Post is my preferred method of receiving correspondence from the department

Telephone number

including area code. eg: 0762723933

Mobile number

Your request

This section of the form is split into two parts to enable you to clearly specify the document/s you seek access to:

Type of documents;
A free-text box where you can describe your requests in detail

Helpful tips: the more specific you are, the easier it will be for the department to identify the relevant document/s and it may speed up the processing of your request. It will also help to reduce any associated charges.

I seek access to

Please provide a detailed description of the document/s you are seeking access to in the fields below

Correspondence

Reports

Applications / Forms

Minutes

Briefings

File notes

Contracts

Other / or the name of the particular document/s

Other

e.g. If you have chosen reports and you know the name of it, as in "Report XYZ".

Date from

Date to

Note: This date can be no later than the date this application is received by the department

In relation to *

Processing your request

We will acknowledge your request within 14 calendar days of receipt and will endeavour to process your request within 30 calendar days. We may need to consult with a third party because, for example, the documents you seek access to contain personal information about a third party. The time for processing your request may be extended by an additional 30 calendar days in these circumstances.

Declarations

I agree to exclude personal information from the scope of the request where it is possible to avoid the requirement for third party consultation.

I agree to exclude business or commercial information from the scope of the request where it is possible to avoid the requirement for third party consultation.

I agree to exclude all signatures; all phone numbers; and all names of non-SES government officers from the scope of the request.

Charges

The department levies the applicable processing charges imposed under the Freedom of Information (Fees and Charges) regulations, however there is no charge for applicants seeking access to their own personal information.

I seek a waiver of charges

I seek a reduction of charges

On the following grounds:

financial

Financial hardship

You will be asked to provide sufficient evidence about your financial position to allow the department to make its determination (for example, evidence of pension or income support payments).

Public

Public interest

You should outline how the giving of access to the document/s is in the general public interest or in the interest of a substantial section of the public.

Public interest reasons

'Personal information' means any information or opinion about an identified, or reasonably identifiable, individual.

The collection of personal information by the Department of Agriculture in relation to this form is authorised under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 for the purposes of processing your FOI request and related purposes. If you do not provide a valid electronic or postal address, the department will be unable to process your FOI request.

Personal information may be disclosed to other Australian agencies where it is necessary to assist with the processing of your request, provided the disclosure is consistent with relevant laws, in particular the Privacy Act 1988. It will not be disclosed to any other third parties except where you provide your consent, or disclosure is required by law. Your personal information will be used and stored in accordance with the Privacy Principles.

By completing and submitting this form you consent to the collection of all personal information, including sensitive personal information, which you choose to provide. (‘Sensitive personal information’ means any information or opinion about an individual’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinion or association, religious beliefs or affiliations, philosophical beliefs, sexual preferences or practices, trade or professional associations and memberships, union membership, criminal record, health or genetic information and biometric information or templates.)

The department's Privacy Policy, including information about access to and correction of your personal information, can be found on the department's website.

To contact the department about your personal information or to make a complaint:

Telephone: Switchboard +61 2 6272 3933
Email: Privacy
Post:
Privacy Contact Officer,
Department of Agriculture
GPO Box 858,
Canberra ACT 2601

Before you send

To help us prevent abuse of this site, please type the letters or numbers you see below.

Request for access to documents under Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act)

Messages

How to complete this form

Your details

Your request

Processing your request

Before you send