Contact
General enquiries and research requests can be directed to:
Director
Historical Publications and Information Section
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
R.G. Casey Building, John McEwen Crescent
BARTON, ACT 0221
Tel: 61 6 261 1111
Fax: 61 6 261 1445
E-mail: [email protected]
UNESCO Archives Portal
Historical publications and records
Freedom of information
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) provides the public a legal right to seek access to documents in the Government's possession.
Access to documents is limited only by exemptions that protect essential public interests and the private and business affairs of people about whom departments and statutory authorities hold information.
Members of the public seeking access to documents that may be held by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the Department) should lodge a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) application.
How to make an FOI application
The application must be made in writing, provide sufficient information to allow the Department to identify the documents sought, include a telephone number, a fax number (if available), and an address (or e-mail address) to which notifications are to be sent.
Applications should be addressed to:
The Director, Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Domestic Legal Branch
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
R.G. Casey Building, John McEwen Crescent
BARTON, ACT 0221
Processing your request
We will acknowledge your request within 14 days of receipt and will endeavour to process your request within 30 days, however, where the FOI Act requires us to consult with a third party because, for example, the documents you seek access to contain personal information about a third party, or where we need to consult a foreign government, the time for processing your request will be extended by an additional 30 days. If we envisage that we will not complete your request within the statutory timeframe due to its complexity or the large volume of documents, we may seek your agreement to an extension of time for the processing of your request, or alternatively, may seek an extension from the Information Commissioner.
Processing 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. If you are seeking documents containing information other than your own personal information, the first five hours of decision-making time are free of charge. Where the Department levies a charge for the processing of your request, you will be required to pay the charge before you are given access to the documents.
Financial hardship
The Department may decide to remit, reduce or not impose processing charges for any reason, including if grounds of financial hardship or general public interest can be established by the applicant. If you are seeking a waiver of the processing charges on grounds of financial hardship, you will need to provide sufficient evidence about your financial position to allow the Department to make its determination (for example, bank account statements or a copy of your current Health Care Card).
Further queries regarding charges may be directed to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section at the above telephone number or address.
Review rights
If you wish to seek an internal review of the decision made on your FOI request, you must write to the Department within 30 days of being notified of its decision.
Alternatively, you may write to the Australian Information Commissioner seeking a review of the Department's decision, whether the initial decision or a decision on internal review. An application to the Information Commissioner should be made within 60 days of being notified of the decision. Your application to the Australian Information Commissioner must include an address (which may be an email address) for notices to be sent and a copy of the Department's decision. For more information on the Australian Information Commissioner, see www.oaic.gov.au.
Further information on DFAT's handling of FOI
Further information about the Department's handling of FOI applications may be found in the Department's Annual Report.