Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 gives everyone a right of access to documents held by federal government agencies, subject to certain exemptions.
The Commission holds information in the following categories:
- administration matters including personnel and recruitment, accounts, purchasing, registers, registry and library records, and indices;
- conciliation matters including the investigation, clarification and resolution of complaints;
- legal matters including legal documents, opinions, advice and representations;
- research matters including research papers in relation to complaints, existing or proposed legislative practices, public education, national inquiries and other relevant issues;
- policy including minutes of meetings of the Commission, administrative and operational guidelines;
- operational matters including files on formal inquiries; and
- reference materials including press clippings, survey and research materials, documents relating to conferences, seminars and those contained in the library.
Who can make a request?
Any person, which includes persons resident in Australia or abroad, whether or not they are Australian citizens, companies, prisoners or children may make a Freedom of Information request.
Lodging a request
A request for documents must be in writing and provide enough information for the Commission to be able to identify the document(s).
There is a $30.00 application fee for making an FOI request. You should pay this at the time of your application (cheques or money orders should be made out to the Australian Human Rights Commission) or provide reasons why you believe that the fee should be waived (such as financial hardship - please provide evidence, such as a copy of a pension card). Your application will not be processed until either the fee has been paid or a decision has been made by the Commission to waive the fee.
Australian Human Rights Commission or HREOC?
The previous legal name of the Australian Human Rights Commission (before 5 August 2009) was the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. You can use either name in your application and the Commission will assess your request against all information in its possession.
Send the request to:
Freedom of Information
Officer
Australian Human Rights Commission
GPO Box 5218
SYDNEY NSW 2001
For more information on the Freedom of Information Act please see the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website at http://www.pmc.gov.au/foi/index.cfm
Last updated August 6, 2009
