The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has launched an investigation into the Department of Home Affairs’ compliance with the Freedom of Information (FoI) laws when processing requests for non-personal information.
In a statement, the OAIC said Australian Government Agencies and Ministers had a statutory obligation to process FoI requests within 30 days. Provisions which allowed for extra time applied in certain circumstances.
“In 2018-19, 56 per cent of the 734 FoI requests to the Department for non-personal information were not dealt with in the required timeframe,” the statement said.
“The OAIC has received a number of FoI complaints and review applications related to the Department’s compliance with statutory timeframes for processing requests for non-personal information.”
The OAIC said one of the objects of the FoI Act was to facilitate and promote public access to information, promptly and at the lowest reasonable cost.
“Under the FOI Act, the Information Commissioner may initiate an investigation into an Agency’s performance of FoI functions or exercise of powers,” the statement said.
The statement noted that in 2018-19, Home Affairs received 17,725 FoI requests and decided 15,678. Of the requests decided, 734 were for non-personal information and 14,944 were for personal information.
Once the investigation is complete the OAIC will publish the outcomes.
