FOI REQUESTS
Freedom of Information — your right to access government documents
What is Freedom of Information (FOI)?
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 gives every Australian the legal right to access documents held by Australian Government ministers and most agencies. This means you can request emails, briefing notes, reports, contracts, and other records that government agencies hold.
Think of it as a key that unlocks government filing cabinets. Agencies must respond within 30 days (or 15 days for personal information about yourself). They can charge fees for complex requests, but must justify any refusals.
FOI is one of the most powerful tools for holding government accountable. Journalists, researchers, activists, and ordinary citizens use it to uncover how decisions are made, what advice ministers received, and how public money is spent.
How Does It Work?
Find which government agency holds the documents you want. Each department has an FOI contact.
Be specific about what documents you want and the time period. Vague requests get refused.
Email or post your request to the agency's FOI officer. They have 30 days to respond.
If refused, you can seek internal review, then appeal to the Information Commissioner for free.
✅ You CAN request:
- Ministerial briefing notes and advice
- Government contracts and tender documents
- Internal emails about policy decisions
- Spending and budget documents
- Reports and assessments
- Your own personal records
❌ Agencies can REFUSE:
- Cabinet documents and deliberations
- Documents affecting national security
- Personal information about others
- Legally privileged documents
- Documents that would harm ongoing investigations
- Information given in confidence
💡 Tips for a Successful FOI Request
Be specific, not broad. "All documents about climate change" will be refused. "Briefing notes provided to the Minister for Climate Change between January and June 2024 regarding the Safeguard Mechanism review" is much better.
Name the document type. Emails, briefing notes, reports, contracts — being specific helps the agency find what you need.
Use a date range. Narrow time periods reduce the chance of a "too voluminous" refusal.
Ask for free. State you are seeking a fee waiver as the request is in the public interest.
Appeal if refused. Many initial refusals are overturned on internal review. It's free and worth doing.