Introduction
The Freedom of Information Act 2016 (FOI Act) commenced on 1 January 2018. The directorate completed all information requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 1989 (repealed) prior to the reporting period.
Section 96 of the FOI Act sets out the reporting requirements for agencies and Ministers.
CMTEDD is responsible for several annexed reports and the reporting requirements for these entities are included in this section. Reporting requirements for entities who have appointed officers of CMTEDD as their Information Officer/s are also included in this section.
All figures in the following section refer to the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate unless otherwise specified. Reporting entities with a nil response to the listed reporting requirements are omitted from the following tables.
Making a Freedom of Information request
To apply for access to information under the Freedom of Information Act 2016 please visit the Freedom of Information page on the CMTEDD website. There are no application fees for FOI requests to ACT Government directorates, but processing charges may apply.
Access applications can be made via the online form or alternatively, written requests can be made by email, post or delivery to:
Email: CMTEDDfoi@act.gov.au
Postal Address:
The FOI Information Officer
Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
GPO Box 158
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Deliver to Street Address:
The FOI Information Officer
Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate
Level 2, Canberra Nara Centre
1 Constitution Avenue
CANBERRA ACT
Details of FOI requests received by the directorate, including the access application, decision and any released documents can be viewed on CMTEDD’s Disclosure Log. Access applications for personal information are not published on this log.
Availability of open access information (Section 24 of the FOI Act)
Description | Number |
---|---|
Number of decisions to publish open access information
| 209 – Access Requests.[1] 30 – new documents published on the Open Access website.[2] 146 – Cabinet decisions published.[3] |
Number of decisions not to publish open access information | 11 – Cabinet decisions not published.[4] |
Number of decisions not to publish a description of open access information withheld | 165 – Access Requests.[5] |
Notes:
[1]. In accordance with section 28.
[2]. Does not include new documents published on CMTEDD managed websites, which also meet open access requirements.
[3]. In accordance with section 23(b).
[4]. In accordance with section 23(b).
[5]. Information requested primarily related to the personal information of the applicant.
FOI applications received and decisions made
Description | Number |
---|---|
Number of access applications received | 351 |
Number of applications where access to all information requested was given | 74 |
Number of applications where access to only some of the information requested was given (partial release) | 165 |
Number of applications where access to the information was refused | 64[6] |
Notes:
[6]. The majority of requests refused were on the basis that CMTEDD did not hold documents within the scope of the request.
FOI processing timeframe
Section 40 (1) of the FOI Act states that an access application must be decided no later than 20 working days after receipt. Under section 40 (2) of the Act, if a relevant third party is consulted the period under subsection (1) is extended by 15 working days. The statutory timeframe is also met if an extension of time is negotiated/granted as provided for in sections 41 and 42 of the Act.
FOI processing timeframe
Description | Number |
---|---|
Total applications decided within the statutory timeframe | 363 |
Applications not decided within the statutory timeframe* | 2[7] |
Number of days exceeding statutory timeframe | 10 days each |
Notes:
[7]. Notifications for these access requests were tabled on 18 and 20 September 2018.
Amendment to personal information
There were no requests made to amend personal information in the reporting period.
Applications for Ombudsman review under section 74 of the FOI Act
| Number |
---|---|
Total number of applications | 16 |
Affirmed | 3 |
Varied | 1 |
Set aside and substituted | 5 |
Withdrawn | 5 |
Other | 2 (awaiting decision) |
Applications for ACAT review under section 84 of the FOI Act
| Number |
---|---|
Total number of applications | 0 |
Affirmed | N/A |
Varied | N/A |
Set aside and substituted | N/A |
Withdrawn | N/A |
Other | N/A |
Charges collected from access applications
In 2018-19, CMTEDD collected $0 in charges administered to process access applications. There are no application fees for FOI requests to ACT Government directorates.
Further information can be obtained from
Robert Wright
Executive Group Manager
Corporate
+61 2 6207 0569
Robert.Wright@act.gov.au