Freedom of Information
Procedures and Access Arrangements
Operations
The Shire of Plantagenet aims to make information available promptly and at the least possible cost, and whenever possible documents will be provided outside of the FOI process.
If information is not routinely available, the Freedom of Information Act 1992 provides the right to apply for documents held by the Shire and to enable the public to ensure that personal information in documents is accurate, complete, up to date and not misleading.
Applications
Access applications have to:
- Be in writing;
- Give enough information so that the documents requested can be identified;
- Give an Australian address to which notices can be sent;
- Be lodged at the Shire with any application fee payable;
Applications and enquiries should be addressed to the Freedom of Information Coordinator, PO Box 48, Mount Barker WA 6324 or telephone (08) 9892 1111. Applications will be acknowledged in writing and you will be notified of a decision within 45 days.
Fees and Charges
A scale of fees and charges is set under the FOI Act Regulations. Apart from the application fee for non-personal information, all charges are discretionary. The charges are as follows:
Type of Fee
|
Personal Information about the applicant
|
No Fee |
|
Application fee (non personal information)
|
$30.00 |
Type of Charge
|
Charge for time dealing with application (per hour or pro rata)
|
As per budget |
|
Access time supervised by staff (per hour or pro rata)
|
As per budget |
|
Photocopying staff time (per hour or pro rata)
|
As per budget |
|
Per photocopy
|
As per budget |
|
Duplicating a tape, film or computer information
|
Actual Cost |
|
Delivery, packaging and postage
|
Actual Cost |
Deposits
|
Advance deposits which may be required of the estimated charges
|
25% |
|
Further advance deposits may be required to meet the charges
For dealing with the application
|
75% |
|
Pensioner Concession
|
25% |
Access Arrangements
Access to the documents can be granted by way of inspection, a copy of a document, a copy of an audio or video tape, a computer disk, a transcript of a recorded, shorthand or encoded document from which words can be reproduced.
Notice of Decision
As soon as possible but in any case within 45 days you will be provided with a notice of decision which will include such as:
- The date which the decision was made;
- The name and the designation of the officer who made the decision;
- If the document is an exempt document the reason for classifying the matter exempt; or the fact that access is given to an edited document; and/or
- Information on the right to review and the procedures to be followed to exercise those rights.
Refusal of Access
Applicants who are dissatisfied with a decision of the agency are entitles to ask for an internal review by the Shire. Applications should be made in writing within 30 days of receiving notice of decision.
You will be notified of the outcome of the review within fifteen (15) days.
If you disagree with the result you can then apply to the Information Commissioner for an external review, and details would be advised to applicants when the internal review decision is issued.