7
Freedom of Information Applications
Applicable legislation:
Freedom of Information Act 1991
Council captures and retains a huge amount of information about the services and
activities that are carried out each year. Under the
Freedom of Information Act 1991
you have the right to request information that is held by Council, and to apply to have
amendments made to documents that related to you which are incomplete, incorrect,
out of date or misleading.
Under the Act, Council should respond to your request within 30 days. Because
Council responds so promptly to Freedom of Information requests, it helps if your
application is very specific about the information you require. In some cases, before
we can release information, we may need to consult with another party, allowing them
time to state an objection to the release of information which also relates to them. This
may add a delay to the processing of your request.
Council has trained and accredited Freedom of Information Officers who will process
your request. They will access, identify and refer to any information relevant to your
request. Council is not bound to release all information you request. The Freedom of
Information Officer will make a decision about whether the information you requested
can be released to you, partially released, or not released to you.
Once an assessment has been made about your request, in most cases, we will either
post or email the relevant information to you. In some cases, you will be asked to
attend Council’s Civic Centre to view the documents you have requested. Once the
request has been completed, Council can also provide you with further rights of access
or explain how the determinations were made and provide information about how to
request a review of the findings.
You can find more information, and a form to use when you submit a Freedom of
Information request on Council’s website.
You can make a FOI application:
• In person at the Civic Centre,
or any Council Library or
Community Centre
• By sending an email to customer.
• By sending a letter to
PO Box 110, Port Adelaide,
SA 5015
Examples might include:
• Requesting information
about a property or
business
• Requesting the name
and address of another
person
• Requesting information
about how a decision
to change or cease a
program was made
You can help us to respond
to your request by:
• Completing a FOI
application form
• Clearly stating what
information you require
• Making payment of
$30.50 at the time you
lodge the request
• Providing evidence of
a concession, if you
have one
