Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts Australian Capital Territory Consolidated ActsDictionary
(see s 3)
Note 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to this Act.
Note 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:
• ACAT
• ACT
• administrative unit
• Australia
• commissioner for health complaints
• director-general (see s 163)
• doctor
• exercise
• Minister (see s 162)
• public servant
• sitting day
• State.
"agency" means an administrative unit or a prescribed authority.
"applicant" means a person who has made a request.
"Australian archives" means the National Archives of Australia established under the Archives Act 1983 (Cwlth).
"Commonwealth agency" means a body that is an agency for the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cwlth).
"document", in relation to an agency, means a document in the possession of the agency, whether created in the agency or received in the agency.
"enactment" means an Act or subordinate law.
"exempt document" means—
(a) a document which, under part 4, is an exempt document; or
(b) a document in respect of which an agency is exempt from the operation of this Act under section 6; or
(c) an official document of a Minister that contains some matter that does not relate to the affairs of an agency.
"exempt matter" means matter the inclusion of which in a document causes the document to be an exempt document.
"officer", in relation to an agency, includes a member of, or a member of the staff of, the agency.
"official document", in relation to a Minister, means a document that is in the possession of the Minister in the Minister's capacity as a Minister, being a document that relates to the affairs of an agency, and includes a document that has passed from the Minister's possession if the Minister is entitled to access to the document and the document is not a document of an agency.
"personal information" means information or an opinion (including information forming part of a database), whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion.
"prescribed authority" means—
(a) a body corporate, or an unincorporated body, established for a public purpose by, or in accordance with the provisions of, an enactment, other than—
(i) an incorporated company or association; or
(ii) a body that, under section 4 (1) (Entities not necessarily prescribed authorities) or the regulations, is not a prescribed authority for this Act; or
(iii) a royal commission appointed under the Royal Commissions Act 1991; or
(iv) a board of inquiry appointed under the Inquiries Act 1991; or
(v) a judicial commission appointed under the Judicial Commissions Act 1994; or
(b) any other body, whether incorporated or unincorporated, that is declared by the regulations to be a prescribed authority for this Act, being—
(i) a body established by the Executive or by a Minister; or
(ii) an incorporated company or association over which the Territory is in a position to exercise control; or
(c) subject to section 4 (2), the person holding, or performing the duties of, an office established by an enactment; or
(d) a person holding, or performing the duties of, an office declared by the regulations to be an office the holder of which is a prescribed authority for this Act, being an office created by the Executive or by a Minister otherwise than under an enactment; or
(e) a territory-owned corporation or a subsidiary within the meaning of the Territory-owned Corporations Act 1990.
"principal officer" means—
(a) in relation to an administrative unit—the director-general of the administrative unit; or
(b) in relation to a prescribed authority—
(i) if the regulations declare an office to be the principal office in respect of the authority—the person holding, or performing the duties of, that office; or
(ii) in the case of a territory-owned corporation or a subsidiary within the meaning of the Territory-owned Corporations Act 1990—the chief executive officer of the corporation or subsidiary; or
(iii) in any other case—the person who constitutes that authority or a person acting in his or her office or, if the authority is constituted by 2 or more persons, the person who is entitled to preside at any meeting of the authority at which the person is present or a person acting in his or her office.
"request" means an application made in accordance with section 14 (1).
"responsible Minister", in relation to an agency, means—
(a) subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), the Minister who is responsible for that agency; or
(b) in relation to a prescribed authority referred to in the definition of "prescribed authority", paragraph (c)—the Minister administering the enactment concerned; or
(c) in relation to a prescribed authority referred to in the definition of "prescribed authority", paragraph (b) or (d)—the Minister declared by the regulations to be the responsible Minister in respect of that authority;
or another Minister acting for and on behalf of that Minister.
"taking of action", for part 6 (Role of Ombudsman)—see section 53.
Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law but are set out in the endnotes.
Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel's Office.
Uncommenced amending laws and expiries are listed in the legislation history and the amendment history. These details are underlined. Uncommenced provisions and amendments are not included in the republished law but are set out in the last endnote.
If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.
The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.
|
A = Act |
NI = Notifiable instrument |
|
AF = Approved form |
o = order |
|
am = amended |
om = omitted/repealed |
|
amdt = amendment |
ord = ordinance |
|
AR = Assembly resolution |
orig = original |
|
ch = chapter |
par = paragraph/subparagraph |
|
CN = Commencement notice |
pres = present |
|
def = definition |
prev = previous |
|
DI = Disallowable instrument |
(prev...) = previously |
|
dict = dictionary |
pt = part |
|
disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative |
r = rule/subrule |
|
Assembly |
reloc = relocated |
|
div = division |
renum = renumbered |
|
exp = expires/expired |
R[X] = Republication No |
|
Gaz = gazette |
RI = reissue |
|
hdg = heading |
s = section/subsection |
|
IA = Interpretation Act 1967 |
sch = schedule |
|
ins = inserted/added |
sdiv = subdivision |
|
LA = Legislation Act 2001 |
SL = Subordinate law |
|
LR = legislation register |
sub = substituted |
|
underlining = whole or part not commenced |
|
|
mod = modified/modification |
or to be expired |
This Act was originally a Commonwealth ordinance—the Freedom of Information Ordinance 1989 No 46 (Cwlth).
The Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cwlth), s 34 (4) converted most former Commonwealth ordinances in force in the ACT into ACT enactments. This allowed the ACT Legislative Assembly to amend and repeal the laws. This Act was converted into an ACT enactment on 11 May 1989 (self-government day).
As with most ordinances in force in the ACT, the name was changed from Ordinance to Act by the Self-Government (Citation of Laws) Act 1989 No 21, s 5 on 11 May 1989 (self-government day).
Freedom of Information Act 1989 No 46
notified 10 May 1989
s 1, s 2 commenced 10 May 1989
remainder commenced 11 May 1989 (Gaz 1989 No S164)
as amended by
Royal Commissions and Inquiries (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991 No 3 sch
notified 1 March 1991 (Gaz 1991 No S7)
s 1, s 2 commenced 1 March 1991
sch commenced 1 May 1989 (s 2 (2))
Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 1992 No 4
notified 25 May 1992 (Gaz 1992 No S58)
commenced 25 May 1992
Judicial Commissions (Consequential Amendments) Act 1994 No 10 s 5
notified 14 March 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S44)
commenced 14 March 1994 (s 2)
Electoral (Amendment) (Consequential Provisions) Act 1994 No 15 pt 4
notified 17 May 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S85)
ss 1-3 commenced 17 May 1994 (s 2 (1))
pt 4 commenced 25 August 1994 (s 2 (3) and Gaz 1994 No S172)
Public Sector Management (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 1994 No 38 sch 1 pt 40
notified 30 June 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S121)
s 1, s 2 commenced 30 June 1994 (s 2 (1))
sch 1 pt 40 commenced 1 July 1994 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1994 No S142)
Administrative Appeals (Consequential Amendments) Act 1994 No 60 sch 1
notified 11 October 1994 (Gaz 1994 No S197)
s 1, s 2 commenced 11 October 1994 (s 2 (1))
sch 1 commenced 14 November 1994 (s 2 (2) and Gaz 1994 No S250)
Electricity and Water (Corporatisation) (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995 No 7 sch
notified 28 June 1995 (Gaz 1995 No S148)
commenced 1 July 1995 (s 2)
Annual Reports (Government Agencies) (Consequential Provisions) Act 1995 No 25 sch
notified 5 September 1995 (Gaz 1995 No S212)
commenced 5 September 1995 (s 2)
Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 1996 No 17 s 13
notified 1 May 1996 (Gaz 1996 No S71)
commenced 1 May 1996 (s 2)
Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 1996 No 30
notified 28 June 1996 (Gaz 1996 No S140)
commenced 28 June 1996 (s 2)
Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997 No 125 sch
notified 24 December 1997 (Gaz 1997 No S420)
commenced 1 February 1998 (s 2)
Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999 No 66 sch 3
notified 10 November 1999 (Gaz 1999 No 45)
s 1, s 2 commenced 10 November 1999 (IA s 10B)
sch 3 commenced 10 November 1999 (s 2)
Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 No 44 pt 159
notified 26 July 2001 (Gaz 2001 No 30)
s 1, s 2 commenced 26 July 2001 (IA s 10B)
pt 159 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 and see Gaz 2001 No S65)
Territory Records Act 2002 A2002-18 pt 7
notified LR 13 June 2002
s 1, s 2 commenced 13 June 2002 (LA s 75 (1))
pt 7 commenced 2 July 2003 (s 2 (3))
Annual Reports Legislation Amendment Act 2004 A2004-9 sch 1 pt 1.15
notified LR 19 March 2004
s 1, s 2 commenced 19 March 2004 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.15 commenced 13 April 2004 (s 2 and see Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004 A2004-8, s 2 and CN2004-5)
Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2005 A2005-41 sch 1 pt 1.3 (as am by A2006-3 amdt 1.3)
notified LR 1 September
2005
s 1, s 2 commenced 1 September 2005 (LA s 75
(1))
sch 1 pt 1.3 commenced 1 November 2006 (s 2
(3) (as am by A2006-3 amdt 1.3) and see Human Rights Commission Act 2005
A2005-40, s 2 (as am by A2006-3 s 4) and CN2006-21)
Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2006 A2006-3 amdt 1.3
notified LR 22 February
2006
s 1, s 2 commenced 22 February 2006 (LA s 75
(1))
amdt 1.3 commenced 23 February 2006 (s
2)
Note This Act only amends the Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2005 A2005-41
Statute Law Amendment Act 2007 A2007-3 sch 3 pt 3.48
notified LR 22 March 2007
s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 1 July 2006 (LA s 75 (2))
sch 3 pt 3.48 commenced 12 April 2007 (s 2 (1))
Freedom of Information Amendment Act 2007 A2007-5
notified LR 23 March 2007
s 1, s 2 commenced 23 March 2007 (LA s 75 (1))
remainder commenced 24 March 2007 (s 2)
Housing Assistance Act 2007 A2007-8 sch 1 pt 1.2
notified LR 10 May 2007
s 1, s 2 commenced 10 May 2007 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.2 commenced 10 November 2007 (s 2 and LA s 79)
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (No 2) A2008-37 sch 1 pt 1.45
notified LR 4 September 2008
s 1, s 2 commenced 4 September 2008 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.45 commenced 2 February 2009 (s 2 (1) and see ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008 A2008-35, s 2 (1) and CN2009-2)
Freedom of Information Amendment Act 2009 A2009-2
notified LR 18 February 2009
s 1, s 2 commenced 18 February 2009 (LA s 75 (1))
s 23 commenced 19 February 2009 (s 2 (2) and LA s 73 (3))
remainder commenced 19 February 2009 (s 2 (1))
Administrative (One ACT Public Service Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2011 A2011-22 sch 1 pt 1.67
notified LR 30 June 2011
s 1, s 2 commenced 30 June 2011 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.67 commenced 1 July 2011 (s 2 (1))
4 Amendment history
Name of
Act
s 1 sub A2007-3 amdt
3.249
Object
s
2 orig s 2
om 2001 No 44 amdt
1.1844
pres s
2
(prev s 3) renum as s 2
A2007-3 amdt 3.250
Dictionary
s
3 orig s 3
renum as s
2
pres s
3
ins A2007-3 amdt
3.256
Notes
s
3A ins A2007-3 amdt 3.256
Entities not necessarily prescribed
authorities
s 4 am 2001 No 44
amdt 1.1846; R5 LA (see 2001 No 44
amdt 1.1847)
defs reloc to dict
A2007-3 amdt 3.255
sub A2007-3 amdt
3.256
def department
om 1994 No 38 sch 1
def
Ombudsman om 1996 No 17 s
13
def State om
A2007-3 amdt 3.254
Abolished
agencies
s 4A ins A2007-3 amdt
3.256
Act to apply to certain tribunals in respect
of administrative matters
s 5 am
1994 No 38 sch 1
Exemption of certain
bodies
s 6 am 1996 No 30 s 5;
1997 No 125 sch; R5 LA; A2005-41 amdt 1.24, amdt
1.25
(5)-(7) exp 1 December 2006 (s
6 (7) (LA s 88 declaration applies))
Exemption of lists of housing assistance
properties
s 6AA renum as s
6A
Exemption of lists of housing assistance
properties
s 6A orig s
6A
renum as s
6B
pres s
6A
(prev s 6AA) ins A2007-8 amdt
1.2
renum as s 6A A2007-8 amdt
1.3
How Act applies to certain older
records
s 6B (prev s 6A) ins
A2002-18 s 60
renum as s 6B A2007-8
amdt 1.3
Publication of information concerning
functions and documents of
agencies
s 7 am 1995 No 25 sch;
2001 No 44 amdts 1.1848-1.1850; R5 LA (see 2001 No 44 amdt 1.1851); A2004-9 amdt
1.20; A2007-3 amdt 3.257, amdt 3.258
Certain documents to be available for
inspection and purchase
s 8 am
1996 No 30 s 6; A2007-3 amdts 3.259-3.262
Unpublished documents not to prejudice
public
s 9 am A2007-3 amdt 3.263,
amdt 3.274
Pt 3 not to apply to certain
documents
s 11 am A2007-5 s 5;
A2009-2 s 4; ss renum R14 LA
Requests for
access
s 14 am 1992 No 4 s 3;
2001 No 44 amdts 1.1852-1.1854
Transfer of
requests
s 15 am 1994 No 38 sch
1
Access to documents to be given on
request
s 17 am 2001 No 44 amdt
1.1855
Time within which requests to be
decided
s 18 am 2001 No 44 amdt
1.1856; R5 LA (see 2001 No 44 amdt 1.1857); A2007-5 s 6
Forms of
access
s 19 am A2007-3 amdt
3.274
Requests may be refused in certain
cases
s 23 am A2007-5 s 7; ss
renum R10 LA
Information as to existence of certain
documents
s 24 am A2007-5 s
18
Procedure on request in respect of documents
likely to affect relations between the Territory and the Commonwealth or a
State
s 26 am A2007-5 s 8; pars
renum R10 LA; A2008-37 amdt 1.191
Procedure on request in respect of document
relating to business affairs
etc
s 27 am A2007-5 s 9; pars
renum R10 LA; A2008-37 amdt 1.192
Procedure on request in relation to document
containing personal information
s
27A ins A2007-5 s 10
am A2008-37
amdt 1.193
Charge may be
remitted
s 29 am A2007-5 s
11
Remission of application
fees
s 30 am A2007-5 s
12
Exempt
documents
pt 4 hdg note ins
A2007-8 amdt 1.4
Period under s 18 to be extended in certain
cases
s 31 am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
Exemptions do not limit each
other
s 32 hdg sub A2007-3 amdt
3.264
Documents affecting relations with
Commonwealth and States
s 34 am
A2009-2 s 5; ss renum R14 LA
Executive
documents
s 35 am 1994 No 38 sch
1; A2009-2 s 6, s 7; ss renum R14 LA
Internal working
documents
s 36 am A2009-2 s 8; ss
renum R14 LA
Documents affecting national security,
defence or international
relations
s 37A ins A2007-5 s
13
Documents affecting personal
privacy
s 41 am A2007-5 s 14;
A2007-3 amdt 3.265
Documents containing material obtained in
confidence
s 45 am A2007-3 amdt
3.274
Certain documents arising out of companies
and securities legislation
s
47 am 1999 No 66 sch 3
Electoral rolls and related
documents
s 47A ins 1994 No 15 s
12
Persons may make application for amendment
of records
s 48 am A2007-5 s
15
Review of requests for
amendments
s 51 am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
Taking of action—pt
6
s 53 sub A2007-3 amdt
3.266
Complaints to
ombudsman
s 54 am A2007-3 amdt
3.267; A2008-37 amdt 1.206
Reports made by the
ombudsman
s 55 am 1994 No 38 sch
1; 1995 No 25 sch; A2004-9 amdt 1.21; A2007-3 amdt 3.267
Ombudsman may represent persons in
proceedings before the
ACAT
s
57 hdg am A2008-37 amdt 1.206
s 57 am
A2008-37 amdt 1.206
Certificates—acknowledgment about
existence of documents not
required
s 58 hdg sub A2007-3
amdt 3.268
s 58 am A2007-5 s 18;
A2009-2 s 9
Internal
review
s 59 am 1992 No 4 s 4;
1996 No 30 s 7; 2001 No 44 amdts 1.1858-1.1860
Applications to
ACAT
s 60 hdg am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
s 60 am 1994 No 60 sch 1; 1996
No 30 s 8; A2008-37 amdt 1.194, amdt 1.206
Application to ACAT where decision
delayed
s 61 hdg am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
s 61 am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
Powers of
ACAT
s 62 hdg am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
s 62 am A2007-5 s 16, s 18;
A2008-37 amdt 1.206; A2009-2 ss 10-14; ss renum R14 LA
Proceedings on exercise of certain
powers
s 63 hdg sub A2009-2 s
15
s 63 am A2007-5 s 18; A2007-3 amdt
3.269; A2008-37 amdt 1.196, amdt 1.206; A2009-2 ss 16-20
Constitution of ACAT for certain
proceedings
s 64 hdg sub A2009-2
s 21
s 64 sub A2008-37 amdt
1.195
am A2009-2 s 22, s
23
Hearing of certain proceedings before the
ACAT
s 65 hdg am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
s 65 am A2007-5 s 18; A2008-37
amdt 1.196, amdt 1.206; A2009-2 ss 24-27; pars renum R14 LA
Decisions by presidential
member
s 66 sub A2008-37 amdt
1.197
Production to the ACAT of documents in
relation to which a certificate has been
issued
s 67 hdg am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
s 67 am A2007-5 s 18; A2008-37
amdt 1.206; A2009-2 s 28, s 29
Review of certain decisions in respect of
documents relating to the Commonwealth or a
State
s 68 am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
Review of certain decisions in respect of
documents relating to business affairs
etc
s 69 am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
Review of certain decisions about documents
relating to personal
information
s 69A ins A2007-5 s
17
am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
Parties
s
70 am A2008-37 amdt 1.198, amdt 1.206; A2009-2 s 30
Onus
s
71 am A2008-37 amdt 1.206
Notice of reasons etc—application of
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act, div 4A.2
etc
s 72 hdg sub A2008-37 amdt
1.199
s 72 am A2008-37 amdt 1.199,
amdt 1.206
ACAT to ensure nondisclosure of certain
matters
s 73 hdg am A2008-37 amdt
1.206
s 73 am A2008-37 amdt 1.200,
amdt 1.201, amdt 1.206
Production of exempt
documents
s 74 am A2007-5 s 18;
A2008-37 amdt 1.202, amdt 1.203, amdt 1.206; ss renum R13 LA; A2009-2
ss 31-34
Evidence of
certificates
s 75 am A2007-5 s
18; A2008-37 amdt 1.206; A2009-2 s 35
ACAT may make recommendation that costs be
available in certain cases
s 76
hdg am A2008-37 amdt 1.206
s 76 am
A2008-37 amdt 1.206
Protection against certain
actions
s 77 am A2007-3 amdt
3.270
Protection in respect of
offences
s 78 am A2007-3 amdt
3.270
Reports to Legislative
Assembly
s 79 am 1996 No 30 s 9;
R5 LA; A2004-9 amdt 1.22; A2008-37 amdt 1.206; A2011-22 amdt
1.209
Service of
documents
s 79A ins A2007-3 amdt
3.271
Determination of fees and
charges
s 80 sub 2001 No 44 amdt
1.1861
Approved
forms
s 81 sub 2001 No 44 amdt
1.1861
am A2007-3 amdt
3.272
Regulation-making
power
s 82 ins 2001 No 44 amdt
1.1861
Dictionary
dict ins
A2007-3 amdt 3.273
am A2008-37 amdt
1.204; A2011-22 amdt 1.210, amdt
1.211
def agency am
1994 No 38 sch 1
reloc from s 4
A2007-3 amdt 3.255
def
applicant reloc from s 4 A2007-3 amdt
3.255
def Australian archives
sub A2007-3 amdt 3.251
reloc
from s 4 A2007-3 amdt 3.255
def
Commonwealth agency reloc from s 4 A2007-3
amdt 3.255
def document
reloc from s 4 A2007-3 amdt
3.255
def enactment
sub 2001 No 44 amdt 1.1845
reloc
from s 4 A2007-3 amdt 3.255
def
exempt document reloc from s 4 A2007-3 amdt
3.255
def exempt matter
reloc from s 4 A2007-3 amdt
3.255
def officer
reloc from s 4 A2007-3 amdt
3.255
def official document
reloc from s 4 A2007-3 amdt
3.255
def personal information
ins A2007-5 s 4
reloc from s
4 A2007-3 amdt 3.255
def
prescribed authority am 1991 No 3 sch; 1994 No 10 s 5; 1995 No 7
sch; 1996 No 30 s 4; A2007-3 amdt 3.352,
amdt 3.353
reloc from s 4
A2007-3 amdt 3.255
def
principal officer am 1994 No 38 sch 1; 1995 No 7 sch; 1996 No 30 s
4; R5 LA
reloc from s 4 A2007-3 amdt
3.255
am A2011-22 amdt
1.212
def request
reloc from s 4 A2007-3 amdt
3.255
def responsible Minister
reloc from s 4 A2007-3 amdt
3.255
def taking of action
ins A2007-3 amdt 3.273
def
tribunal am 1994 No 60 sch
1
reloc from s 4 A2007-3 amdt
3.255
om A2008-37 amdt
1.205
Since 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in electronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised republications have also been published in printed format. These republications are marked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an authorised republication are identical.
|
Republication No |
Amendments to |
Republication date |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Act 1991 No 3 |
31 August 1991 |
|
2 |
Act 1992 No 4 |
31 August 1993 |
|
3 |
Act 1994 No 60 |
31 January 1995 |
|
4 |
Act 1996 No 30 |
1 July 1996 |
|
5 |
Act 2001 No 44 |
22 November 2001 |
|
6 |
A2002-18 |
2 July 2003 |
|
7 |
A2004-9 |
13 April 2004 |
|
8 |
A2006-3 |
1 November 2006 |
|
9 |
A2006-3 |
2 December 2006 |
|
10 |
A2007-5 |
24 March 2007 |
|
11 |
A2007-5 |
12 April 2007 |
|
12 |
A2007-8 |
10 November 2007 |
|
13 |
A2008-37 |
2 February 2009 |
|
14* |
A2009-2 |
19 February 2009 |
© Australian Capital Territory 2011