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How to Apply

A Freedom of Information application must be submitted in writing and accompanied by payment of the $30 application fee. 

 

To access the FOI Application Form click on the link below or contact the City’s FOI Coordinator on 9550 3777.

  
  

Time Frames

The Freedom of Information Act provides that the City must complete all applications within 45 calendar days from the receipt of a valid application; however this timeframe may be extended by agreement between the City and the applicant. If the application is extensive we may need to contact you to discuss the scope of the application. 
      
      

    Costs Involved

    The rate of fees and charges are set under the Act. The application fee for non-personal information, $30.00, is to be paid when the application is lodged.

    Once the application is assessed, there may be additional charges. Charges for dealing with the application are set at a standard rate of $30.00 per hour, or pro rata for part of an hour. Additional charges for photocopying are $30.00 per hour of staff time and 20 cents per copy. Actual costs will be charged for postage.

    If at any point the charges are likely to exceed $25.00, your permission to continue with the application will be sought prior to the commencement of processing the application.

    There is a 25% reduction of charges (but not the application fee) on the grounds of financial hardship.

        

      Freedom of Information - Access to Information

      Home  >About Council  >Governance Services  >Freedom of Information - Access to Information  

      Access to Information:

      The Freedom of Information Act 1992 (the 'Act') gives every person the right to seek access to documents held by the City of Mandurah. It is the aim of the City to make information readily available at the least possible cost.

       

      The City is mindful of its obligations and the Act provides general right of access to documents. If possible, the City will initially try to provide you with the documents outside of the FOI process. Please refer to the City's Information Statement for further guidance.

       

      The Act also recognises that some documents require a level of protection and these documents must meet specific exemption criteria in Schedule 1 of the of Act. This includes:

      • personal information that identifies a third party;
      • information concerning trade secrets; and
      • information of commercial value.

      Scope of Application:

      The City can help you with making your application. The City may descirbe the kinds of documents and records kept to help you narrow the scope of your application. The City is able to reject unreasonable applications.

       

      If you are having difficulties defining the document/s you are seeking please consider the following:

      • Specify dates
      • Author/officer, if known
      • Project title/property address
      • Document type.

      Access to Personal Information:

      Under the Act you have the right to apply to amend your personal information that is contained in a document held by the City of Mandurah, if the information is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading. This provision exists to ensure that the City does not unfairly harm the person referred to, misrepresent facts about them or give a misleading impression.

      Your application to amend personal information should be submitted in accordance with Section 46 (1) of the Act.

      It must:

      • be in writing;
      • give enough details to identify the document that needs to be amended;
      • give details of matters in relation to which the person believes the information is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading;
      • give the persons reasons for holding that belief; or
      • give details of the amendment that the person wishes to have made.

      The application must state whether the amendment to the information should be made by:

      • altering information;
      • striking out or deleting information; or
      • inserting information.

      If you are requesting access to personal information, the City will require you to produce identification. If the information you are applying for is on behalf of another person, the City will require written authorisation from that person.

       

      Third Party:

      The City may consult with third parties (i.e. other persons, businesses) identified in documents an applicant is seeking access to. These third parties have the right to respond within a specified timeframe and their opinions will be taken into consideration when making a determination.

        

      Third Party Information Sheets

        

      Review Rights:

      If an applicant or third party is aggrieved with a decision made by the City, they have the right to submit a written request for a review of that decision. This must be submitted in writing to the City within 30 days of being given notice of the decision. The review will be conducted by a person other than the officer who made the original decision. The City will respond with a written notice of decision within 15 days of the application. There is no application fee payable for internal reviews.

      If the applicant or third party is still aggrieved, they may lodge a written complaint to the Office of the Information Commissioner within 60 days following the internal review decision (30 days for third parties). The commissioner’s decision is final unless an appeal is made to the Supreme Court on a question of law.


       
        

      Information Statement

        
        

      For Further Information

      Please click on the links below: