Freedom of Information

Freedom of information is a process which gives applicants access to documents held by us.

Which documents are available under freedom of information?

The legislation governing freedom of information in Victoria is the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) (the 'Act').

The Act sets out which documents are available, how applications are processed, and what privacy and other restrictions apply before documents can be released.

In essence, the general principle of freedom of information is that all documents in our possession should be available to the public, subject to certain limitations. Freedom of information does not give applicants unlimited access to documents.

There are several important restrictions on the types of documents available under freedom of information. For example, documents which may not be available include:

  • ‘exempt documents’ such as internal working documents, law enforcement documents, documents relating to legal proceedings, or documents affecting the personal privacy of other people.
  • documents which are already publicly available or available by paying a fee under another Act.
  • documents which were created before 1 January 1989.

How long will my freedom of information request take?

The Act provides that if we don't notify you of  our decision within 30 days of your application, you have the right to appeal to the Victorian Information Commissioner. We endeavour to process your application by this deadline, but cannot guarantee a specific response time.

In some instances, older files may be required to be retrieved off-site from archives. Documents cannot be released until we have assessed them in accordance with the Act.

To avoid disappointment, you should plan ahead and lodge your application as soon as possible.

What documents should I ask for in my freedom of information request?

When requesting documents, make your application as specific or detailed as possible. If you seek a particular document, tell us. This will help us search for the document and respond promptly to your request.

For example, if you seek a photocopy of a specific report, try to tell us the date of the report, the title or subject of the report, the specific address or street the report relates to, or the time period it relates to.

If your request is too broad or not detailed enough to allow us to find the document you are looking for, it may be delayed or even refused.

How do I know what documents you have under freedom of information?

Part 2 of the Act requires us to publish a series of statements which include a range of information, including a description of our powers and functions, the documents and information that we keep and the ways you can get access to them. These are called the "Freedom of Information Statements".

How much does it cost to apply for a freedom of information request?

The freedom of information application fee is $31.80. We will not start processing your application until you pay the application fee. In some instances there may be additional processing fees (such as search, supervision or photocopying costs) but we will tell you about these costs, if relevant.

How to make a freedom of information application

Apply online

To apply online, you will need to:

  • complete the online application
  • make payment at the time of application by Mastercard or Visa card

Apply by mail

To apply by mail, you will need to:

  • download and complete a Freedom of Information application form
  • send your application form, together with a cheque or money order payable to "Yarra City Council" covering the application fee to:

The Freedom of Information Officer
Yarra City Council
PO Box 168
RICHMOND 3121

Apply in person

To apply in person, you will need to:

Enquiries

For questions regarding Freedom of Information, please contact [email protected].

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