EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
1983 NO 123
Subject : FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (ADDRESSES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
These regulations amend the Freedom of Information (Addresses) Regulations made under section 94 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act).
2. Section 94 of the Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations prescribing all matters that are permitted to be prescribed or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed to give effect to the Act.
3. Sub-section 19(1) of the Act provides that -
“If a request for access to a document that is made to an agency or Minister -
(a) is made in writing and is expressed to be made in pursuance of this Act;
(b) specifies an address in Australia at which notices under this Act may be sent to the person making the request; and
(c) is sent by post to the agency or Minister, or delivered to an officer of the agency or a member of the staff of the Minister, at an address of the agency or of the Minister, as the case may be, that is, under the regulations, an address to which requests made in pursuance of this Act may be sent or delivered in accordance with this section,
the agency or Minister shall take all reasonable steps to enable the applicant to be notified of a decision on the request as soon as practicable but in any case not later than 60 days after the day on which the request is received by or on behalf of the agency or Minister.”
4. The Freedom of Information (Addresses) Regulations set out the addresses to which or at which requests made under section 19 of the Act may be sent or delivered. The amending regulations reflect changes in administrative arrangements effected by the Administrative Arrangements Order dated 11 March 1983 and other changes that have
occurred since the Freedom of Information (Addresses) Regulations were made.
5. Notes on the amending regulations are attached.
ATTACHMENT
NOTES ON REGULATIONS
Regulation 1 - Principal Regulations
Regulation 1 defines the term “Principal Regulations” used in the regulations to mean the Freedom of Information (Addresses) Regulations.
Regulation 2 - Schedule 1
2. Sub-regulation 2(1) provides that Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information (Addresses) Regulations is amended by omitting items 71, 90, 108 to 114 (inclusive), 126, 142 to 147 (inclusive), 170, 184, 227, 321, 325, 331 and 334 and by inserting in its proper numerical position in that Schedule each of the items set out in Schedule 1 to the amending regulations.
3. Sub-regulation 2(2) provides that Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information (Addresses) Regulations is further amended as set out in Schedule 2 to the amending regulations.
Regulation 3 - Schedule 2
4. Regulation 3 provides that Schedule 2 to the Freedom of Information (Addresses) Regulations is amended by omitting items 5, 9, 17, 22, 23 and 26 and by inserting in its proper numerical position in that Schedule each of the items set out in Schedule 3 to the amending regulations.