A parliamentary question sought data on access requests to State Archives records held by various health-related agencies in WA over the past five years. The responses revealed inconsistent record-keeping practices across different agencies.

AnsweredQoN 3358Legislative Assembly
Asked
28 June 2018
Portfolio
Deputy Premier; Minister for Health; Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

For each department, agency, government trading enterprise or organisation within your portfolios, can you please advise, for each of the past five years: (a) how many requests have been made to access State Archives records held by the organisation; (b) how many requests to access State Archives records were met; and (c) how many requests to access State Archives records were declined and the basis on which each request was denied?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
21 August 2018
Response time
4 days
For the Department of Health and Health Services Providers I am advised:
Access to records in all formats and retention periods (including records appraised as a State Archive) are subject to the legislated release of information provisions under the Freedom of Information Act 1992, and agency and system manager guidelines.
Department of Health advises:
(a) 2014 - 14 requests.
2015 - 59 requests.
2016 - 53 requests.
2017 - 370 requests.
2018 - 249 requests up until 28 June 2018.
(b) All requests were met for the years above.
(c) Not applicable.
Health Support Services advises:
(a)-(c)  Requests for release of or access to information (including State Archives) are not categorised or recorded by the type of information provided by Health Support Services (HSS). HSS is therefore unable to quantify how many requests for release of or access to information involving State Archive records.
Child and Adolescent Health Service advises:
(a)-(c)  Requests for release of or access to information (including State Archives) are not categorised or recorded by the type of information provided by Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS). CAHS is therefore unable to quantify how many requests for release of or access to information involving State Archive records.
East Metropolitan Health Service advises:
(a) 2014 - 8 requests.
2015 - 12 requests.
2016 - 16 requests.
2017 - 7 requests.
2018 - 6 requests up until 28 June 2018.
(b) All requests were met for the years above.
(c) Not applicable.
North Metropolitan Health Service advises:
(a) Nil.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable.
South Metropolitan Health Service advises:
(a)-(c)  Requests for release of or access to information (including State Archives) are not categorised or recorded by the type of information provided by South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS). SMHS is therefore unable to quantify how many requests for release of or access to information involving State Archive records.
WA Country Health Service advises:
(a)-(c)  Requests for release of or access to information (including State Archives) are not categorised or recorded by the type of information provided by WA Country Health Service (WACHS). WACHS is therefore unable to quantify how many requests for release of or access to information involving State Archive records.
Mental Health Commission advises:
(a)-(c) Nil
Healthway advises:
(a)-(c) Nil
Health & Disability Services Complaints Office advises:
(a)-(c) Nil
Animal Resource Authority advises:
(a)-(c) Nil

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