❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks detailed information on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests processed by agencies within the Deputy Premier's portfolio for the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 financial years. The answer indicates that the information is being collated and will be available in the Information Commissioner's annual report, while also clarifying some misunderstandings about FOI processes.
AnsweredQoN 1466Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
For each Department and Agency within the Deputy Premier’s portfolio, including the Ministerial office, will the Deputy Premier provide the following information relating to the 2003-2004 financial year, and the 2004-2005 financial year to date -
(1) How many freedom of information (FOI) applications were received?
(2) What is the average time taken to process a FOI application?
(3) What is the reason given for each FOI application exceeding the average time for processing?
(4) How many FOI applications have been rejected by the Departments or Agencies within your portfolio?
(5) How many of these rejections have been successfully appealed?
(6) How many of these rejections are pending a decision of the FOI Commissioner?
(7) What were the reasons given by the Departments and Agencies for rejecting each of the FOI applications?
(8) What were the reasons given by the FOI Commissioner for upholding each of the appeals?
(1) How many freedom of information (FOI) applications were received?
(2) What is the average time taken to process a FOI application?
(3) What is the reason given for each FOI application exceeding the average time for processing?
(4) How many FOI applications have been rejected by the Departments or Agencies within your portfolio?
(5) How many of these rejections have been successfully appealed?
(6) How many of these rejections are pending a decision of the FOI Commissioner?
(7) What were the reasons given by the Departments and Agencies for rejecting each of the FOI applications?
(8) What were the reasons given by the FOI Commissioner for upholding each of the appeals?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 May 2005
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Deputy Premier
Response time
15 days
Statistical information for the 2004-05 year is being, or will be, collated by each agency to submit to the Information Commissioner at the end of the financial year for inclusion in the Commissioner's 2004-05 Annual Report. It should be noted that: · an FOI application is not 'rejected' by an agency, even when an application does not comply with the requirements of s 12 of the FOI Act the agency must take reasonable steps to help the applicant to change the application so that it complies with those requirements (see s 11(3)); and · there is no requirement under the Act for a reason to be given for exceeding the 'average' time for processing.
It should be noted that: · an FOI application is not 'rejected' by an agency, even when an application does not comply with the requirements of s 12 of the FOI Act the agency must take reasonable steps to help the applicant to change the application so that it complies with those requirements (see s 11(3)); and · there is no requirement under the Act for a reason to be given for exceeding the 'average' time for processing.
· an FOI application is not 'rejected' by an agency, even when an application does not comply with the requirements of s 12 of the FOI Act the agency must take reasonable steps to help the applicant to change the application so that it complies with those requirements (see s 11(3)); and · there is no requirement under the Act for a reason to be given for exceeding the 'average' time for processing.
· there is no requirement under the Act for a reason to be given for exceeding the 'average' time for processing.
It should be noted that: · an FOI application is not 'rejected' by an agency, even when an application does not comply with the requirements of s 12 of the FOI Act the agency must take reasonable steps to help the applicant to change the application so that it complies with those requirements (see s 11(3)); and · there is no requirement under the Act for a reason to be given for exceeding the 'average' time for processing.
· an FOI application is not 'rejected' by an agency, even when an application does not comply with the requirements of s 12 of the FOI Act the agency must take reasonable steps to help the applicant to change the application so that it complies with those requirements (see s 11(3)); and · there is no requirement under the Act for a reason to be given for exceeding the 'average' time for processing.
· there is no requirement under the Act for a reason to be given for exceeding the 'average' time for processing.
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