A WA parliamentary question on notice requests information regarding Freedom of Information (FOI) applications processed by the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests' portfolio agencies. The response provides data on the number of applications, processing times, and reasons for delays, while clarifying the process for handling non-compliant applications.

AnsweredQoN 651Legislative Council
Asked
31 March 2009
Portfolio
Citizenship and Multicultural Interests

QuestionView source ↗

For each Department and Agency within the Minister’s portfolio, including the Ministerial office, will the Minister provide the following information for the period, 23 September 2008 to date, -
(1) How many Freedom of Information (FOI) applications have been 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
12 May 2009
Responded by
Minister for Energy representing the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
Response time
42 days
(1) 7.
(2) 36 days.
(3) Not applicable. While there is no requirement under the Act for a reason to be given for exceeding the 'average" time for processing, the exceptional number of FOI applications from the opposition means that responses will likely be slower.
(4-8) 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 s12 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.
OFFICE OF MULTICULTURAL INTERESTS
(1) Nil.
(2-8) Not applicable.
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