How to make a freedom of information request

<!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title>How to make a freedom of information request | OAIC</title>  <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, minimum-scale=1.0"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1">  <meta name="dcterms.title" content="How to make a freedom of information request"> <meta name="dcterms.creator" content="OAIC"> <meta name="dcterms.created" content="2023-02-28T13:33:10+11:00"> <meta name="dcterms.modified" content="2024-08-23T07:10:44+10:00"> <meta name="dcterms.issued" content="2023-03-10T16:24:44+11:00"> <meta name="dcterms.format" content="HTML"> <meta name="dcterms.identifier" content="https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/how-to-access-government-information/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/how-to-make-a-freedom-of-information-request">    <meta name="publishedDate" content="10 March 2023"> <meta name="publishedDate_ISO" content="2023-03-10T00:00:00+11:00"> <meta name="description" content="You must put your request in writing to the agency or minister that holds the document you want to access. 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class="lhs-nav__level-3-accordion"> <a href="https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/how-to-access-government-information/make-a-freedom-of-information-request"> Make a freedom of information request </a> <button class="lhs-nav__level-3-toggle" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Expand Level 3 submenu: Make a freedom of information request"> <img src="https://www.oaic.gov.au/__data/assets/git_bridge/0012/12063/mysource_files/icon-plus.svg" class="icon-plus" aria-hidden="true" /> <img src="https://www.oaic.gov.au/__data/assets/git_bridge/0012/12063/mysource_files/icon-minus.svg" class="icon-minus" aria-hidden="true" /> </button> </div> <ul class="lhs-nav__level-4"> <li class="lhs-nav__level-4-link"> <a href="https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/how-to-access-government-information/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/what-charges-may-apply" class=""> What charges may apply? </a> </li> <li class="lhs-nav__level-4-link"> <a href="https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/how-to-access-government-information/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/when-to-expect-a-decision" class=""> When to expect a decision </a> </li> <li class="lhs-nav__level-4-link"> <a href="https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/how-to-access-government-information/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/extensions-of-time" class=""> Extensions of time </a> </li> <li class="lhs-nav__level-4-link"> <a href="https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/how-to-access-government-information/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/how-to-make-a-freedom-of-information-request" class="current"> How to make a freedom of information request </a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="middle-wrapper">  <div id="main-content-area" class="page-content"> <section class="banner-grey-newsroom__wrapper"> <div class="banner-grey-newsroom__content"> <h1 class="banner-grey-newsroom__title">How to make a freedom of information request</h1> </div> </section>  <script> if(document.querySelector('.banner-grey-newsroom__wrapper .banner-grey-newsroom__content')) { document.querySelector('.breadcrumb__wrapper').insertAdjacentElement('afterend',document.querySelector('.banner-grey-newsroom__wrapper .banner-grey-newsroom__content').closest(' .banner-grey-newsroom__wrapper')) } </script> <div class="gov-numbered-paragraphs" id="component_39097"> <p>Before making a freedom of information (FOI) request, check if the information you want is already available on the website of the agency you think holds the information. Or, if you want to access to your personal information, try contacting the agency you think holds it first. They may supply the information if you ask (without needing you to make an FOI request).</p><h2 id="your-request-must-be-in-writing">Your request must be in writing</h2><p>You must put your request in writing to the agency or minister that holds the <a href="https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/your-freedom-of-information-rights/what-is-freedom-of-information#WhatIsADocument" title="What is freedom of information">document</a> you want to access. Some agencies have an FOI request form on their website for you to complete and send to them.</p><p>When you write to the agency or minister:</p><ul><li>state that you’re requesting access to information under the <em>Freedom of Information Act 1982</em></li><li>state the document(s) you want, giving enough detail to help the agency or minister to identify the document(s)</li><li>give an address or email address where the agency or minister can send you the document.</li></ul><p>You don’t need to give any reasons why you want the information.</p><p>Email or post your letter to the agency or minister’s address on their website or in the telephone directory.</p> </div> <section class="background--grey"> <div class="feature-cards__wrapper"> <h2 class="feature-cards__main-heading">Related page</h2> <div class="feature-cards__tile-s"> <a href="https://www.oaic.gov.au/about-the-OAIC/access-our-information/freedom-of-information-requests-to-the-oaic" class="feature-cards__tile-links-s" 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