Freedom of Information
Under section 15 of the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) any person is entitled to apply for access to documents that fall within its scope.
A request under the FOI Act must be in writing or Email, and state an address in Australia to which notices under the FOI Act can be sent. To assist in the processing of your request, please provide as much information as possible about the documents you are seeking. A phone number or Email address should be provided in the event that your request requires clarification.
The cost of lodging an FOI application is $30. Processing of your application cannot commence until the application fee is paid. Payment may be made by credit/debit card, cheque or electronic funds transfer.
Your FOI request and credit/debit card payment details may be faxed to (02) 6279 5017 or mailed to the address below. If paying by cheque, please make your cheque payable to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and forward your payment to:
The Freedom of Information Officer
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181
Canberra City ACT 2601
Payment can also be made by electronic funds transfer. You may obtain these details by phoning (02) 6279 5970.
If your application fee is paid separately to the lodgement of your FOI request, you will need to include with your payment, details of that request.
In certain circumstances, the $30 application fee will not be charged, or will be refunded. If you wish to ask that the fee not apply to your request, the criteria which AMSA must take into account are:
- the payment of the fee or part of the fee would cause financial hardship to the applicant or person, on whose behalf the application was made; or
- the giving of access to documents is in the general public interest or in the interest of a substantial section of the public.
You will need to contact the Freedom of Information Officer in writing or Email explaining why you meet the above criteria or why the overall circumstances justify you not paying the fee. Until the application fee is paid or otherwise decided on, your FOI request cannot be processed.
The FOI Act also provides for other fees and charges associated with the processing of an FOI request. These charges may relate to the time spent searching for and retrieving documents, decision-making time, photocopying and other costs. As soon as possible after receiving your request, AMSA will notify you of any estimate of charges associated with processing your request. Your request will not be processed until you respond to any such notification.
If you wish to lodge an FOI request, or require any further information in respect of lodging a request, please contact the Freedom of Information Officer for AMSA at:
The Freedom of Information Officer
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181
CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601Tel: (02) 6279 5970
Fax: (02) 6279 5017
last updated:30 January 2007