Freedom of information.Queensland Government. Homepage.

Welcome to the Queensland Government Freedom of Information website.

Right to Information

From 1 July 2009, the Right to Information Act 2009 replaced the Freedom of Information Act 1992 and is part of a broader “push” model of greater proactive and routine release of information.

The RTI Act provides a right of access to government information unless, on balance, it is contrary to the public interest to release the information.

More information on the RTI Act can be accessed here: www.rti.qld.gov.au.

The Freedom of Information Act 1992 will continue to apply to FOI applications made before 1 July 2009.

The Queensland Freedom of Information Act 1992 (the FOI Act):

gives you a right to apply for access to documents held by government agencies
gives you a right to apply for amendment of personal information about you held by government agencies
requires government agencies to publish information about their structure, what they do and what documents they hold.

The FOI Act applies to Queensland Ministers, Queensland Government departments, local councils and most semi-government agencies and statutory authorities. It does not apply to documents held by the Commonwealth Government or by other State Governments.

The Queensland FOI Act was a key recommendation of the Fitzgerald report (the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Police Misconduct). It is designed to extend as far as possible the right of access to information held by the Queensland Government. Through FOI, every person has a legally enforceable right to documents of agencies and official documents of Ministers, subject to certain exemptions and exclusions in the FOI Act.

Updated July 29, 2009