Access to Information

These pages will help you to understand when we can give you information about yourself, others or about the department.

Release of your own information

To access any of your own information under the Privacy Act 1988, we can provide copies of some documents without the need for you to make an Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
See: Privacy

Access to documents

To make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 for access to documents.
See: Freedom Of Information

Documents over 30 years

The Archives Act 1983 (Archives Act) gives the National Archives of Australia responsibility for preserving and conserving the Commonwealth’s archives.

Both the FOI Act and the Archives Act provide access to Commonwealth records. The main difference being the age of the records. Under the Archives Act, Commonwealth records over 30 years old are held by National Archives of Australia The FOI Act provides access to records created since 1977, or earlier in some cases where the request relates to personal information.

If you are seeking any documents such as passenger cards and movement records greater than 30 years old please contact the National Archives of Australia (NAA).
See: National Archives of Australia