Appendix 1: Freedom of information

This information complies with section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Information about the department, including its structure, appears earlier in this report. Decision-making powers are vested in the minister and/or the secretary under various Acts. The minister or the secretary may delegate most of their powers to departmental staff.

Generally, the department prefers to provide access to documents in the form of copies. Private viewing of personal files may be done by appointment at state and regional offices.

Initial telephone inquiries in relation to freedom of information (FOI) matters may be made through the client service line on 131 881.

FOI requests with contact addresses in Victoria should be sent to:
Parliamentary and Public Access Section
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
GPO Box 241E
MELBOURNE VIC 3001

FOI requests with contact addresses in all other states and territories of Australia should be sent to:
FOI Section
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
PO Box 25
BELCONNEN ACT 2616

Table 104: FOI documents maintained

Type

Description

Documents of decision-making bodies 1

Relating to the business of these bodies and including agenda, minutes, and other records.

Cabinet documents 1

Records of cabinet matters including cabinet submissions and cabinet minutes.

Representations to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship and the Assistant Minister1

The minister and the assistant minister receive a large number of written representations each year concerning all aspects of migration, population, settlement, citizenship policies and portfolio administration.

Documents on internal departmental administration1

These documents include personnel records, organisation and staffing records, and internal operating documentation such as internal working documents and correspondence.

Programme documents1

These hold documents relating to grants provided to various organisations under the programmes the department administers and programmes administered under enactments including the Migration Act 1958 and the Australian Citizenship Act 1948.

Personal information documents1

The department holds personal information about applicants for migration and Australian citizenship as well as information about movements into and out of Australia. This is located on individual files and our databases.

Documents available for access or purchase subject to a fee or other charge

The department’s annual report is available on the Internet. Legislation and policy instructions are available for purchase via online subscription service, LEGENDcom, or our website. The Freedom of Information Handbook is available from our Freedom of Information units.

Documents available free of charge on request2

The department holds and makes available on request (free of charge) a range of documents including fact sheets, some research documents, general information leaflets (some in a number of languages) and a leaflet about FOI that is published by the Attorney-General’s Department.
  1. Some records are either not available or only available to the public under the FOI Act, where access may be subject to a charge.
  2. These are available on the department’s website [www.immi.gov.au] and/or at the public inquiry counters of the department’s Australian and overseas offices.
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