Freedom of Information

The Town of Bassendean is an open and accountable Local Government and wherever possible will make documents available for free inspection outside of the Freedom of Information Act. You can view Council publications at the Council Offices at 35 Old Perth Road, at the Bassendean Library or on Council’s website.

If you wish to obtain copies of any documents, then a charge may apply, usually 20 cents per page for photocopying plus costs of binding, postage and delivery if applicable.

Emailed copies of public documents will be provided free of charge.

FOI Procedures and Access Arrangements

If information is not routinely available, the Freedom of Information Act 1992 provides you with the right to apply for documents held by the Town.

Freedom of Information Applications

Freedom of Information Application Form

Applications must:

  • be in writing
  • give enough information so that the documents requested can be identified
  • give an Australian address to which notices can be sent and
  • be lodged at the Council Offices with any application fee payable.

Applications and enquiries should be addressed or delivered to:

Freedom Information Coordinator
PO Box 87
Bassendean WA 6934

Acknowledgment of Applications

Applications will be acknowledged in writing and you will be notified of the decision as quickly as possible and no later than 45 days after the application is received.

Charges

A scale of fees and charges is set under the FOI Act Regulations.

Apart from the application fee for non-personal information all charges are discretionary.

The charges are as follows:

  • No charges for personal information or amendment of personal information about yourself (your medical records, details of employment etc).
  • Applications for other documents (not personal in nature) require a $30 fee when the application is lodged
  • Other charges may include:
    • $30 per hour of staff time for dealing with an application (Agencies cannot charge for locating the documents within the scope of your request)
    • $30 per hour for supervision by staff when access is given to view documents or the time taken by staff to prepare a transcript from a tape or make photocopies
    • .50 cents per photocopy
    • Actual cost incurred by the agency for preparing a copy of a tape, film or computerised information or arranging delivery, packaging and postage of documents.

Deposits

  • Advance deposit may be required of the estimated charges 25%
  • Further advance deposit may be required to meet the charges for dealing with the application 75%

For financially disadvantaged applicants or those issued with prescribed pensioner concession cards, the charge payable is reduced by 25% or may be waived in certain circumstances.

Access Arrangements

Access to documents can be granted by way of inspection, emailed electronic copy, a hardcopy of a document, a copy of an audio or video tape, a computer disc, a transcript of a recorded, shorthand or encoded document from which words can be reproduced.

Edited Copies of Documents

As a general rule, Council will provide edited copies of documents where part of the document may be subject under the schedule of exemptions of the Freedom of Information Act for various reasons (eg, commercial considerations) or where there would be disclosure of personal or private information about an individual.

Notice of Decision

As soon as possible but in any case within 45 days, you will be provided with a notice of decision which will include details such as:

  • The date which the decision was made
  • The name and the designation of the officer who made the decision
  • If the document is an exempt document the reasons for classifying the matter exempt; or the fact that access is given to an edited document
  • Information on the right to review and the procedures to be followed to exercise those rights.

Refusal of Access

Applicants who are dissatisfied with a decision can seek an internal review from the Town of Bassendean's CEO.

If you disagree with the CEO's or the Freedom of Information Coordinators decision you can apply to the Information Commissioner of an external review.

Details would be advised to applicants when the external review decision is issued.