Freedom of Information
| Related Links | |
|---|---|
 | Application Form |
 | Publications Register |
Right to Access
The Western Australian Freedom of Information Act 1992 (FOI Act) gives the public the legal right to access information held by Government agencies and local and public authorities.
The Water Corporation was established as a corporatised business enterprise by the Water Corporation Act 1995 and is subject to the FOI Act.
It is the aim of the Corporation to make information available promptly and at the least possible cost. Therefore, whenever possible, documents will be provided outside the FOI process.
However, if information is not routinely available, the FOI Act provides the right for the public to apply for documents held by the Corporation and to ensure that personal information in documents is accurate.
Definition of a Document
For the purposes of the FOI Act documents can be electronic records, including emails, audio or visual tapes or microfiche as well as files, notes, letters and any form of paper document.
Exemptions
Some documents, or parts of documents, may be exempt from access. Schedule 1 of the FOI Act covers the exemptions which may be claimed in order to protect sensitive information being held by the Corporation.
Requests for Amendment of Information
If you believe that personal information held by the Corporation is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading you may apply to the Corporation requesting an amendment. No fees or charges apply.
Applications
An application made under the FOI Act for access to documents, amendment of personal information or review of a decision has to:
- be in writing;
- give enough information so that the documents requested may be identified;
- give an Australian address to which notices can be sent; and
- be lodged at the Corporation with any application fee payable.
The application may be in the form of a letter or you may use the Corporation's Application Form.
Applications and enquiries should be addressed to:
The Freedom of Information Coordinator
Water Corporation
629 Newcastle Street
LEEDERVILLE WA 6007
Tel: (08) 9420 2514
Fax: (08) 9420 3360
Email: foi@watercorporation.com.au
Fees and Charges
A scale of fees and charges set under the FOI Act Regulations. Apart from the application fee for non-personal information all charges are discretionary. The charges are as follows.
| 1. Type of Fee | |
| Personal information about the applicant | No fee |
| Application fee (for non-personal information) | $30.00 |
2. Type of Charge | |
| Charge for time dealing with the application (per hour or pro rata) | $30.00 |
| Access time supervised by staff (per hour or pro rata) | $30.00 |
| Photocopying staff time (per hour or pro rata) | $30.00 |
| Per photocopy | $0.20 |
| Transcribing from tape, film or computer (per hour or pro rata) | $30.00 |
| Duplicating a tape, film or computer information | Actual Cost |
| Delivery, packaging and postage | Actual Cost |
3. Deposits | |
| Advance deposit of the estimated charges may be required | 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%.
Notice of Decision
If you make an FOI application to the Corporation, you will be provided with a written Notice of Decision outlining our decision and the reasons for that decision. The Corporation will endeavour to reply to you as soon as possible, or in any event by the 45 calendar day deadline. You can assist us in expediting your request by ensuring that it is specific and not so large in scope that additional liaison and resources are required to deal with it within the statutory timeframe.
Rights of Review
If you are refused access to information, and you are not satisfied with this result you are entitled to request an internal review by the Corporation. The review is carried out by an officer of the Corporation who is equal or superior in rank to the initial decision maker. Application should be made in writing within 30 days of receiving the notice of decision.
You will be notified of the outcome of the review within 15 days.
If you disagree with the result you may then apply to the Information Commissioner for an external review. An application for an external review should be submitted within 60 days after receiving the notice of decision for the internal review.
Information Statement
Under Section 96 of the FOI Act, the Water Corporation is required to produce an Information Statement.
The purpose of the Information Statement is to publish information about the Corporation’s operations (particularly the policy, rules and practices followed with its dealings with the members of the public).
Details regarding the structure and functions, decision making processes and avenues for public participation are available in the Corporation's Annual Report.
The Information Statement should also provide information on what documents are available to the public and that they are up-to-date.
Documents Held by the Water Corporation
Records held within the Corporation support its current business activities. Records of historical value are sent to the State Records Office at the end of their retention period. The archival records in the State Records Office are available for public viewing unless a restriction has been placed on them. Permission from the Corporation is necessary for viewing restricted records.
See the Publications Register for a list of documents covering all Corporation activities, in particular, the rules and practices adopted by the Corporation in its dealings with community members.
