Freedom of Information
This statement is published to meet the requirements of section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
Organisation and Functions
Information about Finance, including the department’s organisation and functions, can be found in earlier sections of this Annual Report. Information is also available on the department’s internet site at www.finance.gov.au.
Decision Making Powers
Finance is responsible for the following Acts, or parts of Acts. Where applicable, Ministers or Finance officers may exercise decision-making powers under these Acts:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005, Part 4B
Aerospace Technologies of Australia Limited Sale Act 1994
AIDC Sale Act 1997
Airports (Transitional) Act 1996
Albury-Wodonga Development Act 1973
Annual Appropriation Acts
Appropriation (Supplementary Measures) Act (No.1) 1999
Appropriation (Supplementary Measures) Act (No.2) 1999
Audit (Transitional and Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 1997
Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988, section 27, insofar as it relates to the declaration of land in the Australian Capital Territory to be National Land where the land is required for Commonwealth purposes other than for the special purposes of Canberra as the National Capital
Australian Industry Development Corporation Act 1970
CFM Sale Act 1996
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Amendment Act 2008
Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Commonwealth Electoral Legislation (Provision of Information) Act 2000
Commonwealth Funds Management Limited Act 1990
Commonwealth Vehicles (Registration and Exemption from Taxation) Act 1997
CSL Sale Act 1993
Federal Magistrates Act 1999 insofar as it relates to superannuation and death and disability1
Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997
Future Fund Act 2006
Governor-General Act 1974 insofar as it relates to superannuation2
Judges’ Pension Act 19683
Lands Acquisition Act 1989
Lands Acquisition (Defence) Act 19684
Lands Acquisition (Northern Territory Pastoral Leases) Act 1981
Lands Acquisition (Repeal and Consequential Provisions) Act 1989
Loan (War Service Land Settlement) Acts
Medibank Private Sale Act 2006
Members of Parliament (Life Gold Pass) Act 2002
Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984
Ministers of State Act 1952
Nation-building Funds Act 20085
Northern Territory (Commonwealth Lands) Act 1980
Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978, sections 69 and 70
Papua New Guinea (Staffing Assistance) Act 1973, insofar as it relates to superannuation and retirement benefits
Papua New Guinea (Staffing Assistance) Termination Act 1976
Parliamentary Allowances Act 1952
Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948
Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990
Parliamentary Precincts Act 1988
Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004
Parliamentary Retiring Allowances (Increases) Acts
Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act 1951
Public Works Committee Act 1969
Qantas Sale Act 1992, except to the extent administered by the Treasurer or the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984
Representation Act 1983
Salaries Adjustment Act 1956
Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – Superannuation) Act 2008, section 46
Superannuation Acts
Superannuation Benefits (Supervisory Mechanisms) Act 1990
Superannuation (Distribution of Surplus) Act 1974
Superannuation (Pension Increases) Acts
Superannuation (Productivity Benefit) Act 1988
Supply Acts
Surplus Revenue Acts
Telstra Corporation Act 1991
Territory Authorities (Financial Provisions) Act 1978
Transferred Officers' Allowances Act 1948
Western Australia (South-West Region Water Supplies) Agreement Act 1965
Accessing Documents held by Finance
To seek access to documents under the FOI Act, applicants should write to or email Finance (or the relevant portfolio agency) and include:
- as much detail as possible about the documents sought;
- an address in Australia to which the department can send notices;
- if possible, a telephone number and email address to allow officers processing the request to contact the applicant for any clarification; and
- a $30 application fee.
In some circumstances, including financial hardship or the public interest, the department may remit the application fee. If the applicant is not satisfied with a decision made under the FOI Act, they may ask for an internal review of the decision. Requests for internal review must be in writing and enclose a $40 application fee.
Applicants should send FOI-related requests to:
FOI Coordinator
Department of Finance and Deregulation
John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600
Phone: 02 6215 1783
Facsimile: 02 6215 2593
Email: foi@finance.gov.au
For further information about fees, charges, document access arrangements and review rights, please contact the FOI Coordinator.
Categories of Documents
Finance has a wide variety of documents available on the department’s website at www.finance.gov.au/publications. These documents include ministerial media releases and speeches, annual reports, budgetary documents, financial reporting documents, policy and guidance documents related to the department’s responsibilities, published reviews, and documents detailing Parliamentarians' travel. The Finance website also provides listings of the department’s file titles, contracts let and grants awarded.
Finance also holds documents that applicants can request under the FOI Act. These include documents relating to:
- internal organisation and administration including personnel records, organisation and staffing records, financial and expenditure records, agendas and meeting minutes, and internal operating documents such as training manuals, office procedures and instructions;
- ministerial and parliamentary correspondence including briefing papers prepared for ministers, Cabinet submissions, answers to parliamentary questions, and working files related to these documents;
- the preparation of policy advice in Finance’s areas of responsibility including working files, briefing papers, correspondence, analysis, policy papers and reports;
- administration and service delivery in Finance’s areas of responsibility including working files, briefing papers, correspondence, reports, rules, guidelines, procedures and determinations; and
- other departmental files including freedom of information request files, internal audit reviews and associated working papers.
More information about the classes of personal information held by the department is available from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner’s website at www.privacy.gov.au/government/digest
External Participation and Consultation
Members of the public are able to make representations in writing to Finance portfolio Ministers about the range of policy and other matters dealt with by the department. The following arrangements are in place for external participation and consultation.
Australian Government Consultative Committee on Knowledge Capital
The Australian Government Consultative Committee on Knowledge Capital aims to develop mechanisms to measure knowledge capital and to have these mechanisms incorporated in government and international accounting standards. The committee’s membership is drawn from the public, private and university sectors and includes senior representation from the accounting and actuarial professions. Finance is a member of the committee.
Government 2.0 Taskforce
On 22 June 2009, the Minister for Finance and Deregulation and the Special Minister of State launched the Government 2.0 Taskforce. The role of the taskforce is to advise and assist the Australian Government to adopt Web 2.0 and related technologies and ideas. The taskforce aims to promote a culture of innovation within the Australian Government, leading to greater information sharing and collaboration between Australian Government agencies, and between the Australian Government and the public. The taskforce includes members from both the public and private sectors. The Australian Government Chief Information Officer (CIO) is the Deputy Chair of the taskforce and Finance provides secretariat support.
Online and Communications Council
The Online and Communications Council is a Ministerial Council under the Council of Australian Governments. It is the peak ministerial forum across governments that considers and agrees on strategic approaches to information and communications issues of national importance. The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy chairs the Council and its members include the Minister for Finance and Deregulation (chair for e-government agenda items), senior ministers from state and territory governments and the President of the Australian Local Government Association. The Council meets annually.
Cross-Jurisdictional Chief Information Officers’ Committee
The Cross-Jurisdictional Chief Information Officers’ Committee reports to the Online and Communications Council and aims to address e-government issues that span jurisdictional boundaries. The Australian Government CIO chairs the committee. Membership includes the CIOs or equivalent of each state and territory government, and a representative from the Australian Local Government Association. The New Zealand Government’s CIO equivalent officer has observer status on the committee.
Domain Consultative Committee
The Domain Consultative Committee ensures the ‘gov.au’ domain name is managed effectively by providing a forum for government domain providers to collaborate on common issues. Finance chairs the committee, which includes domain providers from the Australian Government and from each state and territory government with responsibility for assessing individual domain name applications within their jurisdiction.
Australian Procurement and Construction Ministerial Council
The Australian Procurement and Construction Ministerial Council is a council of Australian Government, state and territory, and New Zealand Government ministers responsible for procurement and construction. The Minister for Finance and Deregulation is a member of the Council.
Business Regulation and Competition Working Group
The Business Regulation and Competition Working Group reports to the Council of Australian Governments on scope to reduce regulatory barriers which inhibit competition and productivity. The Minister for Finance and Deregulation and the Minister Assisting the Finance Minister on Deregulation co-chair the working group. Membership comprises senior officials representing the central agencies of the Australian Government, each of the states and territories, and New Zealand.Footnotes:
- The Federal Magistrates Act 1999 insofar as it relates to superannuation and death and disability was transferred from the Attorney-General’s Department on 1 July 2009.
- The Governor-General Act 1974 insofar as it relates to superannuation was transferred from the Attorney-General’s Department on 1 July 2009.
- The Judges’ Pension Act 1968 was transferred from the Attorney-General’s Department on 1 July 2009.
- The Lands Acquisition (Defence) Act 1968 was repealed by the Lands Acquisition Legislation Amendment Act 2008 on 12 July 2008.
- The Nation-building Funds Act 2008 commenced on 23 June 2009.
- The Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – Superannuation) Act 2008 commenced on 4 December 2008.