Freedom of Information

The Shire of Carnarvon is an open and accountable Local Government and wherever possible will make documents available for public inspection outside of the Freedom of Information Act. The general public can view a variety of Council publications at the Council Offices at 3 Francis Street Carnarvon or at the Carnarvon Library or online at Council’s website .

Documents are available for public inspection at either the Council Offices. If members of the public wish to obtain copies of any documents, then a charge may apply which is usually at a rate of 20 cents per page for photocopying plus any binding costs, postage and delivery charges if applicable.

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

For further information please contact the Executive Officer on (08) 9941 0050 or hill.d@carnarvon.wa.gov.au 

FOI PROCEDURES AND ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS

FOI Operations

The Shire of Carnarvon supports open and accountable local government and will endeavour to make information available promptly and at the least possible cost. Whenever possible, documents will be provided outside the FOI process.

If information is not routinely available, the Freedom of Information Act 1992 provides the right to apply for documents held by the Shire and to enable the public to ensure that personal information in documents is accurate, complete, up to date and not misleading.

Freedom of Information Applications

Access applications have to:

  • 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 Officer
Shire of Carnarvon
3 Francis Street (PO Box 459)
CARNARVON WA 6701

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.

Freedom of Information 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 fees or charges apply for personal information or amendment of personal information about yourself (e.g. your medical records; details of employment etc).

Applications for other documents (i.e. which are non-personal in nature) require a $30.00 application fee to be paid when the application is lodged, and there may be other charges imposed by the agency as follows:

  • $30 per hour of staff time or pro rata for part of an hour for dealing with an application. (Agencies cannot charge for locating the documents within the scope of your request).
  • $30 per hour (or pro rata for part of an 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.
  • 20 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 “hard” paper copy 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. This is the FOI Coordinator.
  • 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; and
  • 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 will be able to seek an internal review by the Chief Executive Officer.

If you disagree with the result of the CEO’s decision then you can apply to the Information Commissioner for an external review, and details would be advised to applicants when the internal review decision is issued.

Carnarvon FOI Statement - 2024

Carnarvon FOI Statement - 2023

Carnarvon FOI Statement - 2021

Carnarvon FOI Statement - 2020

Carnarvon FOI Statement - 2019

Carnarvon FOI Statement - 2018

Carnarvon FOI Statement - 2017

Carnarvon FOI Statement - 2016