Title Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009
Database Bills & Legislation
Long Title a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to access to information, and for related purposes
Date 26-11-2009 09:32 AM
Source House of Reps
Parl No. 42
Bill Number 253/09
Bill Type Government
Portfolio Cabinet Secretary
Reps Bill Code O
Status Before Reps
System Id legislation/bills/r4163_first/0001

Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009

2008‑2009

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Bill 2009

 

No.      , 2009

 

(Cabinet Secretary)

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to access to information, and for related purposes

  

  

Contents

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 1

3............ Schedule(s)......................................................................................... 3

Schedule 1—Objects                                                                                                             4

Freedom of Information Act 1982                                                                            4

Schedule 2—Publication of information                                                                  6

Freedom of Information Act 1982                                                                            6

Schedule 3—Exemptions                                                                                                 14

Part 1—Open access period amendments                                                         14

Archives Act 1983                                                                                                      14

Part 2—Main exemption amendments                                                               17

Freedom of Information Act 1982                                                                          17

Part 3—Other exemption amendments                                                              42

Archives Act 1983                                                                                                      42

Privacy Act 1988                                                                                                       43

Part 4—Application provisions                                                                              44

Schedule 4—Information Commissioner amendments                                 45

Part 1—Main amendments                                                                                       45

Freedom of Information Act 1982                                                                          45

Part 2—Other amendments                                                                                    119

Ombudsman Act 1976                                                                                             119

Part 3—Application and transitional provisions                                          121

Schedule 5—Amendments consequential on the establishment of the Office of the Information Commissioner                                                                                         123

Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing Act 2006         123

Australian Citizenship Act 2007                                                                          123

Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986                                              123

Aviation Legislation Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Act 2009              124

Child Care Act 1972                                                                                               124

Crimes Act 1914                                                                                                       124

Data‑matching Program (Assistance and Tax) Act 1990                                 126

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999               127

Fair Work Act 2009                                                                                                 128

Fisheries Management Act 1991                                                                          128

Migration Act 1958                                                                                                 128

National Health Act 1953                                                                                      128

National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992                            129

Privacy Act 1988                                                                                                     130

Telecommunications Act 1997                                                                              130

Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979                               132

Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984                                                                           132

Schedule 6—Other amendments                                                                               134

Part 1—Amendments to the Freedom of Information Act 1982       134

Freedom of Information Act 1982                                                                        134

Part 2—Application provisions                                                                            149

Part 3—Amendment of other Acts                                                                    150

Australian Crime Commission Act 2002                                                             150

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999               150

Inspector‑General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986                               151

Schedule 7—Privacy Commissioner transition                                                153

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                    153

Part 2—Office holders, staff and consultants                                              154

Part 3—Things done by, or in relation to, the Privacy Commissioner 157

Part 4—Investigations                                                                                              160

Part 5—Written instruments and reporting requirements                       162

Part 6—Legal and other proceedings                                                                163

Part 7—Miscellaneous                                                                                              165

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to access to information, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

                   This Act may be cited as the Freedom of Information Amendment (Reform) Act 2009.

2  Commencement

             (1)  Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

 

2.  Schedule 1

Immediately after the commencement of section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009.

However, if section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009 does not commence, the provision(s) do not commence at all.

 

3.  Schedule 2

The day after the end of the period of 6 months beginning on the day section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009 commences.

However, if section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009 does not commence, the provision(s) do not commence at all.

 

4.  Schedule 3, items 1 to 14

Immediately after the commencement of section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009.

However, if section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009 does not commence, the provision(s) do not commence at all.

 

5.  Schedule 3, item 15

The day after the end of the period of 6 months beginning on the day section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009 commences.

However, if section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009 does not commence, the provision(s) do not commence at all.

 

6.  Schedule 3, items 16 to 40

Immediately after the commencement of section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009.

However, if section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009 does not commence, the provision(s) do not commence at all.

 

7.  Schedules 4 to 7

Immediately after the commencement of section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009.

However, if section 3 of the Information Commissioner Act 2009 does not commence, the provision(s) do not commence at all.

 

Note:          This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally passed by both Houses of the Parliament and assented to. It will not be expanded to deal with provisions inserted in this Act after assent.

             (2)  Column 3 of the table contains additional information that is not part of this Act. Information in this column may be added to or edited in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedule(s)

                   Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.