About the Freedom of Information Act 1982

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) provides the community with the right of access to documents held by Commonwealth agencies.  This right of access is limited only by certain exceptions and exemptions which are contained in the FOI Act.

How to make a Freedom of Information application

Under the FOI Act, you can request access to documents held by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) by making a freedom of information request.  The request must:

1. Be made in writing
2. State that the request is an application for the purposes of the FOI Act;
3. Provide enough information about the document(s) for a responsible officer of the GBRMPA to identify it (for example, give a file number, a reference to a newspaper report about it, or describe the subject matter in which you are interested); and
   
4. Provide an address in Australia at which notices under the FOI Act may be sent to you.

A Sample Application Form is available but you do not have to use it. If you prefer, you can just write a letter.

FOI requests should be sent to:

The FOI Contact Officer
c/- Legal Services
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
PO Box 1379
TOWNSVILLE  QLD  4810
Australia             

Or lodged via email to: FOI@gbrmpa.gov.au

FOI requests can also be delivered to the GBRMPA’s Townsville office at:

2-68 Flinders Street
TOWNSVILLE  QLD  4810

If any difficulty arises in identifying a document or in providing access in the form requested, an officer of the GBRMPA will contact you with a view to resolving the difficulty.

Processing charges

Please note the FOI Act provides that charges may be imposed for processing requests.

Further information

If you require further information about the freedom of information process, please contact:

The FOI Contact Officer
c/- Legal Services
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
PO Box 1379
TOWNSVILLE  QLD  4810
 
Telephone: (07) 4750 0700
Facsimile: (07) 4772 6093

Further information can also be obtained by visiting the office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

FOI Section 9 Statement

The GBRMPA's Freedom of Information section 9 statement sets out documents that are provided by the agency for the use of, or are used by, the agency or its officers as a guide to practices and procedures to be followed when dealing with the public. The list is available on request from the FOI Contact Officer, any office of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) or the NAA website at www.naa.gov.au.