Applying for Access to Information
Applying for access
Requests for access to documents under Right to Information (RTI) legislation exclude documents that are already available via other means.
For example, minutes of Rockhampton Regional Council are readily available public documents, which can be accessed by the community. So before making a formal Right to Information application, check Council's website or contact Council about the location of information.
For documents that are not available, via other avenues of access, applications need to be made in writing by lodging an Information Access Application.
An Information access application can either be made:
Where an application is made in writing, to ensure compliance - the following information must be included:
- Applicant name and contact details
- Agency identification - Name of the Government department, agency or Minister from whom you are requesting the information
- Specify the information sought
- Subject matter
- Relevant reference numbers
- Types of documents (if known)
- Date or time period of the document/s
The completed application must be addressed and forwarded to:
RTI Officer
Rockhampton Regional Council
PO Box 1860
Rockhampton QLD 4700
Email: enquiries@rrc.qld.gov.au
All applications must clearly identify the specific documents requested or provide sufficient information about the documents, to enable the RTI Officer to identify the documents being sought. The Right to Information Fact Sheet(PDF, 158KB) has further details about making a Right to Information access application.
To find out more about Right to Information, visit the Queensland Government website.
Fees and charges for accessing information
Access to documents that are not related to an individual's personal information will incur an application fee and possibly processing charges, for each 15 minutes or part thereof, if the time spent dealing with the application is more than 5 hours.
An access charge of $0.25 will be incurred for each black and white copy of an A4 document.
No application fee or processing charges are incurred for access to documents or parts of documents that relate to an individual's personal information, but access charges may be payable. Examples of personal information are described below. However, documents which contain both personal information and non-personal information will incur an application fee and processing and access charges as detailed above.
Applying for Complaint Documentation
Will I get access to the documents?
You may not receive all documents you request. You are not likely to be granted access to:
- Documents containing your personal information
- Procedural documents related to how Council handled the complaint
Access may be refused if the documents contain
- Exempt information
- Information that is contrary to the public interest to disclose
Personal Information of other people
You are unlikely to receive any information that identified or relates to other individuals involved in a complaint. This includes:
- Names or contact details of complainants or witnesses
- Their opinions, concerns or recollections
- Any details that could help you work out who made the complaint
Disclosing this kind of information is generally considered contrary to the public interest and may be refused.
In some cases, your personal information may be mixed with someone else's - for example in a complaint letter describing their feelings about an incident involving you. If the two cant be separated, access to the entire document may be refused, even if the complaint is about you.
Confidential sources of information
If the complaint involves enforcement or administration of local laws (eg, noise complaints, animal control, development breaches), any information that would reveal a confidential source is exempt under the Right to Information Act. Council may refuse access to protect the identify of informants.
Prejudice the flow of information
Disclosure may also be refused if it would:
- Discourage future complainants or witnesses from reporting issues to Council
- Undermine the confidentiality expected in council complaint processes
Public Interest and Accountability
Whilst there is a general public interest in councils being accountable for their actions, this must be weighed against:
- The privacy rights of individuals
- The need for confidentiality in complaint handling
In most cases, the public interest in accountability does not outweigh the factors against disclosure, especially where personal or sensitive information is involved