Right to Information
The Queensland Right to Information Act 2009 and the Information Privacy Act 2009 commenced in July 2009. The Acts provide the community with a legally enforceable right to access documents subject to a limited number of exemptions.
How to make an application
If you are seeking access to your own personal information, you can apply under the Information Privacy Act 2009. If you are seeking access to non-personal information, or the personal information of a person other than yourself, you should apply under the Right to Information Act 2009.
An application must:
- be in the approved form
- provide sufficient information concerning the document(s) as is reasonably necessary to enable a responsible officer of the agency to identify the document(s); and
- specify an address for notification of a decision.
Where an application is made for documents that concern your personal information, proof of identification will be required before documents can be released. An example of appropriate identification is a photocopy of your birth certificate, passport or driver's licence.
Applications should be addressed to:
The Superintendent
Right to Information & Privacy Unit
GPO Box 1440
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Application fee
An application for access under the Right to Information Act 2009 has a mandatory application fee of $38.00. This fee cannot be waived and must be paid before your application can be processed.
There is no application fee payable for an application under the Information Privacy Act 2009. However, an application under the Information Privacy Act 2009 may be dealt with under the Right to Information Act 2009 if you seek access to non-personal information or information which does not concern your personal information.
Processing charges
In addition to the application fee, applications for documents that do not relate to your personal affairs may also attract additional charges for time spent by members in searching for and processing the documents applied for. The charges that apply are $5.80 for each 15 minutes or part thereof.
Access charges
A photocopy fee of twenty (20) cents applies to each photocopied single sided non-personal document. If access is sought by way of inspection of the documents, a charge of $5.80 for each 15 minutes or part thereof is payable.
You may not have to pay the processing and copy charges if you have a:
- Centrelink Health Care Card;
- Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card; or
- Veterans Affairs Pensioner Concession Card.
Form of Payment
Cheque or money order payable to the Queensland Police Service. In some instances EFTPOS is available at police stations.
Time taken to process applications
You will receive written acknowledgement from the Right to Information and Privacy Unit within 10 business days of your application being received. Generally you will receive a final response to your application within 25 business days of the Service receiving your application.
If a document you requested is from another party, for example another government agency or someone who may have concerns with the release of the information, consultation with this other party may be required. In these circumstances the Service has an additional 10 business days to finalise your application.
Types of documents available outside the RTI process
Criminal History (Queensland Only)
Police Certificate (Australia-wide Criminal History)
For further information regarding access to documents held by the Queensland Police Service please refer to the Statement of Affairs.
Amending your personal information
After having accessed documents held by the Service should you find that your personal information is inaccurate, incomplete, out-of-date or misleading you may make application for correction or amendment of any part of the information.
Any such application must:
- be on the approved form;
- Specify an address for notification of a decision;
- Give particulars of the information believed to be inaccurate, incomplete, out-of-date or misleading; and
- Specify the amendments that you wish to be made.
Applications should be addressed to:
The Superintendent
Right to Information & Privacy Unit
GPO Box 1440
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Reviewing a decision
If you are dissatisfied or “aggrieved” with the decision of the Service made under the Right to Information Act 2009 or the Information Privacy Act 2009 regarding access or amendment to documents you can apply to the Service for an internal review of its decision, or alternately apply to the Information Commissioner for an external review of the decission.
To apply for an internal review of a decision you must apply in writing within 20 business days of receiving the decision.
Applications for internal review should be addressed to:
The Superintendent
Right to Information & Privacy Unit
GPO Box 1440
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Your internal review application will then be referred to a senior officer for decision.
Application for external review should be addressed to:
Office of the Information Commissioner
PO Box 10143
Adelaide Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000
Further information in relation to The Office of the Information Commissioner is available at http://www.oic.qld.gov.au.
Last Updated: 29/10/2009