The Freedom of Information Act 1992 (FOI Act) gives the public a right to access documents held by State and local government agencies, including Murdoch University, subject to some limitations.
Members of the public can also apply to have personal information about themselves contained in documents held by the university amended, if the information is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading.
If you would like to obtain information from Murdoch University, please contact us as you may be able to get access without the need for a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) application.
What can you request
You can request access to any documents held by the university that are not already publicly available for inspection or purchase.
An FOI application does not need to be limited to paper documents but can include maps, plans, diagrams, graphs, drawings, photographs, videos, audiotapes, CCTV footage and electronic records including emails.
How to apply
If you have determined an FOI application is your best option, you will need to submit your application by completing the university’s FOI Application form.
You must provide as much information as possible and clearly describe the documents you would like access to, including any additional information relevant to your request, such as subject matter and date ranges, or information relating to a specific incident.
If you are applying for access to documents containing personal information that is just about you, your application must be accompanied by a copy of a primary identification document, such as a driver’s licence or passport.
What happens next
In accordance with the FOI Act your application will be processed as soon as is practicable and, in any event, before the end of the permitted period of 45 days from when your application is considered valid.
After your application is processed, you will be issued with a notice of decision. The notice will explain the university’s decision in relation to your application.
If you disagree with the decision made by the university, you can seek a review of that decision under the FOI Act. You will be provided with details on how to lodge an application for internal review in your notice of decision.
How much will it cost
Under the FOI Act, if you are requesting access to information about you only, there is no application fee or charges. This means that any information in the documents which is not personal information about you (such as the names of other people) can be redacted on the basis that it is outside the scope of the “personal” application.
However, if you are requesting access to information that is not just about you, such as information that relates to the university’s functions and services or personal information about other people (considered a “non-personal application”), a $30 fee for a “non-personal” application is payable. Please note that Murdoch University has no discretion to waive or reduce this application fee.
Payment of the $30 non-personal application fee can be made online at https://payments.murdoch.edu.au/FOIAppFee.
Additional charges
In some circumstances you may be required to pay additional charges to cover the costs associated with processing your application. These charges will be for administrative tasks such as photocopying, collation of documents, editing, postage etc. If charges are applicable, you will be notified and provided with an estimate.
Further information
Further information about Freedom of Information and legislative requirements can be accessed on the Office of the Information Commissioner website.
Our Information Statement is provided under Section 96 of the FOI Act, as an outline of our structure and functions.
