This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Request for agreement signed by the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Leo Davies, and Young Diggers’ Dog Squad (YDDS) Chairman of Directors on 10 August 2018'.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directorate of Freedom of Information 
  Fact Sheet – Applicant Review Rights 
 
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – Your Review Rights 
If you disagree with the decision made by the Department of Defence or the Minister under the 
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act), you can ask for the decision to be reviewed. You may 
want to seek review if you sought certain documents and were not given full access, if you have been 
informed that there will be a charge for processing your request, if your application to have your 
personal information amended was not accepted or your comments in response to formal consultation 
were not accepted. 
There are two ways you can ask for review of a decision: internal review by Defence, or external 
review
 by the Australian Information Commissioner. 
 
INTERNAL REVIEW 
EXTERNAL REVIEW 
If Defence 
makes an FOI decision that you  Do I have to go through the Defence’s 
disagree with, you can ask Defence to review its 
internal review process first? 
decision. 
The 
review will be 
conducted 
No. You may apply directly to the Information 
independently to FOI Case Management. 
 Commissioner, within 60 days of receiving your 
There is NO charge for internal review. 
decision. However, going through the Defence 
You must apply within 30 days of being notified of 
internal review process gives Defence the 
the decision, unless you have sought an extension 
opportunity to reconsider its initial decision and 
from Defence.  An extension may be granted if  your concerns will most likely be addressed more 
adequate reasons for the extension are supplied.  
quickly, without undergoing an external review 
process. 
Defence must 
make a review decision within 30 
days.  Where Defence has not met its review  When can I go to the Administrative Appeals 
obligation, you may then approach the Information 
Tribunal (AAT)? 
Commissioner. 
Under the revised FOI Act, you must seek 
Internal review is not available if the Minister or 
external review through the Information 
the principal officer of the agency made the  Commissioner prior to applying to the AAT for 
decision personally. 
such a review. 
How to apply for an internal review 
MAKING A COMPLAINT 
You must apply in writing and should include a  You may make a complaint to Defence or the 
copy of the notice of the decision provided and the 
Office of the Information Commissioner about 
points to which you are objecting and why. 
actions taken by Defence in relation to your 
application. The complaint needs to be in writing. 
You can lodge your application in one of the 
following ways: 
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER CONTACT 
Email:  xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
Further information about the external review 
Fax:  
+61 2 6266 2112 
process or how to make a complaint to the 
Post:   Freedom of Information Directorate 
Information Commissioner is available: 
 
Department of Defence 
Online: www.oaic.gov.au   
 CP1-6-008 
Post:   GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2000  
 
PO Box 7910 
Fax:  
+61 2 9284 9666  
 
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610 
Email:  xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx 
 
Website: www.defence.gov.au/foi 
 Defending 
Australia and its National Interests