Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, you can ask to see or get copies of:
The Freedom of Information Statement describes our powers and functions, the documents and information we keep and the ways you can access them.
Freedom of Information Statement (PDF 131 KB) Freedom of Information Statement (DOC 72 KB)
You can make a request or authorise someone such as a solicitor to make a request on your behalf.
It’s important to provide an accurate description of the documents you are seeking access to with the request. Requests must be for specific documents or groups of documents not 'all documents' in a broad category. Try to identify a relevant timeframe and the type/s of documents you seek access to.
For example, 'correspondence between X and Y from 1 January to 30 March 2005'. Avoid phrases like 'all documents in relation to' and ‘including but not limited to’. If the terms of your request are quite broad, you could end up receiving and being charged for, a large volume of documents which you did not really require.
Your application must include:
Please refer to our Freedom of Information fact sheet for further details:
Freedom of Information fact sheet (PDF 24 KB) Freedom of Information fact sheet (DOC 58 KB)
Online If you wish to lodge your FOI application online, please go to CoM's online service portal and select ‘Applications’. You will need a valid credit card to pay your application fee online. Alternatively, you can attach a scanned copy of your pension card/healthcare card.
The online process is the quickest way to lodge a FOI application. It will also enable you to pay your deposit (if required) and/or final access charges online.
Post Please complete the FOI application form and send it to:
City of Melbourne Council Business (FOI) GPO Box 1603 MELBOURNE VIC 3001
Your cheque/money order must be payable to the City of Melbourne. Please do not send cash.
In Person You can submit your FOI application form and application fee (cash, cheque, money order or credit/debit card), at the front desk of the Town Hall (90-120 Swanston Street, Melbourne) during normal office hours. Cheque/money orders must be payable to the City of Melbourne.
Freedom of Information application form (PDF 23 KB) Freedom of Information application form (DOC 43 KB)
As well as an application fee of $29.60, there are costs to access documents – the charges are made under the Freedom of Information (Access Charges) Regulations 2014.
$22.20 per hour or part thereof.
$22.20 per hour to be calculated per quarter hour or part thereof.
We will advise you of any charges as soon as possible.
Once we receive your request, an authorised FOI Officer will review it to make sure all the necessary information has been included and the documents you’re requesting have been clearly identified. The FOI Officer will contact you if they need more information.
After receiving a valid request, we will:
We must make and communicate to you a decision on your request within 30 days of receiving it unless that statutory period has been extended in accordance with the Act. The period starts when:
If we estimate the cost of your request is likely to exceed $50, we’ll write and ask for a deposit. We’ll also suggest practical alternatives to reduce the charges. The 30 days allowed for processing a request starts when we receive your deposit payment.
The Act allows us to refuse access to certain documents or information. These documents are often called exempt documents.
We assess each requested document and decide whether the information can be released. In some cases you may be refused access to an entire document or you may be given access to a document with exempt information deleted.
Exempt documents include:
If you are not satisfied with our decision on access, you can ask for a review within 28 days of receiving your determination letter by writing to the:
Office of the Victorian Information CommissionerPO Box 24274 Melbourne Victoria 3001
Phone: 1300 006 842 Email: enquiries@ovic.vic.gov.au Website: www.ovic.vic.gov.au
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