Freedom of Information

Quite often you will be able to obtain information from Council, or elsewhere, without needing to lodge an FOI request.

Information which you may obtain without an FOI request includes information which is available publicly, such as on a public register and information which is available for purchase.

If you are unsure whether you need to lodge an FOI request, please contact Councils Freedom of Information Officer.

You can make a request yourself, or you can authorise another person (for example, a solicitor) to make a request on your behalf.

When submitting your request, it is important you provide an accurate description of the documents to which you are seeking access. Requests must be for specific documents or groups of documents, not 'all documents' in a broad category.

The term 'document' is broad and includes written documents, whether printed or in electronic form, photographs, letters, maps, film, reports, audio and video recordings.

It is recommended you try to identify a time period and state the type of documents you want (such as reports, letters or permits). For example, 'correspondence between 1 April 2008 and 30 June 2008'.

Avoid phrases like 'all documents in relation to' and 'including, but not limited to' as these can result in your request being denied for being too broad. These terms may also result in you receiving, and being charged for, documents for which you did not intend to seek access.

Your application must:

• Be in writing;
• Clearly describe the documents to which you are requesting access;
• Be accompanied by the $32.70 application fee or evidence that you qualify to have the application fee to be waived (such as a Concession Card, Bank Statement or Statutory Declaration detailing the circumstances of your hardship);
• Provide evidence of your identity (such as drivers licence) if the documents you seek are about your personal affairs; and
• Include your written authorisation if a legal firm submits the request on your behalf.

We recommend you include your contact details (including telephone and email, if available) to enable us to contact you promptly if we have any queries about your application.

You may wish to use our FOI Application Form.(PDF, 876KB)

Please address your request to:

Freedom of Information Officer
Moira Shire Council
PO Box 578
Cobram VIC 3643

Payment should be made to Moira Shire Council either by post, over the phone or in person at Moira Shire Council offices in either Cobram or Yarrawonga.

If you have any questions about the process, please contact the Councils Freedom of Information Officer.

An application fee of $32.70 must be paid with any application; however, this may be waived in cases of hardship.

In addition to the initial application fee, access charges will also be payable. Access charges relate to the costs incurred in granting access to the documents you seek. The charges are made under with the Freedom of Information (access charges) Regulations 2014. They include:

• Search charges - $24.50 per hour or part of an hour; 
• Supervision charges - $24.50 per hour; 
• Photocopying charges - 20 cents per black and white A4 page; 
• Providing access in a form other than photocopying - the reasonable costs incurred by Council in providing the copy; 
• Charge for listening to or viewing a tape - the reasonable costs incurred by Council in making arrangements to listen to or view (supervision charges also apply); and 
• Charge for making a written transcript out of a tape - the reasonable costs incurred by Council in providing the written transcript. 

Moira Shire Council will advise you of any charges that may be levied as soon as possible. Where the calculated costs exceed $50.00, Council may require a deposit before proceeding with the case.

Council has 30 days in which to process a valid request. This time limit commences from when your request is viewed as sufficiently clear for us to process and your application fee has been paid (or sufficient evidence has been provided to waive the fee).

If a deposit for access fees is sought, the 30 day timeframe permitted for processing your request commences upon payment of the deposit.

The Freedom of Information Act allows Council to refuse access to certain documents or information. These documents are referred to as ‘exempt’ documents.

In some cases, you may be refused access to an entire document; alternatively, you may be given access to a document with exempt information deleted.

Some documents you may not be able to access include:

• Some internal working documents;
• Law enforcement documents;
• Documents covered by legal professional privilege, such as legal advice;
• Documents containing personal information about other people;
• Documents containing information provided to an agency in confidence;
• Documents containing information provided to an agency by a business; and
• Documents that are covered by secrecy provisions in other legislation.

Whether or not a document you seek may be considered exempt should not deter you from requesting access to that document.