Aussie cat info on local cat laws
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If you are looking to identify the person or persons who has trapped your cat and turned it into your local shire or shire pound under the new local cat laws, the following information has been provided by the Office of Information Commissioner, Perth WA. 'Under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (the FOI Act), The Regulations prescribe that there is no application fee required if the documents sought contain only personal information about the applicant, but applications for any other information must be accompanied by an application fee of $30.00. Therefore, where documents contain personal information about the applicant, as well as other details of a non-personal nature, e.g. names, details and actions by third parties, an application fee of $30.00 must be paid. However, if an applicant restricts the application to personal information about herself or himself only, there is no application fee or charges.
However, as you are seeking information of a non-personal nature it is necessary to pay an application fee of $30.00. The application can be in the form of a letter (stating that it is an application under the FOI Act) and should be sent to: FOI Coordinator Please note that the FOI Act protects the personal privacy of other individuals by providing an exemption for personal information about an individual other than the access applicant (a third party) and imposing a duty upon the agency to consult any such third party if the agency is considering disclosing personal information about that person. The third party has the right to put forward their views as to whether the document should be released or they may consider that the matter is exempt under clause 3 of the Schedule 1 to the FOI Act and object to its release. Third parties also have a right to internal and external review of decisions if they do not agree with the agency's decision. The process set out by the FOI Act is that the agency will deal with the application and provide you with a notice of decision. Should you not agree with the agency's decision, you have the right to request an internal review followed by an external review by the Information Commissioner, if necessary. Further information regarding the FOI process is also available on our website www.foi.wa.gov.au .' |
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applications for documents must be made directly to the agency that hold the documents you are seeking. The application must satisfy the requirements set out in the FOI Act, which simply are that the application be in writing; give enough information to enable the documents to be identified; give an address in Australia where notices can be sent and be lodged at an office of the agency with any application fee payable.