Department of Housing and Works - Freedom of Information (FOI)

For FOI applications relating to the Department of Housing and Works, you can download and return the FOI application form  via email, in person or by post. 

All enquiries should be addressed to the Freedom of Information Coordinator, Department of Housing and Works. Email, postal and physical addresses can be found in the contact section of this page.

Applications must:

• Be in writing
• Give enough information for the documents to be identified
• Give an Australian address for the documents to be delivered to
• Be lodged at the agency with any fee payable

If you are acting on behalf of another party, you must provide legal proof of authority. If you are applying for personal information about yourself, you must provide valid identification.

Applications will be acknowledged in writing.

What is personal information?

Under the FOI Act, the term ‘personal information’ means:

• information about an identifiable individual; and
• can only apply to people (living or dead).

If you make an application for your own personal information, no application fee is payable. However, any information that is not your own personal information, other than background or factual information that is not exempt, will be redacted as being outside the scope of the application.

The Office of the Information Commissioner provides more information on the definition of personal information.

Fees and charges

All fees and charges are set by the Freedom of Information Regulations 1993.  Apart from the application fee, the charges are discretional and may be waived.

Application fee

• Personal information about applicant - no fee
• Non personal information - $30

Discretionary charges

• Charge for time dealing with application (per hour) - $30
• Access time supervised by staff (per hour) - $30
• Photocopying staff time (per hour) - $30
• Per photocopy - $0.20
• Transcribing from tape, film or computer (per hour) - $30
• Duplicating a tape, film or computer information - actual cost
• Delivery, packaging and postage - actual cost

An estimate of charges will be provided if the cost is expected to exceed $25. An advanced deposit of 25% of the estimated charges may be required.

Financially disadvantaged applicants or pensioner concession card holders may have their charges reduced by 25%.

Notice of decision

A notice of decision will be provided as soon as possible, within 45 days from the application or as otherwise agreed. It will include:

• The date that the decision was made
• The name and title of the officer who made the decision
• If the document is exempt, and why it was classified as exempt
• Information on your rights to seek a review of the decision

What types of documents are exempt?

Information that is considered sensitive and would cause harm if disclosed will be exempt from release. Exemptions are made to balance the rights of applicants to access information and the rights of government and third parties to protect their legitimate interests.

Exemptions are made when the information would:

• Reveal personal information
• Damage business interests, government relations or law enforcement
• Adversely affect the day-to-day operations of government agencies

Rights of review

If you are dissatisfied with the decision, you have the right to ask for an internal review by the agency.

• The application must be made within 30 days from receiving the Notice of Decision
• The review will be made by an independent officer, not the decision maker
• You will be notified of the review outcome within 15 days

If you disagree with the review decision, you can apply for an external review with the Information Commissioner. This application must be made within 60 days from receiving the review decision.

Public access to documents

All of our publications are available through this website. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Annual Reports
• Disability Access and Inclusion Plan
• Building Management and Works publications
• Strategic Projects publications
• Building Policies
• Procurement Guides
• Reports, professional papers and presentations

Departmental policy and procedure documents can be accessed by contacting the FOI Coordinator. Publications can be made available in alternate formats for the vision impaired.

Generally, if your application relates to a residential housing matter, we are able to provide the following types of documents outside the FOI process:

• copies of applications submitted by the requestor
• copies of agreements, such as residential tenancy agreements, signed by the requestor
• copies of correspondence sent by us to the requestor.

Housing clients are also able to access and update information online through the Housing Online portal.

Documents not publicly available

• Administration files
• Internal reports
• Personnel files
• Departmental official correspondence
• Electronic correspondence (emails)
• Financial documents
• Contract files
• Tender applications
• Planning documents
• Building plans
• Project implementation and management files
• Compliance reports and files
• Procurement files
• Research, analysis and advice on energy matters
• Evaluation and monitoring files
• Regulatory Gatekeeping assessments and reporting

Access to these documents can be applied for under the Freedom of Information Act 1992.

Shared Services data

You may submit applications for:

• Information about Shared Services' business activities and functions
• Records that were unable to be returned to their client agencies

All other applications will be sent to the originating agency, who have the full set of original records.

Applications for amending your personal information can be lodged with the FOI Coordinator.

You can issue a subpoena for the Department of Housing and Works to produce information by emailing foi@dohw.wa.gov.au or addressing the subpoena to:

The Proper Officer

Department of Housing and Works

Locked Bag 11, Cloisters Square, Perth WA 6000