Department of Treasury – Freedom of Information (FOI)

Apply for the right to access documents held by the Department of Treasury
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The Western Australian Freedom of Information Act 1992 (the FOI Act) gives the public the right to apply for access to documents held by State Government agencies, including the Department of Treasury.

We are required to assist your application at the lowest reasonable cost, and to ensure that any personal information about you within our records is accurate, complete, up to date and not misleading.

Documents that you may apply for are stored in diverse formats, including paper and electronically stored information. You do not need to give a reason when making your application, and any reasons that you may provide will not affect your right to access.

How to make an FOI application – Department of Treasury

Everything you need to know to get your application started.

For FOI applications relating to Treasury, you can apply online with our online application form.

All enquiries should be addressed to the Manager Freedom of Information, Treasury. 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.

Fees and charges

All fees are set by the Freedom of Information Regulations 1993. Apart from the application fee, all fees are discretionary and can be waived.

  • Personal information about applicant - no fee
  • Application fee for non-personal information - $30
  • 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 advanced deposit of 25% of the estimated charges may be required.

Financially disadvantaged applicants or pensioner concession card holders will have their fee reduced by 25%.

Notice of decision

A notice of decision will be provided as soon as possible, within 45 days from the application. 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.

Document availability

When completing your application, this section will help you identify whether the information that you are applying for is publicly available.

Public access to documents

All of the Department’s periodic finance, economic and other publications are available through this website. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Annual reports
  • Budget Papers 
  • Economic Indicators
  • Economic Research Papers 
  • Economic Summaries 
  • Financial Policy
  • Revenue / State Taxes 
  • State Finances
  • Strategic Asset Management Framework
  • Submissions

As part of the broader State Government initiative to ensure accessibility to information, our publications are provided wherever possible in an accessible format. On request, publications can be made available in alternate formats.

Department of Treasury’s policy and procedure documents can be made available on request by contacting the Manager FOI. Access is available by inspection or through copies provided.

Documents not publicly available

  • Administration files
  • Internal reports 
  • Personnel files
  • Departmental official correspondence 
  • Electronic correspondence (emails) 
  • Financial documents
  • Contract files 
  • Tender applications 
  • Planning documents
  • Project management files

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

Amending personal information

You have the right to apply for your personal information in our records to be changed if it is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading.

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

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