Forest Products Commission - Freedom of information

Functions performed by FPC that may be of interest to members of the public include (but are not limited to):

• field operations, such as road construction or timber harvesting and haulage;
• the provision of employment, especially in rural areas;
• access to WA timbers; and
• markets for WA timbers.

Information on how we engage with our stakeholders is available on our Stakeholder Engagement 

The FOI Act defines a ‘document’ as:

• any record;
• any part of a record;
• any copy, reproduction or duplicate of a record; or
• any part of a copy, reproduction or duplicate of a record.

Records can include files, computer printouts, maps, plans, photographs, tape recordings, films, video tapes and electronically stored information.

Some documents are protected from disclosure because their release would have an adverse effect on the private and business interests of individuals or would hinder the proper functioning of government. 

FOI exemption information can be found on the Office of the Information Commissioner website. 

Applications under the FOI Act can only be lodged in writing and must:

• provide sufficient information so the documents requested can be identified;
• provide an Australian address to which notices can be sent; and
• include any application fee payable.

FOI applications may be submitted using our FOI application form.

Applications can be sent 

• Via email - info@fpc.wa.gov.au; or 
• By mail - Freedom of Information Coordinator, Forest Products Commission, Locked Bag 888, PERTH BUSINESS CENTRE WA 6849

Your application will be acknowledged in writing and you will be notified of the decision within 45 days.

A scale of fees and charges is set under the Freedom of Information Regulations 1993. Apart from the application fee for non-personal information, all charges are discretionary. The charges are as follows:

Access to documents can be granted by way of inspection, a copy of a document, audio or video tape, a computer disk or a transcript of a recorded shorthand or encoded document from which words can be reproduced.

Where the agency is unable to grant access in the form requested, access may be given in a different form.

Notice of decision

As soon as possible, but in any case within 45 calendar days, a notice of decision will be provided and include information such as:

• the date the decision was made.
• the name and designation of the person who made the decision.
• if access to a document is refused, the reasons for refusing access.
• information on the right to review and the procedures to be followed to exercise those rights.

Rights of review

• Internal review

Applicants who are dissatisfied with an FPC decision are entitled to ask for an internal review. Applications should be made in writing within 30 calendar days of receiving the notice of decisions. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the review within 15 calendar days.

• External review

If the applicant disagrees with the results of the internal review, they can apply to the Information Commissioner for an external review. A request for an external review must be submitted within 60 calendar days of the notice of decision for internal review (or 30 calendar days for third parties). 

No fees or charges are applied to internal or external reviews.