It is the aim of the FPC to make information available promptly and at the least possible cost and, wherever possible, documents will be provided outside the Freedom of Information (FOI) process.
If information is not routinely available, the FOI Act provides the right to apply for documents held by the FPC and to enable the public to ensure that personal information in documents is accurate, complete, up-to-date and not misleading.
The FPC is governed by the Forest Products Act 2000 and some sections of the Forest Management Regulations 1993.
How the FPC's functions affect members of the public
Show moreFunctions performed by us that affect members of the public include (but are not limited to):
- impact of field operations such as road construction and timber harvesting on local amenity values or local convenience
- the provision of employment, especially in rural areas
- access to resources
- markets for resources.
Information on how we engage with our stakeholders is available on our Stakeholder Engagement page.
Documents
Show moreWhat is a document?
The glossary contained in the FOI Act defines a ‘document’ as:
- any record
- any part of a record
- any copy, reproduction or duplicate of a record
- 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.
Documents held by the FPC and are available on our website at no cost:
- Information sheets
- Industry development plans
- Policies and procedures
- Corporate publications
- Statement of Corporate Intent
- Strategic Plan
- Annual Reports
- Karri forest management plan and HCV assessment
- South West native forest harvest plans and coupe maps
- Defined forest area maps.
The types of documents held by the FPC for which an FOI application is needed includes (but is not limited to):
- Administrative information, audit reports and supporting documentation
- Business plans
- Contract information
- Incident reports
- Internal memos
- Ministerial correspondence, briefing notes
- Minutes, agendas and papers of meetings
- Staff or human resources information
- Records relating to the administrative operations of FPC
- Service level agreements/memorandum of understandings
- Tender/quotation responses
- Unpublished and working drafts
FOI procedures and access arrangements
Show moreAmendments to personal information
Members of the public who believe that personal information held by the FPC is inaccurate, incomplete, out-of-date or misleading may apply in writing to have the information corrected. Applications of this nature, which are free, should be sent to our FOI Coordinator.
Lodging your FOI request
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
- include any application fee payable.
The applications may be in the form of a letter or you can use our FOI application form.
Applications should be addressed to:
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.
FPC fees and charges
Show moreA 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:
| Type of fee | |
|---|---|
| Personal information about the applicant | No fee |
| Application fee (for non-personal information) | $30 |
| Type of charge | |
| Charge for time taken dealing with the application | $30 per hour |
| Access time supervised by staff | $30 per hour |
| Employee time for photocopying | $30 per hour |
| Per photocopy | $0.20 |
| Transcribing information from tape, film or computer | $30 per hour |
| Duplicating a tape, film or computer information | Actual cost |
| Deposits | |
| Financially disadvantaged applicants or those issued with the prescribed pensioner concession cards | Any charges reduced by 25% |
| Advance deposit may be required | 25% |
Notice of decision and right of review
Show moreForms of access
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.
