Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The government opposes the amendments. The cost to government of processing FOI applications is significant and increasing, costing $97.99 million in 2024-25 compared with $36.32 million in 2010-11. Further, vexatious and abusive requests and repeat requests by applicants for the same information impact on the ability of agencies and ministers to process other FOI requests in a timely manner. The ability to reduce these FOI requests will assist to manage these issues. The bill includes a regulation-making power to impose application fees for FOI requests and review processes. It also includes appropriate safeguards. The bill expressly prevents application fees from being imposed in relation to requests for an individual's own personal information. Any fee regulations must provide for waivers or remission in circumstances of financial hardship. The regulations can provide for circumstances in which fees should be refunded. Regulations to establish application fees under the bill will be subject to scrutiny and disallowance. All other Australian jurisdictions except the ACT have application fees for FOI requests.

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