The Attorney-General's Department assists the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, Minister for Privacy and Freedom of Information, to administer the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

The objects of the FOI Act are to give the Australian community broad access to information held by the Government by requiring agencies to proactively publish certain information and giving citizens a right of access to Government held documents. Information held by the Government is to be regarded as a national resource and treated accordingly.

Members of the public seeking access to documents held by the Attorney‑General’s Department should lodge a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request with the Department.

How to make an FOI application to this Department

Applications for access to documents must be:

• in writing (including in electronic form)
• provide enough information concerning the documents sought as is reasonably necessary to enable the Department to identify them

FOI applications should be sent to:

The Director
FOI and Privacy Section
Attorney-General's Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600

Or email: FOI@ag.gov.au

Members of the public seeking access to documents held by other Government agencies should lodge requests directly with those agencies.