Information Publication Scheme

Information Publication Scheme logo

Subsection 8(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 requires agencies to publish certain information on their websites. 'Publish' can include a statement that the information exists along with details of how it can be obtained. The information required by subsection 8(2) to be published by this department is as follows:

Section 8 plan

Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act) provides as follows:

8 (1) An agency must prepare a plan showing the following:

  • what information the agency proposes to publish for the purposes of the Part
  • how, and to whom, the agency proposes to publish information for the purposes of this Part
  • how the agency otherwise proposes to comply with this Part.'

Information to be published

The Attorney-General's Department (the department) proposes to publish, for the purposes of this Part, the following information:

  • this plan
  • details of the structure of the department's organisation
  • details of the functions of the department, including its decision making powers and other powers affecting members of the public
  • details of appointments of officers of the department that are made under Acts (other than APS employees)
  • information in the department's annual report
  • details of arrangements for members of the public to comment on specific policy proposals for which the department is responsible, including how, and to whom, those comments may be made
  • information in documents to which the department routinely gives access in response to requests under Part III of the Act except:
  • personal information about any individual the publishing of which would be unreasonable
  • information about the business, commercial, financial or professional affairs of any person the publishing of which would be unreasonable
  • other information of a kind determined by the Information Commissioner the publishing of which would be unreasonable
  • information held by the department that is routinely provided to the Parliament in response to requests and orders from the Parliament
  • the contact details of an officer who can be contacted about access to information and documents held by the department
  • the department's 'operational information' – that is, information held by the department for the purpose of performing or exercising its functions or powers in making decisions or recommendations affecting members of the public or a particular person or entity, or classes of persons or entities (for example, departmental rules, guidelines, practices and precedents relating to those decisions and recommendations).

How, and to whom, the information will be published

How

The above information will be published on the department's website. In accordance with the requirements of subsection 8D (3) of the Act, the information will be published by:

  • making it available for downloading from the website (where practicable to do so)
  • publishing on the website a link to another website from which the information can be downloaded, or
  • publishing on the website other details of how the information may be obtained – for instance, the name and contact details of relevant departmental officers from whom the information or document can be obtained.

To whom

The above information will be published to members of the public generally and, where the department considers it appropriate to do so, to particular classes of persons or entities.

How the department proposes to otherwise comply with the requirements of Part II of the Act

The department intends to comply with the other requirements of Part II as follows:

  • An FOI contact officer will be appointed for each Division of the department. Those officers will be responsible for publishing (after the agreement of their respective Division Heads and the Freedom of Information and Parliamentary Section has been obtained), the above information and documents held by their Divisions and then ensuring that the information and documents remain accurate and up to date. They will also be responsible for ensuring that all the other requirements of Part II of the Act are complied with.
  • Officers in the Freedom of Information and Parliamentary Section will provide final clearance of material to be published. They will also be available to provide advice to the Divisional contact officers on the requirements of Part II, including:
  • advice as to what information and documents should and should not be published; and
  • the circumstances in which charges may be levied and how they should be calculated and published.
  • The contact officers will ensure that all relevant guidelines issued by the Information Commissioner under section 93A of the Act are complied with.
  • In performing a function or exercising a power under Part II of the Act, the department will also have regard to the objects of the Act as set out in sections 3 and 3A.
  • The department will cooperate with the regular reviews of the department's handling of the publication scheme which will be carried out by the Information Commissioner.
  • The department will ensure that, if some of its 'operational information' in relation to a function or power of the department has not been published on its website and a person engages in conduct relevant to the performance of the function or exercise of the power and, at the time of engaging in that conduct the person was not aware of the unpublished information, the person will not be subjected to any prejudice by reason only of the application of any rule, guideline or practice in the unpublished information if the person could have avoided that prejudice had he or she been aware of the unpublished information.

Structure of the department

Functions of the department

Details of appointments of officers of the department made under Acts (other than APS employees)
There are no appointments.

Incoming Government Brief 2022

Annual reports prepared by the department

Annual reports published by the department

Details of arrangements for members of the public to comment on specific policy proposals for which the department is responsible (including how and to whom those comment may be made)

Other committees

  • The Risk Management Working Group on Chemical Security
  • The Chemical Security Risk Assessment Technical Working Group
  • Business-Government Advisory Group on National Security
  • Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council and associated sub-committees
  • National Critical Infrastructure Resilience Committee
  • National Emergency Management Committee and its sub-committees and reference groups
  • ICT Committee

The department also regularly calls for comments and input from the public on various policy proposals by means of requests posted on its website.

Consultations, reforms and reviews

Information in documents to which the department routinely give access in response to FOI requests made to it

The department does not routinely or regularly give access to any particular type or class of information.

Information routinely provided by the department to Parliament in response to requests or orders from the Parliament

Six monthly responses to the 'Murray Motion' - list of department contracts with value greater than $100 000.

Lists of titles of files created by AGD are posted on the AGD website twice a year.

The department's operational information

  • Project Agreement for Family Advocacy and Support Services
  • Native Title (Assistance from Attorney General) Guidelines 2012
  • The Commonwealth Guidelines for Legal Financial Assistance 2012
  • Programme Guidelines Indigenous Legal Assistance Programme 2015-16
  • Native Title Anthropologist Grants Program Guidelines
  • Guidelines on the Marriage Act 1961 for authorised celebrants
  • Family Relationship Services Program Guidelines
  • Guidelines on how to become a recognised denomination
  • Program Guidelines for stakeholders of the Community Legal Services Program (CCLSP)
  • National Partnership Agreement (between the States and Territories and the Australian Government) on Legal Assistance Services
  • Commonwealth Fraud Control Framework
  • Various Grant Program Guidelines such as the Guidelines for the Secure Schools Program
  • Administrative Law Policy Guide (setting out the policy framework followed in providing administrative law policy advice to government agencies developing policy proposals, legislation and decision making guidelines)
  • Applicant Guidelines for a grant under the Grants to Australian Organisation Program
  • Information relating to the administration of the Australian Government Marriage Celebrants Program
  • Information relating to the department's responsibilities and functions as the Australian Central Authority for intercountry adoption.
  • Application form – return of a child under the Hague Convention
  • Flowchart depicting the application process for return of an abducted child to Australia
  • Guide for applicants – applying for the return of a child under the Hague Convention
  • Your privacy when making an application under the Hague Convention
  • Fact sheet—Waiver of Extradition
  • Fact sheet—Provisional Arrest Requests
  • Fact sheet—Overview of the Extradition Process
  • Flowchart depicting current procedure for incoming extradition requests under the Extradition Act 1988
  • Flowchart depicting current procedure for incoming extradition requests from New Zealand under the Extradition Act 1988
  • Flowchart depicting current procedure for outgoing extradition requests
  • Flowchart depicting current procedure for outgoing extradition requests to New Zealand under the Extradition Act 1988
  • International Transfer of Prisoners Statement of Policy, outlining the Australian Government policies that guide the assessment of applications for transfer.
  • Flowcharts depicting the incoming and outgoing processes for International Transfers of Prisoners
  • Frequently asked questions on specific details of International Transfers of Prisoners to and from Australia
  • Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010—general fact sheet
  • Starting Australian court proceedings against a person in New Zealand
  • Requiring people to give evidence
  • Determining where to hear a case
  • Appearance at court via video or audio link
  • Registering and enforcing civil court judgments across the Tasman
  • Checklist—service of documents in Australia—documents drafted in English
  • Checklist—service of documents in Australia—documents not drafted in English
  • How to prepare a request for service abroad using the Hague Service Convention
  • How to prepare a request for service using a bilateral treaty
  • Preparing a request for service using diplomatic channels
  • Taking evidence in Australia for Foreign Court Proceedings
  • FAQs on the Debt Agreement Reform Bill

Copies of any of the documents listed above may be obtained by contacting the department's Freedom of Information and Parliamentary Section at foi@ag.gov.au. ​​​​

Related websites

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner