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Legislation

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) is Australian Commonwealth legislation which gives members of the public rights of access to official documents of the Government of the Commonwealth and of its agencies.

The 1982 FOI Act had its origins from an FOI Bill introduced in 1972 which was reviewed by the Senate Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs.

In Australia, the FOI Act was passed at the federal level in 1982, applying to all "ministers, departments and public authorities" of the Commonwealth. There is similar legislation in all states and territories.

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