FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

The objectives of the Freedom of Information Act 1992 are to:

  • enable the public to participate more effectively in governing the State
  • make the persons and bodies that are responsible for State and Local Government more accountable to the public

In furthering these objectives, the Freedom of Information Act 1992 requires agencies to publish an annual information statement. An Information Guide to the Shire of Chittering serves as a reference guide to the function of the Council, its responsibilities and information. The inclusion of this section in Council’s annual report meets the annual information statement requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 1992.

For further information please contact the Shire's Freedom of Information Coordinator on (08) 9576 4600 or alternatively contact the Office of the Information Commissioner (12th Floor, St Martin's Tower, 44 St George's Terrace, Perth WA 6000 or PO Box Z5386, St George's Terrace, Perth WA 6831)

How to Lodge a Freedom of Information Application

All applications require the following information and items to be submitted:

  • A completed Freedom of Information application form
  • Enough detail to enable the requested documents to be identified i.e. property address, subject matter, date range
  • An address and contact telephone number

All applications can be lodged by post addressed to the:

Freedom of Information Coordinator
Shire of Chittering
PO Box 70
BINDOON WA 6502

or delivered in person to the Shire of Chittering, 6177 Great Northern Highway, Bindoon.

Please note: The application is not considered valid until the application fee has been paid in full.

What is the cost?

Costings
Application Fee

$31.00
Charge for time taken by staff dealing with the application (per hour or pro-rata for part of an hour) $30.00
Charge for access time supervised by staff
(per hour or pro-rata for a part of an hour) plus the actual additional cost of the agency or any special arrangements i.e. hire of facilities or equipment		 $30.00
Transcribing information $30.00

Copying charges per hour or pro-rata for part of an hour

Per copy

$30.00

$0.20
Delivery, package and postage At Cost
Advance deposit 25% of estimated charges

Reduction of charges

For an applicant who is:

  • impecunious, in the opinion of the agency to whom the application is made; or
  • the holder of a current valid pensioner concession card issued on behalf of the Commonwealth to that person, or any other card which may be prescribed as being a pensioner concession card under the Rates and Charges (Rebates and Deferments) Act 1992 the charges payable, with the exception of the application fee, are reduced by 25 per cent

What is personal information?

The Freedom of Information Act 1992 defines personal information as:

"Information or an opinion, whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an individual, whether living or dead"

  1. whose identity is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained from the information or opinion; or
  2. who can be identified by reference to an identification number or other identifying particular such as fingerprint, retina print or body sample

Therefore property matters are not deemed personal. For further information please contact the Shire's Freedom of Information Coordinator on (08) 9576 4600.

Freedom of Information Statement 2023/2024

Freedom of Information Application Form and Notes

PDF files are used on www.chittering.wa.gov.au for large documents and other resources. Where a document is not designed to be exclusively printed, an accessible alternative file (for example HTML, Rich Text) may be obtained by emailing chatter@chittering.wa.gov.au and request the publication by quoting the title of the document and your requested format.