Not all information is automatically available in response to a request for it.
Part IV of the Freedom of Information Act relates to exemptions and describe documents or information that may be refused access. Documents include:
- documentation created before 1 January 1989 (although individuals have the right to access their own personal information regardless of its age)
- personal affairs of another person
- internal working documents
- commercially confidential information
- information supplied in confidence
- documents affecting legal proceedings
- documents relating to a closed meeting of Council.
In some cases, you may be refused access to the entire document. Or you may be given access to a partial document with the exempt information deleted.
Personal affairs includes the name, address or any information that is identifiable of somebody other than the applicant. For example, an applicant may wish to know the name and address of a neighbour regarding a complaint - this information would be considered exempt material under Section 33 of the Act and will not be released.
Your application may also be refused if it is considered ‘voluminous in nature’, in that it would interfere unreasonably with the operations or performance of Council.