New FOI application fee in Victoria
Fee unit amendment
Please note that from 1 July 2017 the application fee for a request for access to documents under s 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) (“FOI Act”) will be $28.40.
The Victorian Government Gazette (No. G13 of 2017) dated 30 March 2017[1] contained a notice from the Treasurer advising that the value of one fee unit under the Monetary Units Act 2004 will, from 1 July 2017, be $14.22.
The FOI Act states that an application fee to accompany a request for access is two fee units. Therefore, from 1 July 2017 the application fee will be $28.40. Note that section 7(3) of the Monetary Units Act requires rounding to the nearest 10 cents - the actual figure is $28.44, but it is rounded down to $28.40.
We strongly recommend that your agency should amend any forms, literature, web sites or other information generated by your agency to reflect that change with effect from 1 July 2017.
Of course, the increase of the value of a fee unit to $14.22 will also impact on the calculation of some access charges under the Freedom of Information (Access Charges) Regulations 2014. For example, to search for hard copy documents, from 1 July 2017 an agency will be permitted to charge $21.30 for one hour of search time.
Finally, just another timely reminder that GST is NOT payable on any application fees or access charges under the FOI Act.
If you require any further information or assistance about how this update affects your agency, please do not hesitate to contact us.
FOI Solutions
Tel: (03) 9601 4111
Fax: (03) 9601 4101 or
Email: mick@foisolutions.com.au
Dated: 4 April 2017