No new FOI Application fee in Victoria

FEE UNIT (NON) AMENDMENT

For the first time since the introduction of fee units in 2004, the Treasurer has not amended the value of a fee unit (on which FOI application fees are based).

That means that from 1 July 2020 the application fee for a request for access to documents under s 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) will remain as $29.60.  The Victorian fee unit value published by the Treasurer on 23 April 2020 remains at $14.81 from 1 July 2020.

Even so, agencies should take the opportunity to ensure that they have already amended:

• any published material showing application fees payable for requests to access;
• website information referring to application fees or charges;
• how access charges tied to “fee units” are calculated (for example search time which is calculated at 1.5 fee units per hour or part of an hour).

FOI Solutions is happy to assist with any queries about what this means for your agency.  Our 2019 Access Charges Calculator spreadsheet remains equally applicable. 

If you would like a copy of this spreadsheet, which will assist you work out those charges tied to fee units, please email Elif from our office requesting a copy of the Access Charges Calculator.