HomeFreedom of Information (FOI)

Freedom of Information (FOI)

The Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA) gives members of the public the right to apply for access to documents held by the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA), subject to the provisions and exemptions contained in the Act. The Act also enables individuals to apply to amend personal information that is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading.

How to Make an FOI Application

FOI applications must:

Be made in writing.
Provide sufficient detail to identify the documents requested.
Include an Australian address for correspondence.
Clearly state that the request is made under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA).

Applications can be submitted by:

Email: cfo@mriwa.wa.gov.au

Fees and Charges

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA):

There is generally a $30 application fee for applications seeking access to non-personal information.
No application fee applies when an applicant is seeking access solely to their own personal information.
Additional charges may apply for dealing with an application, including locating, retrieving, collating and copying documents, as permitted under the Act.

Applicants will be advised of any applicable charges before work proceeds.

Access Arrangements

Access to documents can be granted by way of inspection, a copy of a document, a copy of an audio or video tape, a computer disk, a transcript of a recorded, shorthand or encoded document from which words can be reproduced.

Notice of Decision

As soon as possible, but in any case within 45 days of receipt of freedom of information application, the applicant will be provided with a notice of decision which will include details such as:

The date which the decision was made;
The name and the designation of the officer who made the decision;
If the document is an exempt document the reasons for classifying the matter exempt; or the fact that access is given to an edited document; and,
Information on the right to review and the procedures to be followed to exercise those rights.

Refusal of Access

An applicant who is dissatisfied with a decision of the Institute is entitled to ask for an internal review by the Institute. Application should be made in writing within 30 days of receiving the notice of decision.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the review within 15 days.

If the applicant disagrees with the result the applicant can apply to the Information Commissioner for an external review, and details would be advised to applicants when the internal review decision is issued.

Commercial and Confidential Information

MRIWA works closely with industry, research organisations, universities and government agencies. As a result, some documents may contain:

Commercially sensitive information;
Confidential business information;
Third-party intellectual property;
Information provided in confidence; or
Material that is otherwise exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA).

Where requested documents contain exempt matter, MRIWA is required to carefully assess the information and may consult affected third parties before making a decision. Information that is exempt under the Act may be withheld, deleted or redacted from documents released in response to an FOI application.

Information Available Outside FOI

Before lodging an FOI application, applicants are encouraged to review information already available on the MRIWA website, including annual reports, research publications, governance information and project information. Many documents can be provided administratively without the need for a formal FOI application.

Page was last reviewed 30 July 2026