-
On this page
Freedom of Information caseload reports 2024-25
Find key statistical information about the OAIC’s freedom of information regulatory work, including:
- A summary of the OAIC’s FOI caseload
- IC reviews focus areas and caseload report
- FOI Complaints focus areas and caseload report
Information is updated each quarter. Further statistical information is available in our annual reports.
FOI caseload report for the period 1 July – 30 September 2024
| Caseload | Current active caseload at 30 September | Received in quarter | Finalised in quarter | KPI (% finalised within 12 months) at the end of the period (FYTD) | Number on hand over 12 months old at 30 September | Proportion of applications finalised within 4 months FYTD | Proportion of applications finalised within 6 months FYTD | Proportion of applications finalised over 12 months FYTD | Average time to finalise FYTD (months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IC reviews | 1,789 | 449 | 685 | 61% | 1,009 | 47% | 51% | 39% | 14.8 |
FOI complaints | 38 | 61 | 101 | 77% | 3 | 57% | 64% | 23% | 5.8 |
IC reviews
OAIC IC reviews areas of focus for Quarters 1 and 2 of 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025
For the 2024-25 financial year, the OAIC is currently focusing on:
- IC review applications received 2020 and 2021
- IC reviews applications involving deemed access refusals (where an agency has not provided a decision within the statutory processing timeframe)
- IC reviews where the sole access refusal reason relates to:
- adequacy of searches (s 24A)
- imposition of a charge (s 29)
- practical refusal (s 24)
- secrecy provision (s 38)
- access grants
- IC reviews where the respondent is a Minister
IC reviews caseload report for the period 1 July – 30 September 2024
| Year lodged | Total on hand at 30 September 2024 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 68 |
| 2021 | 269 |
| 2022 | 363 |
| 2023 | 431 |
| 2024 | 658 |
| Total | 1,789 |
| Year lodged | Section 54N (Out of jurisdiction) | Section 54R (Withdrawn) | Section 54W(a)(i) (Frivolous, Misconceived, Lacking in substance, Not in Good Faith) | Section 54W(a)(ii) (Failure to co-operate) | Section 54W(a)(iii) (Lost contact) | Section 54W(b) (Referral to AAT) | Section 54W(c) (Failure to comply with direction) | Section 55F (Agreement) | Section 55K decisions | Total closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 73 |
2021 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 64 |
2022 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 32 | 26 | 0 | 6 | 91 |
2023 | 0 | 12 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 72 |
2024 | 67 | 150 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 118 | 0 | 0 | 385 |
Total | 70 | 210 | 56 | 0 | 8 | 99 | 175 | 0 | 67 | 685 |
FOI Complaints
OAIC FOI Complaints areas of focus for Quarters 1 and 2 of 1 July – 30 June 2025
For the 2024-2025 financial year, the OAIC is currently focusing on:
- FOI complaints received in 2023 and 2024
FOI complaints caseload report for the period 1 July – 30 September 2024
| Year lodged | Total on hand at 30 September 2024 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 35 |
| Total | 38 |
| Year lodged | Section 70 (Out of jurisdiction) | Withdrawn | Section 73(a) (Action not within agency powers) | Section 73(b) (Action can be reviewed by agency, Information Commissioner, court or tribunal) | Section 73(c) (Action can be considered by another body) | Section 73(d)(Complaint to agency and adequately dealt with) | Section 73(e)(Frivolous, Misconceived, Lacking in substance, Not in Good Faith | Section 73(f)(Complainant does not have sufficient interest) | Section 74 (Referred to Ombudsman) | Section 86 (Notice on completion | Total closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
2024 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 68 |
Total | 7 | 15 | 4 | 25 | 2 | 6 | 49 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 101 |
If the Information Commissioner decides not to investigate, or not to continue to investigate, a complaint the Commissioner will notify and provide reasons to the complainant and to the agency. If a decision is made to investigate a complaint or commence a Commissioner-initiated investigation, the Information Commissioner will notify the agency. These matters are covered by Section 75 of the FOI Act.
Alternatively, when an investigation is completed, the Information Commissioner will provide a ‘notice on completion’ to the agency and to the complainant, including the results of the investigation. These matters are covered by Section 86 of the FOI Act.
