Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA)
Section 96 – Information Statement
The Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA) gives people the right to access documents held by all State and local government agencies and certain statutory corporations. Western Power's Freedom of Information (FOI) Officer coordinates the receipt and processing of all FOI applications relating to Western Power.
Purpose of the Act
The Freedom of Information Act 1992 (FOI Act) was introduced in November 1993, to create a general right of access to documents held by State and local government agencies and certain statutory corporations.
As a statutory corporation Western Power aims to make its documents available promptly in accordance with the FOI Act.
What is a document?
For the purposes of the FOI Act, the term "document" covers many forms of records and includes files, computer printouts, maps, plans, photographs, tape recordings, films, video tapes and electronically stored information.
Western Power's documents relate to a variety of functions and activities such as:
- all aspects of the management of the SWIN, including planning, construction, maintenance, emergency response and associated business processes
- the availability of electricity supply to customers
- educating the community on risks associated with the electricity network
- the delivery of efficient electrical services
- customer network information (such as power supply connections, reliability and capacity, and community consultation on projects).
Documents available free of charge and without a FOI application
We produce and release a number of reports each year which are available to download at no cost from this website. These reports are:
- Annual report
- Statement of Corporate Intent
- Annual planning report
- Annual asset management report
- Annual reliability and power quality report.
We also produce numerous pamphlets, information booklets, brochures and other printed material regarding various issues on electricity matters. These documents are also available to the general public, free of charge, from our head office (subject to availability).
Documents that are available only through a FOI application
The types of document we hold that may, subject to the FOI Act, be accessed under a FOI application include the following:
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Email communications |
Audio tapes |
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Computer records |
Letters |
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Internal memoranda |
Facsimiles |
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Reports (not already publicly available) |
Diagrams/Plans |
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Notebook or diary entries |
Photographs |
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Presentations |
Policies |
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Office manuals |
Contracts |
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Incident reports relating to accidents, electrical faults and outages |
Minutes and agendas of meetings |
Receipt of FOI applications
FOI applications, payments, correspondence and general enquiries may be directed to Western Power's FOI Officer.
Processing applications
The FOI Officer is the initial contact point for all FOI-related matters.
All FOI applications must:
- be in writing
- give specific information so that the documents requested can be identified
- give an Australian address to which notices can be sent
- be lodged at the agency with the relevant application fee payable
Applications will be acknowledged in writing and you will be notified of the decision within 45 days (or other time permitted under the FOI Act).
Fees and charges
The rate of fees and charges are set under the FOI Act Regulations. Apart from the application fee for non-personal information, all charges are discretionary. More information below.
Notice of decision
We will give you a notice of decision within 45 days which will include:
- the date the decision was made
- the name and designation of the officer who made the decision
- if access is refused, the reasons why
- details of the rights of review and the procedures to follow to exercise those rights
Rights of review
When we have considered the application, we will provide a notice of decision to the applicant. If the decision is to not amend the information in accordance with the application, under the FOI Act the applicant has the right to apply to us to have the decision reviewed internally, unless the decision was made by our CEO in which case the right of review is to the Information Commissioner.
Applications for review of a decision must be sent to us in writing within 30 calendar days of the notice of decision. The application must be sent to Western Power's Freedom of Information Officer.
Where Western Power's CEO was the original decision-maker or any matter remains in dispute after an internal review, the applicant has the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner who will then decide whether to conduct an "external review" of the matter. The complaint must be lodged within 60 days of the notice of decision.
In certain instances, questions of law that arise in the course of dealing with a complaint may be referred to the Supreme Court.
The internal and external reviews may confirm our decision, vary the decision, or completely set aside the decision and provide a substitute decision. No fees or charges apply to internal or external reviews.
Documents we hold
Our records relate to functions and activities such as:
- transmission and distribution documentation
- reform policy
- environmental policy
- Minister's support
- customer network information
Contact for FOI applications, payments, correspondence and general enquiries
Please send all FOI applications, correspondence, payments and general enquiries to our Freedom of Information Officer:
FOI Coordinator
Western Power
363 Wellington Street
Perth 6000
This Information Statement is prepared for the purposes of section 96 of the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (FOI Act).
The FOI Act provides a general right of access to documents held by State and local government agencies, and certain statutory corporations. Subject to certain exceptions, where a person or corporation applies under the FOI Act for access to documents, the FOI Act requires the agency or statutory corporation to provide access to documents.
As a statutory corporation subject to the FOI Act, Western Power aims to make its documents available promptly in accordance with the FOI Act.
The FOI Act requires us to make available details about the kind of information we hold. The Information Statement outlines these details.
In addition to creating a right of access to documents, the FOI Act also requires us to ensure that personal information that we hold about an individual is "accurate, complete, up-to-date and not misleading".
This information Statement outlines how to make an application under the FOI Act (FOI application) for access to our documents or to amend personal information that we hold about an individual.
Our Freedom of Information Officer coordinates the receipt and processing of all FOI applications.
Regulations made under the FOI Act prescribe the rate of fees and charges relating to FOI applications for access to documents. Apart from the application fee for non-personal information, the imposition of other charges is within Western Power's discretion.
No fees or charges apply to an application or request for access to personal information (i.e. information about the applicant).
The application fee for access to non-personal information is $30.
Other charges and fees may apply in relation to time taken by staff in dealing with an application for non-personal information. The following table contains the applicable fees and charges.
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Description |
Cost |
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Personal information about applicant |
No fee |
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Application fee (for non-personal information) |
$30 |
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Charge for time taken dealing with application (per hour, or pro rata) |
$30 |
| Photocopying staff time (per hour, or pro rata) |
$30 |
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Photocopies of documents |
20c per page |
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Transcribing from tape, film or computer (per hour, or pro rata) |
$30 |
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Charge for duplicating a tape, film or computer information |
Actual cost |
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Charge for delivery, packaging and postage |
Actual cost |
Western Power's Freedom of Information Officer is the initial contact point for all FOI related matters (including FOI applications, payments, correspondence and general enquiries).
All FOI applications for access to documents must:
- be in writing
- provide adequate and specific information so that the documents requested can be identified
- expressly state that the application is being made under the FOI Act
- give an Australian address to which notices can be sent
- be accompanied by the relevant application fees.
Receipt of a FOI application will be acknowledged in writing. Western Power has a period of 45 days from receipt of a valid FOI application (or such further time permitted under the FOI Act) in which to process an application and decide whether access to the requested documents will be permitted or whether documents are exempt in part or full in accordance with Schedule 1 of the FOI Act.
Notice of decision
After Western Power has considered a valid FOI application for access to documents or to amend personal information, it will provide a notice of decision to the applicant outlining:
- the date the decision was made
- the name and designation of the officer who made the decision
- if the request relates to accessing documents, whether access to some or all of the documents has been permitted or, if not, the reasons for the refusal
- if the request relates to amendment of personal information, whether Western Power has agreed to amend personal details as per the request or, if not, the reasons for the refusal to amend the information
- details of any applicable final charges incurred in relation to processing the access application, payable by the applicant prior to the release of documents, and
- details of the rights of review and the procedures to follow to exercise those rights.
An individual has a right to apply to us to amend his or her personal information in a document held by us that is:
- inaccurate
- incomplete
- out of date
- misleading.
The closest relative of a deceased person has the right to apply for amendment of personal information about the deceased person.
An application to amend must:
- be in writing
- expressly state that the application is made under the FOI Act
- give enough details to enable the document that contains the information to be identified
- give details of how the person believes the information is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading
- give the person's reasons for holding that belief
give details of the amendment(s) that the applicant requests be made - give an Australian address to which notices can be sent.
Receipt of an application to amend personal information will be acknowledged in writing. Western Power has a period of 30 days (or such further time permitted under the FOI Act) from the receipt of a valid application in which to process the application and decide whether to amend the personal information as requested.