Freedom of information

Updated 28 Jun 2023

Introduction

Any enquiries regarding freedom of information should initially be directed to the Deputy Electoral Commissioner, ACT Electoral Commission.

The Chairperson of the Commission is the principal officer of the Commission for the purposes of the FOI Act in relation to functions and powers vested in the Commission.

The Electoral Commissioner is the principal officer of the office of the Electoral Commissioner for the purposes of the FOI Act in relation to functions and powers vested in the Electoral Commissioner.

Establishment and powers

The ACT Electoral Commission is an independent statutory authority established by the Electoral Act 1992.

The Commission and the Electoral Commissioner exercise powers under the Electoral Act, the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1994 and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Act 2008 .

Arrangements for external participation

There are several avenues available under the Electoral Act for external participation in electoral matters. Members of the public are invited to make submissions on proposed changes to electoral boundaries. Members of the public are also invited to lodge objections to applications for registration of political parties. An elector may object to the enrolment of a person on the ground that the person is not entitled to enrolment.

Approaches from the community on any electoral matter are welcomed by the Commission.

Documents

Extracts from the ACT electoral roll are made available for public inspection (but not purchase) without charge at the office of the Commission.

Records related to the issue of declaration votes for ACT Legislative Assembly elections are made available for public inspection (but not purchase) without charge at the office of the Commission during the relevant election period.

The following documents are available for inspection and purchase:

  • The register of political parties;
  • Annual returns of donations, expenditure and debts submitted by political parties, MLAs, associated entities and donors; and
  • Election returns of donations and expenditure submitted by political parties, candidates, broadcasters and publishers, donors and other political participants.

The documents listed on our publications page are provided free of charge.

Facilities for access

FOI requests should be directed to the Deputy Electoral Commissioner at the ACT Electoral Commission.

Open access

These documents have been compiled in accordance with the ACT Freedom of Information Act  2016.

Freedom of Information requests

For FOI requests, please ensure your application provides all the details required for us to assist you. In general:

  • Identify the documents you need.
  • Write out the request giving as much information as you can about the documents you want (for example, give a file number, a reference to a newspaper report or describe the subject matter in which you are interested.
  • Provide a postal address in Australia where correspondence can be sent to you.
  • Post or email your request to the Deputy Electoral Commissioner who fulfils the role of FOI Information Officer for the ACT Electoral Commission.

FOI disclosure log

Application for review of decisions on access applications may be made in writing to the ACT Ombudsman. To do so, applicants or affected persons should write to the Ombudsman requesting a review:

Note: In most cases, you must apply for an Ombudsman review within 20 working days after the day that notice of the decision was published on the above disclosure log.

A further option for review of decisions on access applications may be available under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1989. Advice about pursuing this option may be obtained from a qualified legal practitioner