The Queensland Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI Act)  provides the community with a legally enforceable right of access to documents subject to a limited number of exemptions.

Applications for access to documents of QFD are made under the RTI Act, even if every document contains the applicant’s personal information.  All applications to amend personal information contained in QFD documents will also be made under the RTI Act.

An application must:

  • be in writing and be accompanied by the application fee (if requesting non-personal information)
  • provide sufficient information concerning the document(s) as is reasonably necessary to enable a responsible officer of the agency to identify the document(s)
  • specify an address for notification of a decision
  • for an application for access to a document containing personal information of the applicant, be accompanied by
    • Evidence of identity of the applicant and
    • if an agent is acting for the applicant, evidence of the agent’s authorisation 
       

Where an application is made for documents that concern an applicant’s personal information, certified identification will be required before documents can be released. An example of appropriate identification is a birth certificate, passport or driver's licence. The copy of the identification document must be certified by a qualified witness as being a correct copy of the original document.

A qualified witness means:

  • a lawyer or notary public
  • a commissioner for declarations
  • a justice of the peace
  • a pharmacist

Applications should be addressed to:

The Manager
Right to Information and Information Privacy Unit
Queensland Fire Department
Right to Information and Privacy
GPO Box 1425
Brisbane Qld 4001

Telephone: (07) 3635 3303
Email QFD.RTI@fire.qld.gov.au
 

Fees and charges

Application fee

An application fee is only payable for applications for access to documents that do not contain the applicant’s personal information.

The application fee is currently $57.65.

The application fee cannot be waived and must be paid.

There is no application fee payable for an application for access to a document containing personal information of the applicant.  

Processing charges

The processing charge is the charge for the time QFD spends:

  • searching for or retrieving a document; and
  • making a decision or doing things related to making a decision on an application for access to non-personal documents.

Processing charges are charged per 15 minutes or part of 15 minutes of the time spent working on the application, including the first five hours, when QFD spends more than 5 hours processing the application.

The processing charges are currently $8.95 per 15 minutes (or part thereof).

There will be no processing charges applied if QFD spends less than 5 hours processing the application.

There is no processing charge in relation to documents containing the applicant’s personal information, however, access charges may be payable.

Access Charges

Access charges are the cost of giving the applicant access to a document and can apply even if the document contains the applicant’s personal information.

The cost of giving access to an A4 black and white photocopy is currently $0.25 per page.

There is currently no cost of giving access to documents electronically by email or electronic file transfer.

You may apply to have the processing and access charges waived if you are in financial hardship and have met the requirements under the RTI Act.  

Form of payment

Payment of the application fee, processing and access charges can be made by:

  • cheque/money order (made payable to ‘Queensland Fire Department’); or
  • secure payment link via BPoint.
     

Time taken to process applications

All applicants will receive either written or verbal acknowledgement from the Right to Information and Information Privacy Unit within 10 business days of the application being received. QFD is required to provide a decision on an application within 25 business days of QFD receiving a valid application. If a document requested is from a third party, for example another government agency or someone who may have concerns with the release of the information, consultation with this other party may be required. In these circumstances QFD is given an additional 10 business days to finalise the application.

Reviewing a decision

If an applicant is dissatisfied or “aggrieved” with the decision of made by QFD, applicants can apply to QFD for an internal review of the decision, or apply to the Office of the Information Commissioner Queensland for an external review of the decision.

To apply for an internal review, applicants must apply in writing within 20 business days of receiving the decision.

Applications for internal review should be addressed to:

Executive Manager, RTI and Privacy
Right to Information and Information Privacy Unit
Queensland Fire Department
GPO Box 1425
Brisbane Qld 4001

Telephone: (07) 3635 3303
Email: QFD.RTI@fire.qld.gov.au

The internal review application will then be referred to a delegated internal review officer for decision.

Application for external review should be addressed to:

Office of the Information Commissioner
PO Box 10143
Adelaide Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000

For more information visit the Office of the Information Commissioner website.

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