Annual Report 1998-99 |
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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982 SECTION 8 STATEMENT
This statement is published in order to meet the requirements of section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 which commenced operation on 1 December 1982.
Section 8 requires Departments and prescribed agencies to publish statements about their organisation, functions, decision-making powers, consultative arrangements, categories of documents maintained and facilities and procedures to enable members of the public to obtain access to documents under the Act. Departments and agencies must publish updated statements annually.
Information about the organisation and functions, decision-making powers and consultative arrangements of ASNO is found in earlier parts of this Annual Report. This statement provides additional details (where appropriate) of consultative arrangements and categories and availability of documents maintained by ASNO. The Report describes the Office as it existed in 1998–99 within the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio.
Documents are listed under three main headings: agreements; legislation and related documents; and other. All agreements/treaties are available from the Australian Treaty Series from Australian Government Bookshops. Treaty documents are also available from the ASNO website http://www.asno.dfat.gov.au. All Acts and Regulations are available from the Australian Government Bookshops and some legislation is available from the Internet sites http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act or http://scaleplus.law.gov.au. Except where indicated, none of the documents under ‘other’ is available for a fee or for purchase by the public nor are they customarily made available free of charge.
Applications for release of documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 should be addressed to the Director General, Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office.
Arrangements for outside participation
ASNO liaises with Federal, State and Territory government departments and authorities, authorities in countries with which Australia has bilateral nuclear safeguards agreements, the IAEA, the OPCW, the Provisional Technical Secretariat of the CTBTO, and the private sector.
Participation in policy formation and administration of enactments and regulations can be undertaken by making representations in writing, including suggestions, complaints and comments, to the Director General, Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office or to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
General and media enquiries relating to ASNO activities and responsibilities should be directed to the Director General, Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office - telephone number: (02) 6261 1920.