Letter to the Attorney-General

Hon Kyam Maher MP

Deputy Premier
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Attorney-General
Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector
Special Minister of State

This annual report will be presented to Parliament to meet the statutory reporting requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 1991 (FOI Act) and the requirements of Premier and Cabinet Circular PC013 Annual Reporting.

This is the thirty fourth freedom of information annual report to be tabled in Parliament since the commencement of the FOI Act in January 1992.

This report is verified to be accurate for the purposes of annual reporting to the Parliament of South Australia.

Submitted on behalf of State Records of South Australia on the Administration of the Freedom of Information Act 1991 by:

Stephanie Coleman
Director, State Records of South Australia

From the Attorney-General

This report provides an overview on the administration of the Freedom of Information Act 1991 (FOI Act) and details FOI application data for the 2024-25 financial year, as reported by agencies subject to the FOI Act. Agencies include South Australian state and local government agencies and universities.

This year agencies reported receiving 15,441 FOI applications, a 10% increase on FOI applications received in 2023-24 and, for the third year in a row, a record in applications received in South Australia. This is attributed to a 15% increase in applications for personal information – 1,701 more than last year – with law enforcement, health, education and child protection impacted most.

Applications for non-personal information, which are often more complex and time consuming, decreased for the second year in a row, this year by 12%.  This result was largely influenced by a 22% reduction in applications submitted by Members of Parliament (MPs).

80% of all applications were determined within legislated timeframes. This is an improvement on last year’s 75% and 66% for the year before.  Additionally, formal extensions of time reduced by 10% and internal reviews by 36%.

The rates of information release, whether full, partial or refused, remained almost identical to 2023-24.

I thank the agency staff, in particular those designated as Accredited FOI Officers and other FOI support staff, as they continue to assist and serve the community by providing access to government information.

Hon Kyam Maher MP
Attorney-General

Overview: Freedom of Information Act 1991

The objects of the FOI Act include a responsibility to:

  • promote openness in government and accountability of Ministers and other agencies and thereby enhance respect for the law and further good government in South Australia, and
  • facilitate more effective participation by members of the public in the processes involved in the making and administration of laws and policies.

This is achieved by:

  • ensuring that information concerning the operations of government is readily available to members of the public, Members of Parliament and the media
  • conferring on members of the public a legally enforceable right of access to documents held by South Australian state and local government and universities, subject only to such restrictions that are consistent with the public interest and the preservation of personal privacy
  • enabling each member of the public to apply for the amendment of government records concerning their personal affairs if those records are incomplete, incorrect, out-of-date or misleading.

The FOI Act and its subordinate regulations can be accessed via the South Australian legislation website at www.legislation.sa.gov.au.

State Records of South Australia (State Records) is a business unit within the Attorney-General’s Department and has within its remit responsibility for supporting the Minister (the Attorney-General) in the administration of the FOI Act.

This support includes:

  • provision of policy and legislative advice to agency FOI enquiries
  • development of information sheets and guidelines
  • preparation of the FOI annual report
  • management and support for FOI reporting
  • provision of regular and ad hoc reports to the Minister
  • provision of FOI training and advice to agencies
  • responding to public FOI enquiries.

To produce the FOI annual report, all agencies subject to the FOI Act are required to make available to State Records statistical information relating to FOI applications and determinations as well as the number of contracts entered into containing approved confidentiality clauses.

Section 4 of the FOI Act defines those agencies that are subject to the FOI Act. The definition of ‘agency’ is inclusive of most South Australian state government agencies and statutory authorities, local government councils (municipal and district) and universities.

Schedule 2 of the FOI Act and the Freedom of Information (Exempt Agency) Regulations 2008 prescribe those agencies that are exempt from the FOI Act.

Throughout this report a reference to agencies includes all entities subject to the FOI Act across the three sectors, i.e. state government, local government and universities.

Performance

Key objectiveAgency's contribution
Open and Transparent Government
  • Provide access to government information in accordance with the FOI Act.
  • Provide training, resources and advice to agencies to enable them to comply with the requirements of the FOI Act.

Agency objectiveIndicatorPerformance
Agencies and members of the public receive FOI advice
Agency staff and the community have timely access to information and assistance relevant to accessing government information.
State Records responded to 326 FOI enquiries.
Guidelines and information sheets are published
FOI Information sheets, brochures and forms are maintained.
A review of several key resources was completed in relation to proactive disclosure, sufficiency of search, cabinet documents, processing applications and public interest.
Accredited training for FOI officers is delivered
Accredited and non-Accredited officer training is offered and conducted.
97 participants completed the Accredited and non-Accredited Officer training (including 6 interactive webinars). This participation is slightly down on the previous year.
FOI education – FOI General Awareness and
FOI Refresher education is available
Centralised education is available to support FOI officers undertake their roles.
The online FOI General Awareness and FOI Refresher courses were accessed 450 times during the reporting year, an increase on last year.
These courses are also available for agencies to upload into their internal training systems. These statistics are unavailable.
Submission and payment for online FOI applications
An online mechanism is available for the community to lodge and pay for FOI applications.
State government agencies received 6,955 applications through the online FOI Application Form, an increase of 25% (+1,733) compared to 2023-24.

Reporting required under the Act

Freedom of Information Act 1991

Section 54 – Reports to Parliament

    (1)  The Minister administering this Act must –

    1. as soon as practicable after 30 June and in any case before 31 October in each year prepare a report on the administration of this Act for the 12 months ending on 30 June; and
    2. cause a copy of the report to be laid before both Houses of Parliament within six sitting days after preparation of the report is completed.

FOI Act statistical information 2024-25

Pursuant to Section 54AA of the FOI Act, FOI reporting requirements were gazetted on 26 June 2022. Agencies are required to manage their own FOI statistical information.

State Records has produced resources to assist agencies with the management of their reporting requirements.

The data collated by agencies, including the costs incurred by agencies in the administration of the FOI Act, is provided to State Records via an online form at the completion of the reporting period. The accuracy of the data is reliant on agencies.

Statistical information is available in Attachment 1 to this report and also on Data.SA.

FOI Statistical Data

The following statistical data has been compiled by State Records of South Australia from information provided by South Australian state and local government agencies and universities bound by the Freedom of Information Act 1991 (FOI Act).

FOI data sets for prior financial years can also be found at Data.SA, and in past FOI annual reports on the State Records website.

TABLE 1    Applications received in 2024-25

Application

State

Local

University

All Sectors

2024-25

2023-24

2024-25

2023-24

2024-25

2023-24

2024-25

2023-24

Personal

12 720

11 027

176

176

44

36

12 940

11 239

Non-Personal

2 075

2 292

406

483

20

56

2 501

2 831

Total

14 795

13 319

582

659

64

92

15 441

14 070

TABLE 2   Access applications received by applicant type

Applicant type

State

Local

University

All sectors

2024-25

2023-24

2024-25

2023-24

2024-25

2023-24

2024-25

2023-24

Member of the Public

7 457

6 271

443

431

56

69

7 956

6 771

Lawyer / Agent

5 836

5 269

98

62

0

2

5 934

5 333

Member of Parliament

1 427

1 697

37

164

5

17

1 469

1 878

Media

77

82

4

2

3

4

84

88

Graph depicting the number of applicant types by application types

TABLE 3   Response times

Time

State

Local

University

All Sectors

All Sectors

2024-25

2024-25

2024-25

2024-25

2023-24

Within timeframe (not extended)

10 384

483

45

10 912

9 057

Within timeframe (extended)

624

64

21

709

541

Outside of timeframe (deemed refusal)

2 974

36

2

3 012

3 542

Graph depicting the percentage of applications responded to within timeframe per sector

TABLE 4  Formal extensions of time

Extension reason

State

Local

University

All Sectors 2023-24

All Sectors 2022-23

Section 14(1)(a) – searching

343

31

15

389

432

Section 14(1)(b) – consultation

195

43

0

238

266

Total

538

74

15

627

698

Graph showing the ratio of extended applications compared to overdue applications

TABLE 5   Access application outcomes

Sector

Full Release

Partial Release

Refused

2024-25

2023-24

2024-25

2023-24

2024-25

2023-24

PERSONAL APPLICATIONS

State

3 997

3 697

5 414

4 605

1 182

773

Local

33

47

97

80

26

26

Universities

1

4

37

24

2

2

All Sectors

4 031

3 748

5 548

4 709

1 210

801

NON-PERSONAL APPLICATIONS

State

410

346

805

945

458

550

Local

154

166

164

201

23

37

Universities

7

9

16

30

0

1

All Sectors

571

521

985

1 176

481

588

Graph depicting the percentage of application outcomes per application type per sector

TABLE 6   Outcomes of applications (cont.)

Outcome

State

Local

University

All Sectors
2024-25

All Sectors
2023-24

Transferred

271

7

0

278

279

Withdrawn/closed

1 328

79

5

1 412

1 318

Total

1 599

86

5

1 690

1 597

TABLE 7 Reasons for rejecting or refusing access

REJECTING

State

Local

Uni

Total
2023-24

Total
2022-23

Section 20(1)(b)(c)(d) – Documents otherwise available *

187

27

0

214

119

Document does not exist/lost

703

21

5

729

676

REFUSING

Section 15 - Application incomplete/wrongly directed*

5

3

0

8

16

Section 18(1) - Unreasonable diversion of an agency’s resources *

31

1

0

32

27

Section 18(2(a)) - Abuse of right of access *

7

2

0

9

22

Section 18(3) - Fees not paid

34

2

0

36

69

Section 19(2) - Deemed refusal - over 30 days to respond

75

1

1

77

242

Section 20(1) - Exempt *

4 319

102

33

4 454

2 916

Exempt agency

27

1

0

28

17

* The number of applications where the reason for rejection/refusal has been applied.

TABLE 8   Exemptions

Most commonly applied exemptions

2024-25

2023-24

Clause 1&2 – Cabinet and/or Executive Council documents

63

134

Clause 3 – exempt documents communicated by another government

3

3

Clause 4 – documents affecting law enforcement and public safety

1 153

399

Clause 5 – Inter government or local relations

16

22

Clause 6 – documents affecting personal affairs

3 959

2 915

Clause 7 – documents affecting business affairs

337

225

Clause 8 – conduct of research

3

3

Clause 9 – internal working documents

311

272

Clause 10 – documents subject to legal professional privilege

137

87

Clause 11 – documents relating to judicial functions

97

36

Clause 12 – documents the subject of secrecy provisions

848

245

Clause 13 – documents containing confidential material

225

404

Clause 14 & 15 – economy/financial or property interests

8

7

Clause 16 – documents concerning the operations of agencies

374

269

Clause 17 – subject to contempt

41

68

Clause 18 – companies and securities

3

1

TABLE 9 Amendment applications

Outcome

2023-24

2022-23

New applications

174

114

TABLE 10 Outcome of amendment applications

Outcome

2024-25

2023-24

Amendment in full

64

18

Partial amendment

13

12

Notation added

8

2

Amendment refused

17

66

Withdrawn/closed*

49

13

TABLE 11 Amendment application response times

Time

2024-25

2023-24

Within timeframe

144

101

Outside of timeframe

7

10

TABLE 12 Contracts reported with approved confidentiality clauses

Sector

2024-25

2023-24

State Government

97

119

Local Government

128

120

Universities

0

0

Total

225

239

TABLE 13 Applications for review received

Applications reviewed  

2024-25

2023-24

Internal review

335

493

External review - Ombudsman

176

297

External review - South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

32

26

Total

543

816

TABLE 14 Outcome of internal review applications

Outcome

2024-25*

2023-24*

Decision confirmed

226

227

Decision varied

78

190

Decision reversed

18

21

* Internal Review application outcomes include applications carried over from the previous reporting year

TABLE 15 Cabinet docs 10 years or older - requests for access

Requests

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

MPs

0

12

7

Public

13

8

14

Media

34

0

0

Lawyer/Agent

0

0

10

Total

47

20

31

TABLE 16 Cabinet docs 10 years or older – access determinations

Determination

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

Released in full

16

11

31

Released in part

11

8

9

Refused in full

0

1

1

Withdrawn

0

0

1

Total

27

20

42

TABLE 17 Overall cost of administering FOI

Cost category

2024-25 $

2023-24 $

2022-23 $

Salary

$11 433 936

$11 884 569

$11 275 051*

Other expenses

$1 311 869

$919 970

$273 020

Total

$12 746 805

$12 804 539

$11 548 071

TABLE 18 Staffing

Sector

Number of staff

Full-time equivalent

2024-25

2023-24

2024-25

2023-24

State government

327

323

97.9

103.5

Local government

130

149

15.1

16.6

Universities

14

12

2.5

2.1

Total

471

484

115.5

122.2

TABLE 19 Application and processing fees assessed versus collected

Sector

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

ASSESSED*

State government

$441 083

$504 869

$384 749

Local government

$53 775

$37 158

$44 009

Universities

$2 770

$3 255

$1 709

Total

$497 628

$545 282

$430 467

COLLECTED

State government

$468 354

$430 478

$372 811

Local government

$39 054

$23 389

$18 378

Universities

$884

$1 161

$1 127

Total

$508 292

$455 028

$392 316

* Assessed fees and charges is defined in the FOI Annual Reporting Guideline as: Aggregation of all access application fees and charges that could be levied. Excludes exempt fees and charges i.e. application fees for concession card holders and MPs.

TABLE 20 Applications still open as at 30 June 2025

Sector

Within 30 day timeframe

Outside 30 day timeframe

Total

State government

1 608

1 193

2 801

Local government

17

1

18

Universities

3

2

5

Total

1628

1 196

2 824

TABLE 21 Overdue applications still open as at 30 June 2024

Sector

Personal

Non-Personal

Total

State government

1 022

171

1 193

Local government

0

1

1

Universities

2

0

2

Total

1 024

172

1 196

Portfolio/Agency

Personal

Non-pers

Total

Attorney-General; Aboriginal Affairs; Industrial Relations and Public Sector

294

206

500

Attorney-General's Department78133211
Courts Administration Authority612990
Equal Opportunity SA213
First Nations Voice to Parliament - Region 1: Central011
First Nations Voice to Parliament - Region 2: Far North011

First Nations Voice to Parliament - Region 3: Flinders and Upper North

0

1

1

First Nations Voice to Parliament - Region 4: Riverland and South East

0

1

1

First Nations Voice to Parliament - Region 5: West and West Coast

0

1

1

First Nations Voice to Parliament - Region 6: Yorke and Mid North

0

1

1

First Nations Voice to Parliament - State Voice213
Legal Services Commission819
Office of the Attorney-General, Hon Kyam Maher MLC23133
Office of the Public Advocate202
ReturnToWorkSA1566162

South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT)

0

1

1

Child Protection; Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence

619

117

736

Department for Child Protection61581696
Office of the Hon Katrine Hildyard MP43640

Climate, Environment and Water

14

140

154

Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board011
Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium Board055
Department for Environment and Water66773
Environment Protection Authority11516
Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board011
Green Adelaide011
Green Industries SA088
Hills and Fleurieu landscape board325
Kangaroo Island Landscape Board011
Limestone Coast Landscape Board011
Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board022
Native Vegetation Council044
Northern and Yorke Landscape Board202
Office of the Deputy Premier13233
South Australian Arid Lands Landscape Board011

Education, Training and Skills

345

111

456

Department for Education32262384
Education Standards Board022
History Trust of South Australia011
Office of the Minister for Education, Training and Skills13233
SACE Board of South Australia257
TAFE SA17724
Teachers Registration Board of SA325

Emergency and Correctional Services; Autism; Recreation, Sport and Racing

579

80

659

Department for Correctional Services56040600
Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing033
Office of the Hon Dan Cregan MP*102636
Office of the Hon Emily Burke MP189
South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission426
South Australian State Emergency Services415

*Before retiring in January 2025, the Hon Dan Cregan MP was Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services and Special Minister of State.  In February 2025, the ministerial portfolio for Police was transferred to the Treasurer and the Attorney-General made Special Minister of State.  The Hon Emily Burke MP was sworn in, taking on responsibility for Emergency and Correctional Services, Recreation, Sport and Racing and the new Autism portfolio.

  

Energy and Mining

1

76

77

Department for Energy and Mining16162
Office of Hydrogen Power SA01515

Health and Wellbeing

7 209

239

7 448

Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network24610256
Central Adelaide Local Health Network2 591342 625
Department for Health and Wellbeing6558123
Drug and Alcohol Services SA36036
Eyre and Far North Local Health Network82688
Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network1836189
Health Services Charitable Gifts Board022
Limestone Coast Local Health Network2548262
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network1 305111 316
Office of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing64652
Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network1412143
SA Ambulance Service40113414
Southern Adelaide Local Health Network1 266161 282
Women's and Children's Health Network50318521
Yorke and Northern Local Health Network1309139

Housing and Urban Development; Housing Infrastructure; Planning

47

147

194

Department for Housing and Urban Development126274
Office of the Hon Nick Champion MP24042
Renewal SA Urban Renewal Authority17017
SA Water164561

Human Services; Seniors and Ageing Well

205

75

280

Department of Human Services10413117
Office of the Minister for Human Services32528
SA Housing Trust9837135

Industry, Innovation and Science

2

43

45

Department of State Development24345

Infrastructure and Transport

50

155

205

Department for Infrastructure and Transport4198139
Office of the Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP45155
Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator5611

Premier and Cabinet

7

114

121

Cross Border Commissioner011
Department of Premier and Cabinet35760
Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment055
Office of the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP44852
Premier's Delivery Unit011
South Australian MotorSport Board022

Primary Industries and Regional Development; Forest Industries

4

106

110

Department of Primary Industries and Regions46670
ForestrySA011
Office of the Hon Clare Scriven MLC03636
Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia033

Small and Family Business;
Consumer and Business Affairs; Arts

1

37

38

Art Gallery of South Australia022
Office of the Hon Andrea Michaels MP02828
South Australian Film Corporation011
South Australian Museum022
South Australian Small Business Commissioner101
State Library of South Australia044

Tourism; Multicultural Affairs

4

19

23

Office of the Hon Zoe Bettison MP41822
South Australian Tourism Commission011

Trade and Investment; Veterans Affairs; Local Government

7

23

30

Office of the Hon Joe Szakacs MP72330

Treasurer; Defence and Space; Police

3 332

387

3 719

CTP Insurance Regulator011
Defence SA235
Department of Treasury and Finance19150169
Essential Services Commission of SA202
Lifetime Support Authority02020
Office of the Hon Stephen Mullighan MP15354
SA Lotteries Commission011
South Australia Police (SAPOL)3 3041393 443
State Superannuation Office (Super SA)42024

Council

Personal

Non-pers

Total

Adelaide Hills Council

11

10

21

Adelaide Plains Council

1

1

2

Alexandrina Council

0

13

13

Barunga West Council

0

3

3

Berri Barmera Council

6

0

6

Campbelltown City Council

0

12

12

City of Adelaide

6

18

24

City of Burnside

9

14

23

City of Charles Sturt

0

35

35

City of Holdfast Bay

0

32

32

City of Marion

1

17

18

City of Mitcham

7

11

18

City of Mount Gambier

1

2

3

City of Norwood Payneham & St peters

0

11

11

City of Onkaparinga

24

36

60

City of Playford

0

23

23

City of Port Adelaide Enfield

15

24

39

City of Prospect

4

0

4

City of Salisbury

10

4

14

City of Tea Tree Gully

28

8

36

City of Unley

4

1

5

City of Victor Harbor

1

0

1

City of West Torrens

6

14

20

City of Whyalla

2

0

2

Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council

1

1

2

Coorong District Council

1

0

1

Copper Coast Council

0

42

42

Corporation of the Town of Walkerville

0

25

25

District Council of Ceduna

1

0

1

District Council of Cleve

0

4

4

District Council of Coober Pedy

2

1

3

District Council of Grant

1

1

2

District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula

1

0

1

District Council of Mount Remarkable

1

1

2

District Council of Robe

1

0

1

District Council of Yankalilla

2

0

2

Mid Murray Council

5

2

7

Mount Barker District Council

3

8

11

Municipal Council of Roxby Downs

1

0

1

Naracoorte Lucindale Council

0

1

1

Port Augusta City Council

3

0

3

Port Pirie Regional Council

4

8

12

Renmark Paringa Council

1

2

3

Tatiara District Council

1

0

1

The Barossa Council

0

9

9

The Flinders Ranges Council

1

0

1

The Rural City of Murray Bridge

3

10

13

Town of Gawler

3

0

3

Wattle Range Council

0

1

1

Yorke Peninsula Council

4

0

4

University

Personal

Non-pers

Total

Flinders University

25

7

32

UniSA

14

1

15

University of Adelaide

5

12

17

AgencyTotal

South Australia Police

95

Department for Child Protection

21

City of Marion

18

Northern Adelaide Local Health Network

11

Central Adelaide Local Health Network

10

Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network

3

Department for Correctional Services

3

City of Whyalla

2

Department of Human Services

2

Limestone Coast Local Health Network

2

District Council of Mount Remarkable

1

SA Housing Trust

1

Office of the Public Advocate

1

Department for Education

1

Department for Infrastructure and Transport

1

Women's and Children's Health Network

1

University of Adelaide

1

* Refer to tables 9 and 10 for totals and outcomes.

Page last updated: 17 November 2025