What is this process for?

Follow this process to make a formal request under the Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld) for access to non-personal information held by QUT or for your personal information if the documents also include the personal information of someone else.

If you want to request access to your personal information only, see requesting access to your personal information.

Before you make a request

Check if the information you’re looking for is available in our:

What can I request access to?

You can request access to documents of any age that contain non-personal information. Documents can include files, reports, emails, computer printouts, maps, plans, photographs, and audio and video tape recordings.

If you wish only to inspect the documents, you will be provided with reading facilities. At your request, the University will provide you with a copy of the documents in either electronic or hardcopy format. In either case, special arrangements may need to be made, for example, to allow you to listen to or watch a tape recording, or to provide you with computer printouts or transcripts of documents.

Is there any information I can’t access?

According to the legislation, we may refuse to provide access to a document:

  • if it would be contrary to public interest to disclose the information
  • if the information is exempt
  • if dealing with the application would require a substantial and unreasonable workload
  • if the document or information is already publicly or commercially available.

If we refuse your request, we'll give you the reasons for that decision in writing and let you know about your rights of review.

How to make an RTI application

Complete the right to information and information privacy access application.

Provide as much information as you can to help us identify the documents that are relevant to your request.

Submit the completed form to our Right to Information Officer by email at rti@qut.edu.au or post, or in person.

RTI application fee

The fee for RTI applications changes every July. Please reference the Queensland Government page on RTI fees and charges for the cost.

We may also charge you to cover our costs for providing access in another form (e.g. viewing or obtaining a copy of a video).

When we receive your application, we’ll send you a charges estimate notice. We can also talk to you about how you may be able to reduce the cost of your application. We don’t impose processing charges if the total time for processing your application is less than five hours.

How to pay the RTI application fee

You can pay RTI the application fee, processing or access charges online through QUTPay.

You will need to pay your RTI application fee before you submit your application and provide the receipt number on your RTI application form.

Pay your RTI application fee, processing or access charges through QUTPay

Financial hardship

You can apply to QUT to not have to pay charges if you are experiencing financial hardship. If you’re applying on behalf of a non-profit organisation you can apply to the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC).

If you’re applying on behalf of a non-profit organisation, you must provide a copy of the Notice of Financial Hardship Status from the OIC to the RTI-delegated decision maker showing that financial hardship has been granted by the OIC. The OIC has more information on how non-profit organisations can apply for financial hardship status.

Processing your RTI application

We’ll provide you with:

  • a written decision about access to the documents within the 25 business day processing period
  • specific written reasons why your request has been refused
  • a response within 35 business days if we need to consult with a third party before releasing the documents.

We’ll advise you within 10 business days if your application is outside the scope of the RTI Act.

We’ll contact you within 15 business days if your application is non-compliant, and we’ll help you revise your application to make sure it complies with all the application requirements.

If you’ve applied for documents that contain your personal information, we’ll advise you within 15 business days with guidance on how to complete your application under the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) instead.

Accessing documents

If you want only to inspect the documents, we’ll provide you with reading facilities. We can also provide a copy of the documents in either electronic or hardcopy format.

Special arrangements may need to be made, for example, to allow you to listen to or watch a tape recording, or to provide you with computer printouts or transcripts of documents.

What if I’m not happy with the outcome of my application?

You can request a review, either under internal review by QUT or external review by the Office of the Information Commissioner.

Internal review by QUT

If the decision on your original application was made by a RTI-delegated QUT staff member, other than the Vice-Chancellor, you can ask QUT to review the decision. This is known as an internal review.

To request an internal review by QUT, contact our Right to Information Officer by email at rti@qut.edu.au or post within 20 business days of the original decision. It will help the review process if you state:

  • why you think the decision should be changed
  • which aspects of the decision you’re concerned about.

The QUT Registrar will review the original decision and make a fresh decision on your request within 20 business days. If your appeal is not upheld, we will tell you why.

External review by the Office of the Information Commissioner

The OIC is an independent body responsible for reviewing Right to Information decisions made by government agencies and public authorities like QUT. This is known as an external review.

You can ask the OIC to review the decision on your original request if at least one of these applies to you:

  • you’re not satisfied with the original decision on your application made by the RTI-delegated decision maker
  • the decision on your original request was made by the QUT Vice-Chancellor
  • you’ve had an internal review of the decision and you’re not satisfied with the outcome.

The OIC will not consider requests for external review of the amount of a charge stated in a charges estimate notice.

To request an external review, you must apply in writing to the OIC within 20 business days of the original decision.

Apply for an external review of a decision by the Information Commissioner

The OIC may affirm, vary or set aside the original decision. The OIC can also attempt to negotiate a settlement between the parties at any time, including through mediation where possible.

The OIC is required to publish details of external review decisions and the reasons for those decisions on their website.

If you think the OIC has made an error on a question of law, you may refer the matter to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a determination.