How to make an RTI or IP application

To help us process your Right to Information (RTI) or Information Privacy (IP) request for information held by our department, complete the application form and give us enough information to identify the documents you want. For further information regarding information we hold refer to our list of frequently requested documents.

How to apply

To apply for information held by us under the RTI Act or the IP Act, you need to:

• complete the online application form or paper application form (PDF)
• pay the application fee with your RTI access application, which cannot be waived (note: there is no application fee for IP applications)
• ensure you provide an address where we can send written correspondence (postal address or email address)
• provide an original certified copy of your identification (if the information you are requesting contains your personal information).

If you can’t access the forms online, ask us to send a paper copy of the application form and return it to us once completed.

Fees and charges

You may also need to pay processing or access charges. We will notify you of these once we have received and reviewed your application.

Learn more about RTI application fees and charges.

Credit card payments will be accepted as part of an online application process. Credit card details will not be accepted for payment of the application fee via email, post, facsimile or telephone. If you wish to pay by credit card—but not via the online application process—we can provide a web link (URL) that will direct you to a payment portal.

If you wish to pay by cheque or money order, please make it payable to the ‘Department of Justice and Attorney-General’ and return to:
Right to Information and Privacy
Department of Justice and Attorney-General
GPO Box 149
BRISBANE  QLD  4001

Certified copy

An original certified copy is considered valid if it is witnessed by a lawyer, notary public, or a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Declarations.

Certified identity documents can be emailed or posted.

Examples of ID include:

• birth certificate
• driver licence
• identifying page of current passport
• 18+ card
• photographic student ID card from a recognised educational institution
• birth extract
• marriage certificate
• naturalisation certificate or citizenship certificate
• immigration papers or other documents issued by the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Applicants in prison

If you are in prison, you or your agent/representative may provide a certified copy of your correctional centre ID card as certified by a correctional services officer.

Applying on someone’s behalf

If someone is acting as your agent or on your behalf, they must also provide evidence that they have authority to act on your behalf and a certified copy of their ID.

Information to provide

You need to give us enough information about the documents you are requesting to help us identify them. If you don’t give us enough information, it may delay the processing of your application.

The type of information you need to provide will depend on the type of files you are after.

Type of information	Sufficient information criteria
Crown Law	name of matter subject of matter
Internal Audit	subject matter of audit date of audit
Ethical Standards Unit	name of complainant name of subject of complaint
Queensland Courts administrative files (not court files)	date of correspondence/incident/documents subject of matter
Justice Services	names of parties
Liquor, Gaming and Fair Trading	name and address of venue name of complainant
Corporate Services	subject matter and date range any names or entities (e.g. businesses, companies)
Strategic Policy and Legal Services	subject type date range
Other documents	enough information about the document to enable an officer to identify it

Accessing the documents

You have 40 business days after the date of the decision to access any released documents.