• Table of contents
• Letter of transmittal
• Guide to this report
• Overview
• Report on performance
• Management and accountability
• Financial information
• Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee
• Appendixes
• Abbreviations
• Glossary
• Tables
• Figures

Appendix J: Freedom of information

The following section contains information required to be published under subsection 8(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). 

Organisation and functions of ASADA

The organisation and functions of ASADA are set out in the ‘About us’ section (see page 7) and the ‘organisational structure’ at Figure 1 (see page 9).

Organisational structure at 30 June 2009

Decision-making powers

In 2008–09, the Chair and/or ASADA members and/or ASADA staff exercised decision-making powers under the following Acts, or parts of Acts:

• Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Act 2006 (the ASADA Act)
• Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2006
• Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (the FMA Act), and
• Public Service Act 1999.

Authorised freedom of information decision makers

ASADA is an Australian Government body corporate within the Health and Ageing portfolio, however, ASADA has sole responsibility for managing FOI policy and requests. The authority to provide access to documents or decisions imposing and remitting charges under the FOI Act is held primarily at EL1 level through ASADA’s Senior Lawyer/Freedom of Information Officer. The authority to conduct internal reviews of decisions that have been made generally rests with our SES officers.

Arrangements for consulting external bodies or people

ASADA welcomes views and comments from members of the public and bodies outside the Commonwealth on its policy formulation and administration of ASADA’s legislation. Public consultation and consumer and stakeholder participation in policy formulation was widely encouraged at varying levels, across a range of areas of policy. Members of the public and bodies outside the Commonwealth can participate in policy formulation by forwarding requests to asada@asada.gov.au.

Categories of documents we maintain

We maintain records relating to our functions in various forms and locations. We retain records for varying periods, depending on their administrative and historical value, and we dispose of them in accordance with standards and practices approved by the National Archives of Australia.

The following categories of documents were common throughout ASADA in 2008–09:

• briefing papers and minutes prepared for the Minister and senior staff
• documents relating to the development of, and explanatory memoranda to Acts, Regulations and other legislative instruments
• documents relating to the administration of the National Anti-Doping scheme
• internal administrative documents relating to staff management and our organisation and operation, including personnel records, organisational and staffing records, financial and resource management records, audit records, internal operating procedures, Requests for Tender, instructions, manuals and indexes
• ministerial and agency responses to correspondence and parliamentary questions
• inter-agency and general correspondence and papers
• policy documents, including the development and implementation of government and departmental policy, recommendations and decisions
• agreements, memoranda of understanding and contracts between the Commonwealth and other bodies and organisations
• legal documents, including legislation, contracts, leases, instruments of delegation, legal advices and court/tribunal documents
• requests for information under the FOI Act and files and papers relevant to the consideration of those requests
• standard operating procedures and fact sheets
• separate records of internal management meetings and teleconferences, such as agendas and minutes
• correspondence with non-government parties (stakeholders)
• records of meetings and teleconferences with external stakeholders, including agendas and minutes
• financial reports, expenditure estimates and expenditure reports
• technical manuals
• statistics and databases
• documents prepared by international bodies and agencies
• reports prepared by other government agencies and consultants
• documents submitted by third parties
• ASADA publications
• training materials
• media releases
• committee records
• mailing lists.

A selection of ASADA publications is available to the public for a small fee. A list of these publications can be accessed via our website at www.asada.gov.au and a small number of publications can also be downloaded.

Facilities we provide so the public can obtain physical access to our documents

Facilities for inspecting documents to which access is given under the FOI Act are provided by ASADA at its head office in Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory.

Departmental manuals

In accordance with Section 9 of the FOI Act, a list has been compiled of unpublished manuals and other documents provided by the Department of Health and Ageing (including ASADA) to officers to assist in making decisions or recommendations that affect the public. The list is available on request from the Freedom of Information Coordinator or any office of the National Archives of Australia.

Freedom of information procedures and ASADA contact details

A request for access to documents under the FOI Act must be in writing and accompanied by a $30 application fee and an address in Australia to which notices can be sent. In certain circumstances, the fee is not required or can be waived.

To enable a prompt response, and to help us meet our obligations under the FOI Act, applicants should provide as much information as possible about the documents they are seeking. A phone number or an email address should also be included in case ASADA officers need any clarification. Applicants may be liable to pay charges at rates prescribed by the Freedom of Information (Fees and Charges) Regulations.

Enquiries about submitting a formal request under the FOI Act should be directed to our Freedom of Information Coordinator on (02) 6222 4200. Requests should be sent to our head office and be made out as follows:

Attention: Freedom of Information Coordinator
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority
PO Box 1744 FYSHWICK ACT 2609

In accordance with the Electronic Transactions Act 1999, FOI requests may be emailed to asada@asada.gov.au. However, as a request must be accompanied by an application fee, in most cases no action will be taken until the application fee is received or a request has been made for the remission of the application fee.

Table 27: ASADA freedom of information statistics

Matters on hand (start 2008–09)	Requests received (2008–09)	Requests finalised (2008–09)	Requests outstanding (end 2008–09)
1	2	3	0

ASADA did not receive any applications for internal review or AAT matters in 2008–09.

 

Top of Page