20321ab7_nformation_Commissioner___OAIC_reedom_of_Information_Act_1982_Issue_description
[FOI Act Part] Part III — Access to documents [FOI Act section] 29 [Recommended action] Section 29, or the Charges Regulations, should be amended to make it clear that the charge authorised is not a debt owing to the Commonwealth. [Issue description] 
There is uncertainty about whether or not unpaid charges under the FOI Act are a debt owing to the Commonwealth for the purposes of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997. Agencies have expressed concern to the OAIC about their obligations in cases where applicants have made repeated requests under the Act and refused to pay applicable charges.
Review of freedom of information legislation| Office of the Australian Information Commissioner - OAIC
Issue description