Safe Work Australia

Senate Order for the Production of Indexed Lists of Departmental and Agency Files

On the 14 November 1994, the Senate agreed to a motion by Senator Harradine requiring all Australian Government departments and agencies to produce an indexed list of files every six months for tabling before parliament. The production of the list is intended to make the operations of government more transparent to the Australian public.

As part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to give Australians greater access to relevant government information quickly and easily, the original Senate Order was amended in 1998 and now requires departments to also list these files on their Internet websites.

The lists are tabled twice a year;

Spring sittings - files created in the preceding July to December

Autumn sitting - files created in the preceding January to June

Requirements of the Senate Order for the Production of Indexed Lists of Departmental and Agency Files.

The file listings have been provided in accordance with the terms of the Senate Order, which specifies that the list need not include:

• Files transferred to the National Archives of Australia.
• Case related files.
• Files essentially related to the internal administration of the department (e.g.  staff or personnel matters).
• File titles whose national security classification is Confidential, Secret or Top  Secret or their equivalent.
• Cabinet related material.

Safe Work Australia was established as a statutory agency on 1 November 2009 and our file list commences from that date.  Prior to 1 November 2009, file listings were included in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace relation’s (DEEWR) File List.
December 2009 – June 2010

How to Access Safe Work Australia’s Records under the FOI Act 1982

Inquiries regarding access to the Agency’s records under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982 can be made to the FOI Coordinator.