On 28 June 1994, the Senate agreed to a motion proposed by Senator Brian Harradine relating to an Order for the regular production of indexed lists of files. Continuing Order of the Senate No. 6 requires departments and agencies to publish lists of files created, every six months.  The files need not include the following:

• Files essentially related to internal administration (eg personnel, accounts or training)
• Case related files (eg personal representations or dealings with individual clients)
• Files with a security classification of 'Confidential', 'Secret' or 'Top Secret'.
• Files transferred to the National Archives of Australia

The Senate Order asked for the lists to be ‘indexed’. A subject index is not readily available from the departmental records system, which uses a combination of keywords to retrieve data. Each list can be searched for specified words using the 'Find' facility of a browser.

How to access records under the Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) gives members of the public rights of access to official documents of the Commonwealth and of its agencies, subject to certain exemptions set out in the Act.

Requests for access should be directed in writing accompanied by an application fee of $30.00 to:

The Team Leader
Administrative Law Team
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
GC21, GPO Box 9879
CANBERRA ACT 2601

In some instances the fee may be remitted on application.

Applicants are encouraged to contact staff of the Administrative Law Team in Corporate with any questions they may have about making applications under the FOI Act.

Further information may be sought by going to the Freedom of Information page, emailing foi@dewr.gov.au, or by calling the Administrative Law Team via (02) 6121 6000.

Employment and Workplace Relations file lists

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)

• 1 January to 30 June 2007

• 1 July to 31 December 2006

  • File listing - A to E
  • File listing - F to L
  • File listing - M to V
  • File listing - W to Z
• 1 January to 30 June 2006
  
  • File listing - A to E
  • File listing - F to L
  • File listing - M to V
  • File listing - W to Z

The following are part of DEWR and are covered in the above DEWR reports:

• Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (OASCC)
• Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner (OFSC) 

Australian Fair Pay Commission (AFPC)

Australian Industrial Relations Commission - Principal Registry

• 1 January to 30 June 2007

• 1 July to 31 December 2006

Comcare

Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT)

Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA)

Office of the Employment Advocate (OEA)

Office of Workplace Services (OWS)

Remuneration Tribunal