How to Annoy the Government with FOI Requests

Discover how to effectively use Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to obtain information from government agencies in this 47-minute conference talk from linux.conf.au 2022. Learn the ins and outs of navigating bureaucratic processes, avoiding common pitfalls, and maximizing your chances of success when seeking information about topics like #CensusFail and #robodebt. Explore the FOI Act's potential, understand the different types of exemptions, and gain practical tips for crafting clear requests. Follow along as the speaker shares personal experiences, including strategies for handling large document volumes, dealing with fees, and overcoming obstacles in the FOI process. By the end of this talk, acquire the knowledge and confidence to submit your own FOI requests and uncover valuable information that governments may be reluctant to share.

Introduction
Overview
WriteToKnow
Example
Make it clear
Documents
Limits
Form
FOI Checklist
What Do You Want
The Happy Path
The Unhappy Path
The Robodet Saga
Too Many Documents
Finding No Documents
The FOI Cascade
FOI Fees
Preemptive Section 22
Last Minute Questions
Exemptions
Unconditional exemptions
Conditional exemptions
deliberative processes
summary
go make a request
credits
Questions