Freedom of Information

Introduction

The Building and Construction Industry Training Board (the Board) is committed to sharing information by making agency information more accessible.

Section 94 of the Freedom of Information Act 1992 requires Government agencies to prepare and publish annually an Information Statement that contains:

• A statement of the structure and functions of the agency.
• A description of the ways in which the functions affect members of the public
• Details of public participation in policy formulation.
• A description of the kinds of documents held by the agency.
• Arrangements for public access to documents.

About the Board

The Board was established in 1991 under the Building and Construction Industry Training Fund and Levy Collection Act 1990 (BCITF). The Board directs the operations of the Construction Training Fund (CTF) to administer the Act. The responsible minister is the Minister for Training; Water; Youth.

The CTF’s mission in collaboration with our stakeholders, we offer initiatives to develop and sustain an agile construction workforce; and to advocate construction as a career for all. 

The CTF collects the levy in order to increase the number of skilled persons in the building and construction industry and to improve the quality of training.

The CTF’s vision is that the construction industry is a career of choice, and is safe, skilled and sustainable.

The CTF’s values are Integrity, Leadership, Collaboration and Agility.

Consultation

Our stakeholders include all sectors within the Western Australian building and construction industry; professional associations representing the industry; construction unions; local government authorities; the community and the Western Australian Government.

The CTF holds regular consultation meetings with stakeholders through the Construction Industry Strategic Group.

The CTF also holds an annual stakeholder forum where industry stakeholders contribute to the CTF’s Operational Plan.

The CTF has undertaken to communicate matters of importance to the industry and to update stakeholders when new services are introduced, or major policy changes are made.

Stakeholders and members of the public may make comments regarding policy at any time. The CTF has a Customer Service Charter and Complaint Handling Policy. This policy ensures customers will have access to a formal dispute resolution process, which will allow complaints to be resolved within defined timeframes.

Access to documents

The Freedom of Information Act 1992 is focused on information contained in documents and only to those documents that are already in existence. The CTFs information systems capture information in electronic, paper-based and digitised formats. Information captured includes correspondence, applications, submissions, administrative files.

A summary of documents held by the CTF, and the means by which those documents can be accessed, is located at Appendix A.

Freedom of Information (FOI) Process

It is the aim of the CTF to make information available promptly and at the least possible cost, and whenever possible, documents will be provided outside the FOI process.

If information is not routinely available, the Freedom of Information Act 1992 provides the right to apply for documents held by the CTF and to enable the public to ensure that personal information in documents is accurate, complete, up to date and not misleading.

Applications for information must be:

• in writing; and contain enough information so that the documents requested can be identified;
• provide an Australian address to which notices can be sent; and
• be lodged with the CTF.

An application is not considered to be a formal application until all these requirements are met. Failure to do so may result in delays to an application being processed.

Proof of identity is required if seeking access to personal information; there will be no fee for this service.

If requesting access to documents on behalf of another person, written authorisation from that person permitting access to the documents is required.

If applying for access to documents of a deceased person, proof of identification is required, showing relationship to the person (e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate or a death certificate), and your personal identification. If you are not the closest relative, written authorisation from the closest relative permitting access to the documents must be produced.

Applications and enquiries should be addressed to:

Director, Communications and Operations, (FOI Coordinator)

By email: inquiries@ctf.wa.gov.au

Or

By post: Construction Training Fund, PO Box 303, CLOVERDALE WA 6985

Applications will be acknowledged in writing and the CTF will provide a response within 45 days of the lodgement of the application, unless more time is required to complete the application.

If charges are applied, the FOI Coordinator will advise the applicant to determine whether they wish to proceed with the application. Alternatively, the applicant can request an estimate of the charges prior to lodging an application. An advance deposit may be required pursuant to section 18(1) of the Act. The applicant will be advised at the time where a deposit will be required. A list of fees and charges is available at Appendix B.

If seeking access to documents provided to the CTF by third parties, the third party will be consulted for permission to release the documents.

The notice of decision will be issued within 45 days of the date of lodgement of the FOI application.  

The decision will include details such as:

• The date the decision was made.
• The name and designation of the officer who made the decision.
• If the document is an exempt document, the reasons for classifying the matter exempt; or the fact that access is given to an edited document.
• Information on the right of review and the procedures to be followed to exercise those rights.

Pursuant to section 100 of the Freedom of Information Act 1992, the Director Communications and Operations is the FOI decision maker for the CTF.

Amending personal information

If personal information held by the CTF is considered to be inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading, applications must be made in writing to the CTF to have the information amended, providing details and documentation in support of the claim, giving reasons for holding that belief and details of the amendment.

Applications must also state how the amendment is to be made by either:

• Altering the information.
• Striking-out or deleting the information.
• Inserting information; or inserting a note in relation to the information.

The applicant will receive a written notice of the CTF’s decision on the application for amendment within 30 days.

Rights of review

Internal review

If you disagree with a decision to deny or partially deny access to information, a request for internal review can be lodged within 30 days of receiving the decision notice to the CTF’s Chief Executive Officer, giving details of the decision to be reviewed and an address in Australia to which notices can be sent. The Chief Executive Officer’s decision will be advised within 15 days of receipt of the application. There is no charge for lodging an internal review.

External review

After an internal review, if you still disagree with the decision, you can lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner within 60 days of receiving the review decision notice. It must be in writing and include your address, give particulars of the decision to be reviewed, and a copy of the decision. There is no charge for lodging a complaint with the Information Commissioner's office.

Decisions of the Information Commissioner are final and binding. Parties to the proceedings have the right to appeal any decision to the Supreme Court of Western Australia on a question of law only.

Contact the Information Commissioner’s office for any further information about FOI process.

Office of the Information Commissioner

Albert Facey House

469 Wellington Street

PERTH WA 6000

Phone: (08) 6551 7888

Fax: (08) 6551 7889

Freecall (WA Country): 1800 621 244

Email: info@foi.wa.gov.au

Web: www.foi.wa.gov.au

Appendix A

Documents held by the Construction Training Fund

Appendix B

Summary of fees and charges

A schedule of fees and charges has been set under Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Regulations 1993.