Freedom of Information

INTRODUCTION
The Building and Construction Industry Training Fund 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. The Board directs the operations of the Construction
Training Fund (CTF) to administer the Act. The responsible minister is the Minister for
Education and Training.

The CTF’s mission is 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 collect the BCITF 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; the Western Australian Government.

The CTF holds regular consultation meetings with stakeholders and has three consultative committees, nominated by industry associations. These groups are the Construction Industry Strategic Group and the Construction Industry Working Group.

The CTF also holds an annual stakeholder forum where industry stakeholders contribute to
the Board’s strategic plans for the CTF.

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.
CTF has a Customer Services Charter and a Customer Complaint Handling Policy. These policies ensure 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 format. 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.

Access applications must be:

• In writing; contain enough information so that the documents requested can be identified;
• Provide an Australian address to which notices can be sent;
• 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), plus 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: info@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 thirty 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 Executive Director, giving details of the decision to be reviewed and an address in Australia to which notices can be sent. The Executive Director’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.