Right to information

The Information Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023 (Qld) (IPOLA) requires Council to publish a list of information on its website that is routinely available to residents, known as a publications scheme.

Before starting an application process, check to see if the information is already available. Most information on our Cairns Regional Council website can be viewed or downloaded free-of-charge.

You can search by document title or browse by topic and refine date to find published decisions.

Councils website provides access to structure and functions, online maps, Transparency Portal containing detailed financial and other Council performance data and more.

If the information you are after is not available on the Internet, please refer to the below Administrative Access or Make an RTI Application.

Council recognises circumstances which support the need to provide access to information where it is lawful to do so by means other than a formal access application under the RTI Act. Administrative release of information reduces time, resources and costs and demonstrates commitment to openness, accountability and transparency.

Requests for administrative access to information held by Council must be made in writing to RTI@cairns.qld.gov.au.

Where it is decided that information cannot be released administratively, the person requesting it will be advised that they can apply for access under the RTI and IP Acts.

If you unable to find the information you need on our website or via other means, you can apply to access it under the Right to Information Act 2009.

Fees & Charges:

The fees and charges applying to access applications made under the Right to Information Act 2009 are set by the Right to Information Regulation 2009. Fees and charges | Right to Information and Information Privacy

• As at 1 July 2026 an RTI Application fee is $59.60.
• No application fee applies if you are requesting access only to your own personal information.
• Processing charges may apply if your application takes more than 5 hours to process.

Before you apply:

Ensure you clearly identify the information you are seeking and whether it relates to:

• Non-Personal (Council) information or,
• Your own personal information

Application requirements:

To lodge a valid RTI Application please follow the steps below:

1. Complete the application form

• Fill out the Right to Information Access Application Form or submit a written request.
• Your application must:
  • Be in writing
  • Clearly describe the information or documents you are seeking
  • Include enough details to allow document identification
  • Provide your contact details in which the information can be sent to (email or postal address)

2. Provide Identification (if required)

• Applying for Non personal information - Proof of identity is not required
• Applying for your own personal information - You must provide proof of your identity.
• Applying on behalf of someone else
  • Evidence of authorisation is required – this must be provided at the time of the application, or the application will not be valid.
  • Proof of identity may be required where personal information is involved.

3. Pay the application fee (if applicable)

• The application fee of $59.60 must be paid for application involving non-personal information.  Applications are not considered valid until payment is received.

4. Lodge your application

Submit your application using one of the following methods

• Address: 119-145 Spence Street, Portsmith, Cairns 4870
• Post: to Cairns Regional Council, PO Box 359 Cairns QLD 4870
• Email: RTI@cairns.qld.gov.au.

Council has 25 business days to give a decision. The time does not start until the application is valid.  It is valid when it meets all of the RTI Act’s requirements. Access may be granted in full, in part, or refused, depending on whether disclosure would be contrary to the public interest or restricted under the RTI Act.

For any enquiries regarding the Right to Information application process please contact Council's RTI Officer at RTI@cairns.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4044 3114.

Review Rights

The applicant has 20 business days to ask for an Internal or External review from the date of their decision notice. The applicant cannot apply for an internal review or an external review unless they have a reviewable decision.

Internal Review

An Internal Review is done by a Council officer who is at least as senior as the original decision maker. The application for an internal review must:

• Be in writing
• Provide an address where correspondence can be sent (can be email or postal address)
• Be sent to RTI@cairns.qld.gov.au.
• There are no fees for internal review applications.

External Review can be lodged online at OIC website - RTI review rights | OIC

External Reviews must be made in writing and contain:

• Your name
• Address and contact details
• Details of decision for review, including the date of the decision and the name of the agency you applied to
• There is no fee for making an external review application.

If you have accessed a document and believe your personal information is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading, you can apply to have it amended under the RTI Act.

Identification requirements

• You must identify yourself when making an amendment application, as it relates to your personal information.

Fees

• There is no application fee for requesting an amendment to your personal information

Request requirements

Your amendment application must:

• Be made in writing
• Provide enough detail to allow Council to identify the document
• Include an address (email or portal)
• Include evidence of your identity
• Include evidence of authority to act (if applicable)

You must also clearly state:

• Why you believe the information is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading and explain the corrections required.
• What changes are needed to correct or complete the information, provide the additional or updated information needed.

If requesting by email or post, identity documents must be certified.  If you are requesting amendments in person, certified copies can be provided or originals sighted by Council.

Submit your request using one of the following methods:

• Address: 119-145 Spence Street, Portsmith, Cairns 4870
• Post: to Cairns Regional Council, PO Box 359 Cairns QLD 4870
• Email: RTI@cairns.qld.gov.au.

The disclosure log is a record of Right to Information (RTI) Applications with Cairns Regional Council. The disclosure log identifies documents that have been released under the RTI act of a non-personal nature.

Once documents have been released, they are available for access without going through the RTI process. For copies of these documents please contact Council's RTI Co-Ordinator by phoning 07 4044 3114.