Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009

An agency must make its decision on an internal review and give the applicant notice of the agency’s decision within 15 working days (the review period) after the agency receives the application for internal review.

If the agency reasonably believes more than one person is entitled to an internal review of any reviewable decision for the same access application, the review period does not commence until the expiration of the time within which an internal review can be applied for under this Part by any of those persons.

The review period can be extended by up to 10 working days if consultation is required with another person with whom the agency has not previously consulted in relation to the application.

The agency must (before the review period ends) give the applicant notice of any extension of the review period and indicate the date on which the extended review period will end.

The review period can also be extended by agreement with the applicant for review.

If a decision on the internal review is not made within the review period, the agency is deemed to have made that decision by making the original decision again, and the applicant for review is entitled to a refund of any fee paid to the agency for the review.