From 1 July 2022 the application fee for a VCAT FOI request is $30.60. Victorian agencies should change all public material where references to the fee occurs including request forms, web sites, FOI policies, etc. The application fee changes each year from 1 July and is announced between February and May before the change. Come back regularly to our Recent Developments page to check.
Please note that the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has previously ruled that if applicants accidentally pay the previous year’s fee instead of the correct one, it is likely that that will be considered as sufficient compliance with the requirement for a request to be accompanied by an application fee. Also remember that any decision not to waive or reduce the application fee on hardship grounds is reviewable by the Information Commissioner. Be sure to include appropriate review rights in any letter notifying an FOI applicant of such a decision. If you need any assistance in this regards, please contact us