• Fast Track & Redaction-Proof

    Your FOI Application with AI

    The Challenges of Making an Freedom of Information Request

    Need to get information from a government department? Below are some federal FOI stats you should consider before making an application.

    • 27% of FOI decisions take longer than the statutory timeframe (30 days) [OAIC, 2024-2025]
    • 54% of applications are only granted in part (i.e. with ommissions or redactions) [OAIC, 2024-2025]
    • 25% of applications are refused [OAIC, 2024-2025]
    • Only 21% of applications are granted in full [OAIC, 2024-2025]
    • 26% of government departments exempt material because they believe it would harm their operations [OAIC, 2024-2025]

    The above highlights the many difficulties faced by FOI applicants. Firstly, there is a real chance your application will be refused outright. Secondly, even if you are not refused, you will probably not get everything you asked for, and potentially for reasons only the government department is privy to. Finally, there is a strong chance that by the time you do receive a decision, the information will have already become irrelevant.

    Getting what you want, when you want it, requires a strategic and informed approach.

    Who are we?

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    Practising Lawyer and Former Government Solicitor

    Helping level the playing field with knowledge, experience and AI

    ComplyMe.AI was founded by Chris Tia, a former government solicitor, who has hands on experience processing FOI applications. Chris fully understands how government departments manage applications and the legal framework used to analyse and decide on what materials can and cannot be released and to what extent.

    As a technologist and concerned citizen, Chris witnessed a severe imbalance between the resources available to agencies and that of the average applicant (who often had limited knowledge of FOI laws, regulations and mechanisms).

    ComplyMe.AI was developed to help level the playing field, through use of AI.

  • Where We Can Help

    1

    Application Stage

    Pre-empt potential reasons for refusal and redactions on your application, so you get what you want as soon as possible.

    2

    Review Stage

    Apply thorough legal analysis over the reasons provided by the FOI decision maker, based on the same laws, regulations, guidance and cases used by government lawyers.

  • How We Can Help

    The above demonstration shows how you can easily generate an FOI application through ComplyMe.AI's IRACFlow's tool. By providing some contextual information about your application, IRACFlow will:

    • Look up the FOI legislation and any related regulations
    • Check whether any provisions potentially applies
    • Refer to FOI regulatory guidelines for clarifications
    • Assess whether any cases are applicable
    • Conduct an analysis of the above against the request made
    • Provide a final conclusion based on the outcome desired

    In this instance, the final conclusion is generating a suitable FOI application that pre-empts any potential reasons for refusing or redacting the information being requested. IRACFlow also provides full transparency of the reasoning behind its analysis and what laws, regulatory guidance and/or cases were referenced, so you can rely on its output.

    We provide coverage across all Australian government FOI jurisdictions (Commonwealth, states and territories):

    • Laws - Freedom of Information Act (Cth), Freedom of Information Act (ACT), Government Information (Public Access/Information Commissioner) Act (NSW), Information Act (NT), Right To Information Act (QLD), Freedom of Information Act (SA), Right To Information Act (TAS), Freedom of Information Act (VIC), Freedom of Information / Information Commissioner Act (WA)
    • Cases/Decisions - High Court, Federal Court, ACT Ombudsman, Information and Privacy Commission (NSW), Information Commissioner (NT), Office of the Information Commissioner (QLD), Ombudsman (SA), Ombudsman (TAS), Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (VIC), Office of the Information Commissioner (WA)
    • Regulatory guidance - from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), ACT Ombudsman, Information and Privacy Commission (NSW), Information Commissioner (NT), Office of the Information Commissioner (QLD), State Records of South Australia (SA), Ombudsman (TAS), Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (VIC), Office of the Information Commissioner (WA)
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