The information act (NT)

The Information Act is Northern Territory's Freedom of Information legislation and provides the community with access to government information including personal information.

The Information Act also protects the privacy of personal information held by public sector organisations by giving individuals the right to access and the right to correct their personal information, and ensuring organisations collect and handle personal information responsibly.

You can access a copy of the Act here: Current Northern Territory Legislation Database

Accessing Information Held by Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services

If you need access to a motor vehicle crash report, CCTV footage, a report for an insurance claim or a traffic history check, you will need to apply using the forms on this website.

If you wish to apply for an OCHRE card or for a criminal history check applications for these should be made to SAFE NT. Further information on how to make these applications can be obtained by contacting SAFE NT on telephone: 1800 7233 68.

If you need to access any other information held by Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services, you can apply under freedom of information (FOI). Application forms are available at police stations, SAFE NT and on this website. We must respond to your application within 30 days, although the Act does allow us to extend that timeframe under certain circumstances, e.g. if your application relates to a large amount of information or if we need to consult third parties.

Your application can be sent by fax or email, or you can apply in person at any police station in the Northern Territory. To make sure that your personal information is not provided to someone else, you will need to present some form of photographic identification (photo ID), such as your driver's licence or passport, when applying. If you are applying by fax or email, you will need to send a copy of your photo ID as well as the application form and proof of payment, if applicable.

Charges that May Apply

If you only want to access information held about you (your personal information), you will not need to pay an application fee. If you are seeking access to government information, or a combination of personal and government information, an application fee of $30 applies.

We may charge you a processing fee before providing you with access to information. If you can’t afford to pay for the information, or if there is another good reason why you shouldn’t have to pay, you can apply for the fees to be waived or reduced. An application form to waive or reduce fees is available on this website and in all NT police stations.

More information about fees and charges is available from the Office of the Information Commissioner: http://www.infocomm.nt.gov.au/foi/cost.htm

Correcting Your Personal Information

If you think that the information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, you can apply to have it corrected, free of charge. An application form is available on this website, at SAFE NT and all NT police stations.

Privacy Complaints

If you think that a member of NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services has collected or handled your personal information in a manner that contravenes a provision under the Act or our organisation has interfered with your privacy, you can apply to the Director of the Business, Information and Reporting Branch to resolve or rectify the matter complained of. Your complaint must be made in writing and detail why you believe that your personal information has been collected or handled in contravention of the Act or how our organisation has interfered with your privacy. Your complaint can be sent via email, fax or post.

Contact Details

The Director
Business, Information and Reporting Branch
NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services
PO Box 39764
WINNELLIE NT 0821
Phone: (08) 8985 8930
Fax: (08) 8942 3268
Email: police.information@nt.gov.au

Further Information

The Information Commissioner for the Northern Territory is an independent authority responsible for overseeing the Freedom of Information (FOI) and privacy provisions of the Information Act. You can access the Information Commissioner’s website here: http://www.infocomm.nt.gov.au/index.htm