Intro
This document has been published by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC). Any representation, statement, opinion, or advice expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith and on the basis that the State Government, its employees and agents are not liable for any damage or loss whatsoever which may occur as a result of action taken or not taken, as the case may be, in respect of any representation, statement, opinion or advice referred to herein.
Published August 2024. © State of Western Australia
Where possible the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC), aims to make information available to the public promptly and at the least possible cost.
The Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA) (FOI Act) provides persons with the right to apply for information held by DLGSC and enables the public to ensure their personal information in DLGSC’s records is accurate, complete, up-to-date and not misleading. DLGSC may also provide information to the public outside the FOI process.
This document contains information about DLGSC’s operations, the kinds of documents it holds and the procedures for accessing them, including how to make a freedom of information (FOI) application.
Our vision is to see Western Australia celebrated as the best place to live in Australia. To achieve this vision, we work with businesses, industry associations and bodies, community groups and organisations, local governments, and other government agencies. At the heart of our work are Western Australia’s:
We also support the people of Western Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to connect to their culture and history, through Aboriginal History Western Australia and the State Records Office. We are working in partnership with Aboriginal people to develop an Aboriginal Cultural Centre for Western Australia.
DLGSC also provides regulation and support to local governments and the racing, gaming and liquor industries to maintain quality and compliance with relevant legislation, for the benefit of all Western Australians.
To foster a cohesive, prosperous, healthy and vibrant Western Australian community.
Our mission is to lead the public sector in community focused delivery. This includes:
As at the date of publication, DLGSC is responsible to the following ministers:
DLGSC supports a range of statutory authorities and other entities in the delivery of local government, culture and arts, and sport and recreational services to the community. A list of all the statutory authorities supported by DLGSC is contained in the DLGSC Annual Report.
DLGSC provides FOI services and/or support to the following bodies:
DLGSC assists the relevant minister to administer the following legislation:
DLGSC also supports the following statutory authorities to assist the relevant minister to administer the following legislation:
The Aboriginal History WA (AHWA) unit manages government records created by previous agencies responsible for Aboriginal affairs in Western Australia. Using these records, AHWA undertakes expert archival and genealogical research. AHWA provides comprehensive responses to Aboriginal people seeking historical family information through the family history application process. AHWA also responds to requests for information from the National Redress Scheme, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, the Public Trustee, and native title applicants. In addition, AHWA undertakes strategic projects to increase understanding of the shared history of Western Australia and contribute to reconciliation.
AHWA focuses on addressing key recommendations of the Bringing Them Home Report 1997 that relate to the provision of Aboriginal family history information, reunion, information dissemination and access to State records. AHWA’s role aligns with key elements of the Western Australian Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy and the Closing the Gap Agreement 2020, and is focussed on consultation with Aboriginal people, strong accountability, and culturally secure ways of working.
DLGSC’s Culture and the Arts division supports the delivery of arts and culture activities through strong evidence-based policy, research, advice, advocacy, and funding across Western Australia to achieve State Government outcomes. The division develops and implements research and industry projects to strengthen the policy basis of its programs and services.
Working with a range of stakeholders and partners, the division provides information and opportunities to foster growth, connections, and access to industry intelligence. This includes statistics on culture and the arts funding, employment, attendance and participation, and Western Australia’s values and attitudes towards culture and the arts.
The division funds a cohort of non-government arts organisations which assist those organisations to generate additional income through sponsorship, box office sales and from other agencies to support their annual program of activities. The division also provides project funding so artists and creatives can undertake a broad range of projects and activities across multiple art forms. Investment in arts and culture is essential to ensure Western Australians have ongoing access to arts and culture activities and experiences.
DLGSC administers the Local Government Act 1995 (WA) (LG Act), which establishes the system of local government in Western Australia, and partners with local government to deliver good governance to the community. DLGSC also administers a range of other legislation impacting on local governments and the community including with respect to dogs, cats, and cemeteries; and processes statutory applications relating to those matters.
By monitoring, promoting, and enforcing compliance with the LG Act, the local government business area assists the sector to improve the capacity and accountability of 139 local governments to respond to community demands and expectations. Using a risk-based approach to identify those needing targeted intervention and assistance, this supports local governments to fulfil their statutory obligations.
DLGSC’s Local Government division also develops and implements legislative reform initiatives with the aim of optimising the delivery of local government services to the community in alignment with government strategic priorities. This includes extensive engagement with stakeholders, as well as research and analysis to identify reform opportunities. The division also provides advice, support and expertise to facilitate the adoption of reforms by the local government sector.
DLGSC works across government to support engagement with local government. This ensures local government is considered in whole-of-government policy development and represented in key government reform initiatives.
The Office of Multicultural Interests' (OMI) key role is to advise the Minister on the development of State Government policies and programs to achieve the full potential of multiculturalism.
OMI develops strategies that include everyone (culturally diverse communities, the wider community, business and industry groups, government and non-government agencies) to help develop a society that values and maximises the benefits of its cultural diversity. The OMI strategies help organisations to develop policies, programs and services that are accessible and responsive to the needs of a diverse community.
OMI provides information, advice, funding, training and support to communities and community organisations to help build strong communities that maintain and share their diverse cultures and participate actively in all aspects of Western Australian life.
OMI also works with public sector agencies to support implementation of the Western Australian Multicultural Policy Framework.
OMI is not responsible for citizenship, visa or immigration matters.
DLGSC's Racing, Gaming and Liquor (RLG) division is responsible for regulating and maintaining the integrity of lawful racing, gambling and liquor activities for Western Australians. Under the Liquor Control Act 1988 (LC Act), DLGSC is tasked with regulating the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol; and the proper development of the liquor, tourism and hospitality industries; while also minimising harm caused to people through the use of liquor.
RGL is engaged in a range of activities and services across the WA community. These vary from licensing, inspection and auditing of liquor and gambling industries, overarching policy expertise and legislation, and programs designed to raise awareness of the risks associated with excesses in these activities. In accordance with the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987 (GWC Act), DLGSC assists the Gaming and Wagering Commission (GWC) in carrying out its functions. Additionally, the RGL division provides executive support for the administration of the GWC, Liquor Commission, Racing and Penalties Appeal Tribunal, Gaming Community Trust and the Problem Gambling Support Services Committee (PGSSC).
PGSSC is chaired and supported by DLGSC. It supports research, education and awareness, and free counselling support for people affected by gambling harm. This includes a 24/7 Problem Gambling Helpline, Gambling Help WA (face-to-face counselling), Gambling Help Online, and an annual gambling harm awareness week.
DLGSC also undertakes inspection and audit activities on behalf of the GWC to regulate the lawful conduct of gambling activities permitted under the GWC Act, the Betting Control Act 1954, the Casino Control Act 1984 and the Racing and Wagering Western Australia Act 2003. The key activities in relation to the GWC include audits, inspections and investigations; policy advice and research; and delivering amendments to directions, procedure manuals and rules for authorised games or rules of racing.
Under s 175 of the LC Act the Governor, on the recommendation of the Minister, may declare an area of the State to be alcohol restricted (commonly referred to as ‘dry communities’) and prohibit the possession and consumption of liquor within the declared area. The RGL division obtains Ministerial approval in respect of such declarations on behalf of Aboriginal communities seeking to reduce alcohol-related harm, improve cultural participation and the social and emotional wellbeing of the community.
In the statutory role of Director of Liquor Licensing (DLL), the Director General of DLGSC is charged with administering the LC Act. Section 64 of the LC Act provides the DLL with the ability to impose conditions considered to be in the public interest or to reduce harm and negative social impacts on WA communities arising from excessive alcohol consumption.
DLGSC also provides legislative, regulatory and other policy advice on WA’s position on gambling policy and harm minimisation activities. This includes participating in interjurisdictional meetings, research and working groups to ensure nationally consistent policy and regulatory changes are applied in WA.
The State Government is party to the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering (NCPF), a harm minimisation framework co-developed by the Australian Government to provide nationally consistent measures to minimise gambling harm related to online wagering activity. DLGSC participates in the Implementation Governance Committee and associated working parties.
DLGSC's Sport and Recreation division promotes participation and achievement in sport and recreation to support a healthy lifestyle for all Western Australians through physical activity. DLGSC works with the industry to support athletes and teams to achieve at all levels, including local, national, and international competitions. DLGSC administers grants to support participation, high performance, capacity building and integrity initiatives for the sport and recreation community all over WA, including from the Sports Lotteries Account, Sports Wagering Account and the DLGSC Consolidated Fund.
The division provides strategic leadership and support for the sport and recreation industry across Western Australia, through the provision of funding and advice to state sporting associations, community organisations and local governments. It proactively engages with the industry to determine and implement strategic responses to current and emerging issues and to review DLGSC programs and services. The division works with the industry to support athletes and teams to achieve at all levels, including local, national, and international competitions.
DLGSC also provides the WA community with quality, affordable outdoor active recreation opportunities through access to a sustainable camp network.
DLGSC’s Infrastructure division works with cultural organisations, sports associations and local governments to lead the planning, delivery and maintenance of facilities that provide the built assets Western Australians need to be vibrant, inclusive and resilient.
It provides leadership to promote and guide infrastructure planning and develop sound policy based on the key principles of facility provision. It manages and maintains key civic infrastructure across the sport and recreation, and culture and the arts portfolios and provides client agency services for the planning and delivery of major state sport and cultural infrastructure projects in line with the Department of Treasury’s Strategic Asset Management Framework.
The business area also delivers the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund, State Sporting Infrastructure Fund and infrastructure related election commitments. \
It provides strategic policy, leadership, and funding support on civic infrastructure planning and delivery across local government.
The State Records Office (SRO) is the custodian of the state archives collection — the largest and most significant archival collection in Western Australia. State archives are the significant records of government business which have ongoing evidential and cultural value.
The SRO also supports the State Records Commission (Commission) in administering regulation of the management of records of information across Western Australian public sector according to the requirements of the State Records Act 2000 (SR Act). The Commission's functions include approving Record Keeping Plans for government organisations and the legal disposal of government records.
Under the SR Act, the Commission is required to establish principles and standards for the governance of record keeping by State organisations and provides guidelines to assist the compilation of Record Keeping Plans. These plans are required by every government organisation covered by the SR Act. They contain information about record keeping processes, documentation and systems, planned or in place — including provisions for the retention periods and ultimate disposal actions for the records created and maintained by the organisation.
DLGSC undertakes continuous improvement practices including public consultation on matters of policy and performance to ensure its services meet community and individual needs. Members of the public can generally participate in the formulation of policy through submissions and feedback to DLGSC or the relevant Minister.
Documents held by DLGSC may be recorded in any of the following forms: paper-based records such as memos, correspondence, maps, plans, or photos; sound records; image-based records such as films, video tapes, or optical discs; and digital records such as digital files, computer tapes. DLGSC also produces an extensive range of publications including fact sheets and guidance material, most of which is available through DLGSC’s website.
The public are encouraged to contact DLGSC to seek information about any document that it might hold and whether they are available for inspection, purchase or can be obtained free of charge.
The transition from hard copy documents to electronic records has seen a shift in the way that documents are stored and made available to the public. Where hard copy documents may have previously been made available in select locations or obtained upon request, many publicly available documents are now obtained free of charge via DLGSC’s website. The types of documents listed below are examples (not an exhaustive list) of documents which can be obtained free of charge.
Overarching documents pertaining to DLGSC and its divisions include:
In some cases, individuals may be able to access certain documents, which are not publicly available, either by inspection or by applying (and paying a fee) for information pertaining to themselves under certain schemes, legislation or department policy.
Examples include:
Where documents are not publicly available, enquiries may be forwarded to the FOI team or directly to the relevant department division.
Additional information/documents may only be available upon payment of a fee. For example, ‘Search and Supply fees’ are applicable to a number of liquor licensing searches and the provision of associated documents/print outs. A list of these, and other, fees are published on the DLGSC website and amended from time to time. At the time of publication, the documents detailed below are available upon application to Racing, Gaming and Liquor (contact details provided via webpage above):
Racing, Gaming and Liquor — Search and supply fees (no GST applicable)
Other documents or information which may be available for a fee may be published on the website and updated from time to time.
DLGSC produces several internal manuals to assist staff with the performance of DLGSC functions. Internal manuals include documents containing rules and guidelines. The primary purpose of the manuals is to provide advice to DLGSC staff in the exercise of their duties and to be an ongoing guide, reviewed and amended as required.
DLGSC internal manuals describe how DLGSC staff implement and administer functions and activities and assist our staff with interpreting statutory requirements and performance of functions that affect or are likely to affect rights, privileges or other benefits, or obligations, penalties or other detriments, to which members of the public are or may become entitled, eligible, liable or subject.
In accordance with section 97 of the FOI Act, DLGSC internal manuals are available for inspection and purchase on request.
Requests to inspect or purchase DLGSC’s internal manuals can be made:
Perth Business Centre WA 6849
Enquiries about DLGSC's internal manuals should be addressed to the FOI Coordinator and sent by post to the postal address above.
The FOI Act gives every person a general right to access DLGSC's document, subject to some limitations.
Under the FOI Act, individuals also have the right to apply for the amendment of their personal information held by DLGSC if that information is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading.
Applications may be made on behalf of other persons generally. Such applications will require authorisation in writing from the other person.
Under section 12 of the FOI Act, applications for access to documents must:
Online DLGSC FOI application form.
FOI applications can also be lodged:
Leederville WA 6007
In order for FOI applications to be efficiently processed, applicants should identify as clearly as possible the documents they wish to access, and the form of access required (for example, whether copies of documents are sufficient or it is necessary to inspect original documents).
Valid applications will be acknowledged in writing.
A scale of FOI feeds and charges is contained in the Freedom of Information Regulation 1993 (WA) and set out below. Apart from the application fee for non-personal information (being information that is not personal information about the applicant), all charges are discretionary. Where an application fee is payable, applications are invalid unless accompanied by the relevant application fee. The application is taken to have been received on the date the relevant fee has been paid, not the date the application is received (if received on separate dates).
information or an opinion, whether true or not, and whether recorded in a material form or not, about an individual, whether living or dead:
Charges for processing an FOI application in addition to an application fee are set out below. An estimate of charges will be provided to the applicant if the cost is expected to exceed $25.
Access documents can be granted by way of an electronic or physical copy, or inspection.
DLGSC officers acting under the direction of the Director General make decisions on applications under the FOI Act. The decision maker will either decide to give access to the requested information (or give conditional access) or defer or refuse access.
Except where the parties agree otherwise, DLGSC will notify a FOI applicant of its decision within 45 calendar days of receiving a valid FOI application (including the relevant application fee, where applicable).
A notice of decision will include:
Applicants dissatisfied with the decisionmaker’s decision on their FOI application are entitled to seek a review of the decision. This is referred to as an ‘internal review’. No fee will be charged for an internal review.
Applications for internal review must be made in writing and lodged with DLGSC within 30 days from receiving a notice of decision. Valid internal review applications will be acknowledged in writing. An application for an internal review will not be dealt with by the person who made the initial decision or by a person who is subordinate to that person.
Except where otherwise agreed by the parties, DLGSC will notify the applicant of the internal review decision within 15 calendar days of receipt of a valid application. An internal review is not available in respect of a decision made by the DLGSC Director General or on a previous internal review.
If an applicant disagrees with the internal review decision or an initial decision made by the DLGSC Director General, the applicant may apply to the Information Commissioner for an external review of the decision. The external review application should be made within 60 calendar days of being given the internal review decision. However, where the external review applicant is a third party or following an application for amendment of personal information, they must lodge their external review application within 30 calendar days of being given the internal review decision.
Details of how to apply for an internal or external review are provided when a notice of decision is issued.
The FOI Act also provides individuals with a right to apply for amendment of their personal information, or the personal information about a dead person where the applicant is the dead person’s closest relative, held by DLGSC if the information is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading.
Applications to amend personal information must:
Complaints, compliments and suggestions
Where a person is not satisfied with a decision made under the FOI Act, they make seek a review of that decision in accordance with the process set out in the notice of decision issued under the FOI Act.
If a person has a complaint, compliment or suggestion about DLGSC’s FOI services (other than a request for review) they may direct their feedback to the FOI Coordinator by email to foi@dlgsc.wa.gov.au or post to:
If a person has a complaint, compliment or suggestion about DLGSC services which is unrelated to its FOI function, they may provide their feedback via the online form.