Create an information request with Public Sector Digital Services

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read

    • Create a case requesting public records from federal or state public agencies from the Government Service Portal in Public Sector Digital Services.

    Before you begin

    Role required: constituent, business_contact, business_partner

    About this task

    As a constituent, you can use the Government Service Portal to request and obtain copies of public records maintained by government agencies. For example, you can request access to state or local public records such as inspection reports, financial reports, corporate and property records, adoption records, and birth, death, or marriage certificates. You can also use the portal to view the status of existing information requests, as well as add details, upload documents, or update your contact information.

    Users can submit a request for any public record, so long as it does not fall under one of nine exemptions:
    1. Exemption One: Classified national defense and foreign relations information.
    2. Exemption Two: Internal agency personnel rules and practices.
    3. Exemption Three: Information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law.
    4. Exemption Four: Trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person that is privileged or confidential.
    5. Exemption Five: Inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda or letters that are protected by legal privileges.
    6. Exemption Six: Personnel, medical, financial, and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
    7. Exemption Seven: Certain types of information compiled for law enforcement purposes.
    8. Exemption Eight: Records that are contained in or related to examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of any agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions.
    9. Exemption Nine: Geological and geophysical information and data, including maps, concerning wells.

    Procedure

    1. Navigate to the Government Service Portal.
    2. Navigate to Services > Information Requests.
    3. Select the desired type of information request.
      You can choose between a FOIA request (federal) or a Public Records request (state).
    4. Fill in your contact information.
      If you're requesting information for someone else, select the Requesting on behalf of someone else check box.
    5. Fill in the request details.
    6. Fill in the fee details.
    7. Request a fee waiver by selecting the Fee Waiver check box.
      You may qualify for a fee waiver if you're making a request on behalf of a non-profit or educational institution.
    8. Optional: If you need to request expedited processing, select the Expedite Processing check box.
    9. Optional: Add any attachments, such as documentation required to verify your identity.
      Required attachments vary by request.
    10. Select Submit.
      You're now taken to the case page, where you can review or update the details of your request. On this page, you can view the exemption checklist, which is a list of categories of information that are not available due to regulatory reasons. After your request has been fulfilled, you must return to the portal to accept or reject the fee estimate for fulfilling your request. You can access pending fee approvals on the Notifications tab.