Overview of section 18 RTI Act

Section summary

The processing period is the time in which an agency must give an applicant a reviewable decision. It is 25 business days from the valid application day. As set out in the table in section 18(1) of the RTI Act, the processing period is extended for additional periods when certain specified events occur.

Section 36 RTI Act

Section 36 of the RTI Act concerns charges estimate notices, which extend the processing period. It defines the 'prescribed period', which starts on the date of the first charges estimate notice and ends on the day the applicant confirms the application or narrows the application.

Section 37 RTI Act

This section concerns consultation with a relevant third party, which extends the processing period.

Section 38 and section 78L RTI Act

These sections deal with the transfer of application received by one agency to another agency, which extends the processing period.

Section 42 and 78O RTI Act

Sections 41 and 78N of the RTI Act outline grounds on which an agency or Minister may refuse to deal with an application because of the effect it would have on an agency or Minister's functions.

Before an agency or Minister can refuse to deal with an application under section 41 or 78N of the RTI Act, a notice must be sent to the applicant under section 42 or 78O of the RTI Act advising that the applicant may consult with the agency to revise the terms of their application. Sending this notice extends the processing period.