Sections 47(3)(a) and 48 of the RTI Act provide that access may be refused to a document to the extent that it comprises 'exempt information'. Schedule 3 sets out the types of information which the Parliament has considered to be 'exempt information' because their disclosure would, on balance, be contrary to public interest.
Information is exempt information if it is reasonable to expect that disclosing the information could prejudice the effectiveness of a lawful method or procedure for preventing, detecting, investigating or dealing with a contravention of the law.
Schedule 3, section 10(1) of the RTI Act contains other exemptions for information relating to law enforcement or public safety.
However, information of the specific types listed in schedule 3, section 10(2) of the RTI Act will not be exempt under any of the exemptions contained in schedule 3, section 10(1) of the RTI Act.
Last updated: December 20, 2021