Section 15A — Freedom of Information Act 1982: Request for access to personnel records

(1) In this section: personnel records, in relation to an employee or former employee of an agency, means those documents containing personal information about him or her that are, or have been, kept by the agency for personnel management purposes. (2) Where: (a) there are established procedures in an agency (apart from those provided for by this Act) in accordance with which a request may be made by an employee of the agency for access to his or her personnel records; and (b) a person who is or was an employee of the agency wishes to obtain access to his or her personnel records; the person must not apply under section 15 for access to such records unless the person: (c) has made a request for access to the records in accordance with the procedures referred to in paragraph (a); and (d) either: (i) is not satisfied with the outcome of the request; or (ii) has not been notified of the outcome within 30 days after the request was made.