Department of the Premier and Cabinet Circular PC031: Disclosure of Cabinet Documents 10 Years or Older
Under circular PC031 (PDF, 205 KB), the South Australian Government enables access to Cabinet documents that are over 10 years old.
The exemption in the Freedom of Information Act 1991 (the FOI Act) that precludes the disclosure of Cabinet documents does not apply to documents that are 20 years or older. In 2009, to promote the objects of the FOI Act, which include openness and accountability of Ministers and the Government, Cabinet decided it did not want to claim the Cabinet exemption over certain types of Cabinet documents that are 10 to 20 years old. This is known as the ‘Ten Year Rule’.
Cabinet documents less than 10 years old remain exempt from disclosure under the FOI Act.
Cabinet documents older than 10 years may still be subject to other exemption clauses specified under Schedule 1 of the FOI Act.
Cabinet documents include Cabinet submissions, Cabinet notes, and Cabinet agendas.
Cabinet submissions are prepared by state government agencies seeking a decision from Cabinet on a significant policy change, project, reform or appointment.
Cabinet notes, also prepared by state government agencies, provide information for Cabinet to note, where no decision is required.
Cabinet agendas list the Cabinet submissions and Cabinet notes to be discussed at a specific Cabinet meeting.
Each of these may also contain attachments, such as reports presented to Cabinet.
You can search the Cabinet document register using the search field and filters below or browse through the listed documents.
Cabinet documents that have been proactively released and those that have already been applied for and released are available for download from the list below. To view these documents, check the box marked ‘Only show Cabinet documents available for download’.
Where a document is not available to download, you can apply for access.