Transparency
RTI in practice: timelines, appeals, and what ‘incomplete reply’ really means
A citizen-facing guide to RTI clocks under the Act — when to expect a reply, when to escalate, and how ACHRC assists without filing on your behalf.
The Right to Information Act is powerful precisely because it is procedural. Outcomes follow clocks, not goodwill. Understanding those clocks saves months of frustration.
The basic clock
For most public authorities, information should be provided within 30 days of receipt of a request (shorter where life or liberty is involved). If the authority transfers your request, note the transfer date — the clock for the new authority starts afresh in important ways you should track carefully.
Mark the due date the day you file. Put it in your calendar with a reminder three days before.
Incomplete is not the same as refused
A reply that:
- answers only part of your questions,
- attaches the wrong document, or
- cites an exemption without explaining how it applies to your request
is often challengeable as incomplete. Treat it as a signal to first appeal, not as the end of the road.
First appeal, then second
If you do not receive a satisfactory reply in time, the Act provides a first appeal to the appellate authority within the same public authority, and thereafter a second appeal / complaint to the Information Commission. Deadlines for appeals are strict. Write them down when you file the original RTI.
How ACHRC assists
We help you:
- frame precise questions (one question, one record),
- identify the correct public authority,
- read a reply for completeness, and
- prepare appeal language that stays factual.
We do not file RTI applications in your name. The right of appeal must remain with you. That is a deliberate limit — not a lack of care.
A better question
Weak: “Give all information about corruption in the department.”
Stronger: “Provide certified copies of the work order and payment vouchers for Project X for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.”
Specificity is not pedantry. It is how transparency law works.
If you need help drafting, use our RTI assistance form with your draft questions attached as text. Bring the chronology. We will tell you honestly if the request is too broad to succeed.