Divine Angel said:

btm said:

I tried to get some data from the ABS a few years ago; they wanted to charge me a ridiculous fee, even though I wasn’t sure the data they were offering was what I was after, and would have to see before I was sure. I tried to point out that, as a taxpayer, I’ve already paid for the data, but they still insisted. So I checked the law: I’m required to provide the information on census night, but there’s nothing to require that I provide it free. So I’m charging a fee for it.

Not even free under the FOI Act?

Unfortunately the FOI act doesn’t work like that (which I suspect you already knew.)