They had years to charge you. Your windows are days. Every number here has the section under it; where a body publishes no number, it says so.
| Step | Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Charging you: indictable offence | any timeCriminal Procedure Act 2004 (WA) s 21(1) | “may be commenced at any time” |
| Charging you: simple offence | 12 monthsCriminal Procedure Act 2004 (WA) s 21(2) | “must be commenced within 12 months after the date on which the offence was allegedly committed” |
| FOI (WA): their decision | 45 daysFOI Act 1992 (WA) s 13(3) | No notice in time is a refusal (s 13(2)). Do not agree to an extension. |
| FOI (WA): internal review | 30 days to apply · 15 to decideFOI Act 1992 (WA) s 40(2), s 43(2) | No decision in 15 days confirms the refusal, which opens the Commissioner. |
| FOI (WA): Information Commissioner | 60 daysFOI Act 1992 (WA) s 66(2) | After internal review (s 66(5)). |
| FOI (Commonwealth): their decision | 30 daysOAIC APP Guidelines 12.65 (FOI Act 1982 (Cth)) | “acknowledge receipt of an FOI request within 14 days, and to make a decision on the request within 30 calendar days” |
| APP 12: access from an agency | 30 daysAPP 12.4(a)(i); OAIC Guidelines 12.66 | Counted from the day after receipt. |
| APP 12: access from a company | “reasonable period” · 30 days as the guideAPP 12.4(a)(ii); OAIC Guidelines 12.67 | “a reasonable period should not exceed 30 calendar days” |
| Privacy complaint: the company first | 30 daysOAIC, Before you lodge a privacy complaint | Then the Commissioner, in writing. |
| Complaint to a financial firm (IDR) | 30 calendar daysASIC RG 271 Table 2, RG 271.56 | Only counts if it is logged as a complaint. Say the word. |
| Complaint to a super trustee (IDR) | 45 calendar daysASIC RG 271 Table 2, RG 271.79 | Death benefit distributions: 90 days (RG 271.80). |
| AFCA | check the productAFCA Rules, section B | Time limits differ by product; read AFCA’s time-limits page before the IDR response goes stale. |
| Ombudsman WA | soonombudsman.wa.gov.au | The Ombudsman can decline stale complaints. Send it while the record is fresh. |
| Corruption and Crime Commission (WA) | none statedccc.wa.gov.au | Sooner is stronger: records get disposed of. |
Western Australia unless marked. Counted in calendar days. Verified against the Act or the body’s own page on the date the site was built; read the section before you rely on it.