Journalists are exempt from paying certain registry search fees.
Journalists may qualify for an exemption where they seek access to information for their professional work.
Amendments to the fees chargeable for ob体育 searches under regulations means that journalists can access some information for free. However, the fee exemptions do not apply to all search information.
For more information about the legislative changes, visit the .
听
How to apply for journalist search access
Who is a journalist?
A journalist is a person who:
works in a professional capacity for media organisations,
is a freelance who regularly sells stories to media organisations, or
publishes stories on a commercial basis.
A person who exclusively runs a social media platform, or regularly publishes stories in their own free time or as a hobby is not considered a journalist.
How do I apply?
You can apply for a journalist search exemption by completing and emailing an .
Completed applications should be completed and emailed to [email protected].
What happens after I apply?
Once we have processed your application, you will be sent your search exemption code, journalist portal username and password by email. This information allows you to:
log in to the ob体育 journalist portal, and
complete searches on our business name and company registers.
What search products can I access?
Approved journalists have access to a range of search products across ob体育's registers.
Amendments to the fees chargeable for ob体育 searches under regulations means that journalists can access some information for free.
The journalist search exemption is an extension of the current media exemption.
What channels can I use to access search products?
ob体育 Journalist Portal
The ob体育 Journalist Portal is a dedicated search service for approved journalists who are exempt from paying certain registry search fees.
Information brokers
When searching ob体育's registers, you can choose to search directly through us, or through an ob体育 approved information broker.
Information brokers have direct access to our registers and offer a variety of services that may suit your needs.
Information brokers may charge an additional amount on top of what the law requires.
More information about on ob体育 Connect.
Request search via email
You can submit a request to us directly using the . This form should also be used for requesting documents.
ob体育 Connect
Through our ob体育 Connect search service, you can search a range of free information contained on our registers.
More information about .
What search products are available?
Business Names
Search Product
Journalist Portal
Email Request
Information Broker
Current Extract
Yes
听
Yes
Current and Historical Extract
Yes
听
Yes
Current Holder Extract (organisation/person)
听
Yes
Yes
Current and Historical Holder Extract (organisation/person)
听
Yes
Yes
Companies
Search Product
Journalist Portal
Email Request
Information Broker
Current Extract (Company, Managed Investment Scheme and Notified Passport Fund)
Yes
听
Yes
Current and Historical Extract (Company, Managed Investment Scheme and Notified Passport Fund)
听
Yes
Yes
Document in relation to a corporation, scheme or fund
听
Yes
Yes
Satisfied Charges extract (prior 2012)
Yes
听
Yes
Roles and Relationships Extract
Yes
听
Yes
Person Search
听
Yes
Yes
Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL)
Search Product
Journalist Portal
Email Request
Information Broker
Current Extract (Financial Services)
听
Yes
听
Current and Historical Extract (Financial Services)
听
Yes
听
Australian Credit Licence
Search Product
Journalist Portal
Email Request
Information Broker
Current Extract (Credit Licensee, Credit Representative and Registered Person or entity)
听
Yes
听
Current and Historical Extract (Credit Licensee and Credit Representative)
听
Yes
听
Professional Registers
Search Product
Journalist Portal
Email Request
Information Broker
Current Extract (Licence Holder, Future Licensees, Auditor and Liquidators)
听
Yes
听
SMSF Auditor
Search Product
Journalist Portal
Email Request
Information Broker
Current and Historical Extract of approved SMSF auditor
Yes
听
听
What if the information I need is not available online?
If you need information from our registers that is not available from the journalist portal, or not freely available from our search portal , we suggest you approach one of the ob体育-approved Information brokers to access the information.
Information brokers may charge an additional amount on top of what the law requires.
Alternatively, you may submit a request to us directly using the .
User guides for journalist search
Our user guides provide step-by-step instructions for completing searches in the Journalist portal.
Search via the ob体育 journalist portal
Basic troubleshooting
The journalist portal uses cookies, which are small pieces of information exchanged between your web browser and a website server.
From time to time, you may encounter log in errors that aren鈥檛 related to incorrect log in details. You should try logging in from a different Internet browser when this happens.
To optimise your log in experience, we recommend clearing your cache and cookies regularly.
We also suggest avoiding things like using your Internet browser to save your log in credentials, or copying and pasting your password. Typing your password directly into the password field is the best option.
If problems persist, please email [email protected] to have your password reset.
Related links
for more information about the legislative changes.
