OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
FOI Reference: PM/23/027
To Thomas Gray
Email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Mr Gray
Thank you for your email dated 28 February 2023 regarding a request to access documents
under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act).
Terms of FOI request
You set out your FOI request in the following terms:
I wish to request the government's knowledge of any communications between the
Prime Minister and 'This Is Serious Mum' or any of its constituents, the exact nature
of said communications.
I would also like to know if the Prime Minister has every been involved in the inner
workings (including the touring, musical ensemble or recording) of 'This is Serious
Mum' or if he plans to make any arrangements in the future.
Whilst aware of the very busy schedule the Prime Minister holds, I would ask if that
the Prime Minister make a statement requesting 'This Is Serious Mum' continue their
reunion tour, if he felt inclined to do so of course.
Authorised decision-maker
I am authorised to make a decision in this matter on the Prime Minister's behalf.
Material taken into account
In reaching my decision I had regard to:
• the terms of your request
• the Act
• the Guidelines issued by the Information Commissioner, under section 93A of the Act
Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600
Telephone 02 6277 7700
www.pm.gov.au
Decision
I have decided to refuse access under section 24A(1) of the Act on grounds that reasonable
steps have been taken and documents do not exist.
Reasons for decision
Section 24A(1) of the Act provides, a Minister may refuse a request for access if:
(a) all reasonable steps have been taken to find the document; and
(b) the agency or Minister is satisfied that the document:
(i)
is in the agency’s or Minister’s possession but cannot be found; or
(ii)
does not exist.
I have had regard to the Guidelines which discuss the meaning of ‘reasonable’ in s 24A(1)(a)
being of such an effort that would be appropriate or suitable to the circumstances1.
I have made inquiries with relevant staff regarding the subject of your request and arranged
for reasonable searches to be conducted for responsive documents. No relevant documents
within the terms of your request were identified.
I am satisfied that all reasonable steps have been taken and that documents do not exist.
Review rights
If you disagree with the decision you may apply for Information Commissioner review within
60 days from the date of this letter. The FOI Act does not provide for internal review of a
decision by a Minister.
More information about review rights and how to apply is available at:
www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews-and-complaints/information-
commissioner-review
Yours sincerely
Simona Gory
Senior Legal Adviser
30 March 2023
1 Paragraph 3.88 of the Guidelines