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This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Australia government's ad expenditure in Sri Lanka, for purpose of deterring illegal emigration to Australa'.


 
 
 
6 June 2023 
Fidel Fernando 
BY EMAIL:  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
In reply please quote: 
FOI Request:  FA 23/04/01265 
File Number: 
FA23/04/01265 
Dear Fidel Fernando 
Freedom of Information (FOI) request – Access Decision 
On 24 April 2023, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) received a request for access 
to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). 
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a decision on your request for access under the 
FOI Act.  
1 
Scope of request 
You have requested access to the following documents: 
I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information act.  
- The Australian government's ad expenditure in Sri Lanka for the purpose of deterring 
il egal emigration towards Australia, in 2022.  
- The Australian government's ad expenditure in Sri Lanka for the purpose of deterring 
il egal emigration towards Australia, in 2019. 
2 
Authority to make decision 
I  am an officer authorised under section 23 of the FOI Act to make decisions in respect of 
requests to access documents or to amend or annotate records. 
3 
Relevant material  
In reaching my decision I referred to the following:  
•  the terms of your request 
•  the FOI Act 
•  Guidelines published by the Office of the Information Commissioner under section 93A 
of the FOI Act (the FOI Guidelines) 
•  advice from Departmental officers with  responsibility for matters relating to the 
documents to which you sought access 
 
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 • xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx • www.homeaffairs.gov.au 
 
 

 
4 
Documents in scope of request 
The Department has undertaken reasonable searches for documents within the scope of your 
request. 
In summary, the searches undertaken by the relevant business areas in relation to your request 
included interrogation of standard record-keeping systems. 
The Department does not hold an existing discrete document that contains the data you are 
seeking. 
The Department has considered whether it can extract the data in accordance with section 17(1) 
of the FOI Act. 
The data you have requested is of a detail that cannot be reported on from the Department’s 
computer systems. Either the data is not collected to that granular detail, or it is  not possible to 
extract the data using a computer system in a manner that is ordinarily available to it. 
The obligation for retrieving or collating information stored in a computer system arises if: 
•  the Department could produce a written document containing the information using 
a computer or other equipment that is ordinarily available to the agency for retrieving 
or collating stored information, and  
•  producing a written document would not substantially and unreasonably divert the 
resources of the agency from its other operations (s17(2)) 
In Collection Point Pty Ltd v  Commissioner of Taxation the full bench of the Federal Court decided 
that if a new computer program is required to be written to produce the document then a computer 
is not being used in a manner that is ordinarily available to the agency because an extraordinary 
step is required to be taken.1 
To compile the information you have requested into a discrete document would require a manual 
search of  each relevant individual record. This is  not what  section 17 of  the FOI  Act  requires. 
Section 17 only requires a new document to be created when it is possible to do so using 
a computer or other equipment to extract data. It  is not possible to generate a document 
containing the information you have requested. 
I  am satisfied that the Department is not able to produce a written document containing the 
information you seek in a discrete form using a computer or other equipment ordinarily available 
to it. 
Having regard to your request and the types of documents that may fall within the scope of your 
request, I am satisfied that the searches conducted were thorough and all reasonable steps have 
been taken to locate any document relevant to your request. 
5 
Decision 
I  am  satisfied that the  Department has undertaken reasonable searches in  relation to  your 
request. 
                                              
 
 
1 Collection Point Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2013] FCAFC  67 [20].   
- 2 – 

 
As  required under Section 17(1) of the FOI  Act, I  have considered whether the data can be 
extracted from computer systems ordinarily available to the Department. 
To produce a written document would require the Department to write new code, which I  do not 
consider the ordinary use of departmental computer systems. To do so would substantially and 
unreasonably divert the resources of the agency from its other operations as per Section 17(2). 
As such, I  have decided to refuse access to the documents you have requested under Section 
24A of the FOI Act as I  am satisfied that the documents do not exist. 
•  Refused in full 
6 
Legislation 
A copy of the FOI Act is available at https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A02562. If you 
are unable to access the legislation through this website, please contact our office for a copy. 
7 
Your Review Rights 
Review  by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner 
You may apply directly to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for a 
review of this decision. You must apply in writing within 60 days of this notice. For further 
information about review rights and how to submit a request for a review to the OAIC, please see 
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews-and-complaints/information-
commissioner-review/.  
8 
Making a Complaint 
You may complain to the Australian Information Commissioner about action taken by the 
Department in relation to your request. 
Your enquiries to the Australian Information Commissioner can be directed to: 
Phone 1300 363 992 (local call charge) 
Email  xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx 
There is no particular form required to make  a complaint to  the Australian Information 
Commissioner. The request should be in writing and should set out the grounds on which it is 
considered that the action taken in relation to the request should be investigated and identify the 
Department of Home Affairs as the relevant agency. 
9 
Contacting the FOI Section 
Should you wish to discuss this decision, please do not hesitate to contact the FOI Section at 
xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx. 
Yours sincerely 
 
[signed electronically] 
 
Mark 
Position number – 60043042 
Authorised Decision Maker 
Department of Home Affairs 
- 3 –