Decision to grant an extension of time under s 15AB of the
Freedom of Information Act 1982
Agency
Australian Public Service Commission
FOI applicant
Mr Watson Norwood
Date of decision
14 June 2023
OAIC reference number
RQ23/03254
Agency reference number
LEX 559
Decision
1.
On 5 June 2023, the Australian Public Service Commission (the APSC) applied to the
Information Commissioner under s 15AB(1) of the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) for an extension of 25 days to 30 June 2023 to process Mr Watson
Norwood’s (the FOI applicant) request of 6 May 2023 (the FOI request).
2.
As a delegate of the Information Commissioner, I am authorised to make decisions on
extension of time applications under s 15AB(2) of the FOI Act.
3.
Under s 15AB(2) of the FOI Act, I have decided to extend the processing period by 25
days to 30 June 2023. My reasons are outlined below.
Background
4.
On 6 May 2023, the FOI applicant made an FOI request to the APSC. The FOI decision
was due to be provided to the FOI applicant on 5 June 2023.
5.
On 5 June 2023, the APSC applied to the Information Commissioner for further time to
process the FOI applicant’s request under s 15AB(1) on the basis that the processing
period is insufficient to adequately deal with the FOI request, because it is complex
and/or voluminous. A copy of the APSC’s reasons is included at
Attachment A.
Reasons for decision
6.
Subsection 15AB(2) of the FOI Act requires that I consider whether the application is
justified on the basis that the processing period referred to in s 15(5)(b) is insufficient
for dealing with the request, on the basis that the request is complex or voluminous.
1300 363 992
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oaic.gov.au/enquiry
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7.
In granting this extension of time under s 15AB(2), I have considered the following
factors:
•
Guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner under s 93A of the
FOI Act, to which I must have regard, in particular [3.150] – [3.155]
•
the scope of the FOI request
•
the APSC’s reasons for seeking an extension
•
whether an agreement to extend the processing period under s 15AA of the FOI
Act has first been attempted or obtained by the APSC
•
the work already undertaken, and still required, to finalise the request.
8.
On the information before the OAIC, I am satisfied that an extension to the processing
period until
30 June 2023 is justified, for the following reasons:
•
Based on the APSC’s submissions, I am satisfied that the request is complex,
based on the sensitive nature of the documents requested, challenges involved in
the search and retrieval of any relevant documents and the likely need to consult
with third parties. In particular, the APSC has advised that the request involves
‘third party personal and/or business information and staff information’, with
‘likely…numerous third parties named in the logs who may wish to object to the
release of such information’ which ‘may require extensive consultation’.
Additionally, the APSC advised that the request ‘captures documents over a large
time period’, which has required contact with the Department of Education and
Workplace Relations and the Merit Protection Commissioner ‘regarding the
Commission’s historical record-keeping to ensure all documents within the scope
of the request are retrieved’.
9.
In granting this extension, I have also considered the work already undertaken by the
APSC to finalise the request and the steps taken by the APSC to keep the FOI applicant
informed of progress.
10. The APSC must provide the FOI applicant with a decision by 30 June 2023.
11. If the APSC has not provided the FOI applicant with a decision by 30 June 2023 the FOI
applicant may seek review by the Information Commissioner of the APSC’s deemed
access refusal decision of 30 June 2023. Further information
on applying for IC review
is available on the OA
IC website. Any application for IC review would need to be made
within 60 days of the APSC’s decision or deemed decision. It also remains open to the
APSC to apply for a further extension of time from the Information Commissioner if
considered appropriate.
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12. This extension of time matter is now closed. Your review rights are set out below.
13. If you would like to discuss this matter, please contact our office by email at
xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx, quoting reference number RQ23/03254.
Yours sincerely
Noah Harris
Assistant Review Adviser
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
14 June 2023
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Attachment A
The agency’s reasons for requesting an extension of time, as included in the extension
of time request form.
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Review rights
If you disagree with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s (OAIC) decision
you can apply to the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Circuit and Family Court of
Australia for a review of a decision of the Information Commissioner, if you think that a
decision by the Information Commissioner to grant an extension of time is not legally correct.
You can make this application under the
Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977.
The Court will not review the merits of your case, but it may refer the matter back to the
Information Commissioner for further consideration if it finds the decision was wrong in law or
the Information Commissioner’s powers were not exercised properly.
An application for review must be made to the Court within 28 days of the OAIC sending the
decision to you. You may wish to seek legal advice as the process can involve fees and costs.
Please contact the Federal Court registry in your state or territory for more information, or
visit the Federal Court website
at http://www.fedcourt.gov.au/.
Further information
Further information about how applications to extend the timeframe to process an FOI
request are handled by the OAIC can be found published on our website:
For FOI applicants:
How to make an FOI request: Extensions of time
For agencies and ministers: Guidance and advice: Extension of time for processing requests
The OAIC has the power to investigate complaints about an agency’s actions under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). This is a separate process from asking for an
Information Commissioner review following a decision made under the FOI Act. Complaints
usually focus on how an agency has handled your FOI request or complied with other
obligations under the FOI Act, rather than the decision itself.
In some cases, the Information Commissioner’s investigation of a complaint may lead to the
agency addressing the issues that you have complained about. In other cases, the
Information Commissioner may make suggestions or recommendations that the agency
should implement. The Information Commissioner can only make non-binding
recommendations as a result of a complaint. You and the agency will be notified of the
outcome of the investigation.
FOI complaints to the OAIC must be made in writing. Our preference is for you to use
the online FOI complaint form if at all possible.
Further information about how to make a complaint can be found published on our website:
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/your-freedom-of-information-
rights/freedom-of-information-complaints/make-an-foi-complaint .
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Making a complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman
If you believe you have been treated unfairly by the OAIC, you can make a complaint to the
Commonwealth Ombudsman (the Ombudsman). The Ombudsman's services are free. The
Ombudsman can investigate complaints about the administrative actions of Australian
Government agencies to see if you have been treated unfairly.
If the Ombudsman finds your complaint is justified, the Ombudsman can recommend that
the OAIC reconsider or change its action or decision or take any other action that the
Ombudsman considers is appropriate. You can contact the Ombudsman's office for more
information on 1300 362 072 or visit the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s website at
http://www.ombudsman.gov.au .
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