FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION
27 October 2023
Our ref: 2023/10706
Fredrick Hoffman
BY EMAIL ONLY:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Mr Hoffman
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982 APPLICATION – APPLE MOU
I refer to your request received by AMSA on 13 September 2023 in which you sought access
to documents under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). The request sought
copies of agreements relating to the SOS function on Apple devices. Specifically, your
request sought:
“…. any MOU or agreements related to the JRCC and 1. Apple 2. Any other providers
related to the Emergency SOS feature found on Apple devices.”
This letter sets out my decision on your request for access. I am an authorised decision-maker
under section 23 of the FOI Act.
Timeframe for processing your request
Your request was received by AMSA on 13 September 2023. The statutory period for
processing your request is 30 days. The timeframe for processing your request therefore
expires on 13 October 2023.
Decision
After taking all reasonable steps to locate relevant documents relating to your aforementioned
request, I am satisfied that no such documents are in the possession of AMSA that fall within
the scope of your request. I therefore resolve your application under s 24A(1) of the FOI Act
on the basis that the requested documents do not exist.
I have consulted with the AMSA employees who are responsible for maintaining the AMSA
databases that contain information of the nature you have sought. This consultation process
included considering the subject matter of your request, the file and record management
system used by AMSA, and identifying the individuals within AMSA who may be able to assist
locating relevant documents.
Following this process, I am satisfied that AMSA does have any memorandums of
understanding or agreements with Apple or any other like service providers related to the
Emergency SOS feature found on Apple devices.
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;
• advice from AMSA officers with responsibility for matters relating to the documents to
which you sought access; and
• advice from AMSA’s in-house legal team.
Review rights
You are entitled to seek review of this decision.
Attachment A sets out your rights to apply
for review if you are dissatisfied with my decision.
Contacts
If you have any queries about this notice, please do not hesitate to contact AMSA’s FOI
team at
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely,
Kevin Digitally signed
by Kevin McEvoy
Date: 2023.09.26
McEvoy 20:51:14 +10'00'
KEVIN MCEVOY
MANAGER AMSA RESPONSE CENTRE
RESPONSE
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Attachment A - review rights
If you are dissatisfied with my decision, you may apply for internal review or Information
Commissioner review of the decision. We encourage you to seek internal review as a first step
as it may provide a more rapid resolution of your concerns.
Internal review
Under section 54 of the FOI Act, you may apply in writing to AMSA for an internal review of
my decision. The internal review application must be made within 30 days of the date of this
letter.
Where possible please attach reasons why you believe review of the decision is necessary.
The internal review will be carried out by another officer within 30 days.
An internal review application should be addressed to:
The Freedom of Information Officer
Email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
If you choose to seek an internal review, you will subsequently have a right to apply to the
Australian Information Commissioner for a review of the internal review decision.
Information commissioner review
Under section 54L of the FOI Act, you may apply to the Australian Information Commissioner
to review my decision. An application for review by the Information Commissioner must be
made in writing within 60 days of the date of this letter, and be lodged in one of the following
ways:
online
:https://forms.business.gov.au/smartforms/servlet/SmartForm.html?formCode=ICR_10
email:
xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
post: GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001
More information about Information Commissioner review is available on the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner website. Go to
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-
information/freedom-of-information-guidance-for-government-agencies/freedom-of-
information-reviews/summary-of-the-freedom-of-information-review-process
FOI complaints
If you are unhappy with the way AMSA has handled your FOI request, please let us know
what we could have done better. We may be able to rectify the problem. If you are not
satisfied with our response, you can make a complaint to the Australian Information
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Commissioner. A complaint to the Information Commissioner must be made in writing.
Complaints can be lodged in one of the following ways:
Online:
https://forms.business.gov.au/smartforms/servlet/SmartForm.html?formCode=ICCA_1 Email t
o xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx Post: GPO Box 5218, Sydney 2001, NSW
More information about complaints is available on the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner at
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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