PO Box 7820, Canberra BC ACT 2610
6 December 2023
Our reference: LEX 77492
Frank n Fearless (Right to Know)
Only by email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Frank N Fearless
Acknowledgement of your Freedom of Information Request
I refer to your request for access to documents under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982
(the FOI Act). Your request was made in the following terms:
Today's Ombudsman's report on unlawful income apportionment states that:
"a second phase of sampling is currently underway that will consider underpayments
and matters heard by the AAT".
I now seek the progress reports sent by Services Australia to DSS on this exercise.
Your request was received by Services Australia (the Agency) on 4 December 2023 and the
30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date.
You should therefore expect a decision from us by 3 January 2024. The period of 30 days
may be extended if we need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if
this happens.
Charges
The Agency will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request and the amount of
any such charge as soon as practicable. No charge is payable for providing a person with
their own personal information.
Your Address
The FOI Act requires you provide us with an address which we can send notices to. You
have advised your electronic address is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.
We will send all notices and correspondence to this address. Please advise us as soon as
possible if you wish correspondence to be sent to another address or if your address
changes. If you do not advise us of changes to your address, correspondence and notices
will continue to be sent to the address specified above.
Administrative Release of Documents
The Agency has administrative access arrangements ('the arrangements') for the release of
certain documents without the need for a formal FOI request. Unless you advise us
otherwise, in processing your request we may provide you with documents under these
PAGE 1 OF 2
arrangements where appropriate and any parts of your FOI request that are addressed by
documents released under the arrangements will be considered to be withdrawn. The
arrangements do not extend to information or materials of third parties. You will be notified
when documents are released to you under the arrangements.
Disclosure Log
Please note information released under the FOI Act may be published in a disclosure log on
the agency's website. Section 11C of the FOI Act requires this publication, however it is
subject to certain exceptions, including where publication of personal, business, professional
or commercial information would be unreasonable.
Exclusion of junior staff details
The Agency is working towards ensuring all staff have a choice about whether they provide
their full name, personal logon identifiers and direct contact details in response to public
enquiries. Where such details are included in the scope of a request, this may add to
processing time and applicable charges as it may be necessary to consider whether the
details are exempt under the FOI Act. On this basis, unless you tell us otherwise, we will
assume these details are out of scope of your request and they will be redacted under
section 22 of the FOI Act.
Further assistance
If you have any questions please email
xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Yours sincerely
TY
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information Team
FOI and Ombudsman Branch | Legal Services Division
Services Australia
PAGE 2 OF 2
