Decision to decline an extension of time application under s 15AB of
the Freedom of Information Act 1982
Agency
Services Australia
FOI applicant
Frank N Fearless
Date of Decision
2 January 2024
OAIC reference number
RQ23/06237
Agency reference number
LEX 77492

Decision
1.
I refer to the application made by Services Australia under s 15AB(1) of the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) for an extension of time to process Frank N
Fearless’s (the FOI applicant) request of 4 December 2023 (the FOI request).
2.
As a delegate of the Information Commissioner, I am authorised to make decisions on
extensions of time applications made under s 15AB(2) of the FOI Act.
3.
On the information before the Information Commissioner, I have decided to decline
Services Australia’s request to extend the processing period. A decision on the FOI
applicant’s request therefore remains due by 3 January 2024. My reasons are outlined
below.
Background
4.
On 4 December 2023, the FOI applicant made an FOI request to Services Australia. The
FOI decision is due to be provided to the FOI applicant on 3 January 2024.
5.
On 15 December 2023, Services Australia applied to the Information Commissioner for
further time to process the FOI applicant’s request under s 15AB(1) of the FOI Act, 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 Services Australia’s
reasons is included at Attachment A.
1300 363 992
T +61 2 9284 9749
GPO Box 5218
www.oaic.gov.au
oaic.gov.au/enquiry
F +61 2 9284 9666
Sydney NSW 2001
ABN 85 249 230 937

link to page 2

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.
7.
In declining to extend the processing period under s 15AB(2), I have considered the
fol owing 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
•  Services Australia’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 Services Australia
•  any extension to the processing timeframes already utilised under s 15(6)
•  the work already undertaken, and still required, to finalise the request
•  the FOI applicant’s views on this extension of time request.

8.
On the information before the OAIC, I am not satisfied that the application to extend
the processing period is justified, for the fol owing reasons:

•  Based on publicly available information,1 Services Australia already notified the
FOI applicant of a decision on the FOI request on 21 December 2023 – within the
initial decision period. Therefore, despite Services Australia’s claim about the
impact of the request’s complexity on its processing of the request, the initial
decision period is sufficient for Services Australia to adequately deal with the FOI
request. Granting the extension requested (to 2 February 2024) where a decision
on the FOI request has been issued is also not warranted in the circumstances.

9.
This extension of time matter is now closed. Your review rights are set out below.

10.  If you wish to discuss this matter, please contact us by email at xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
quoting reference number RQ23/06237.
Yours sincerely

Bernie Lai
Assistant Director

1 https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/unlawful_calculations_resulting#incoming-33138
2

Freedom of Information Branch
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
2 January 2024
3

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 Court 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 fol owing a decision made under the FOI Act. Complaints
usual y 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 al  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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Document Outline