2 February 2024
Mr A Pentland
BY EMAIL: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
In reply please quote:
FOI Request:
FA 24/01/00530
File Number:
FA/24/01/00530
Dear Mr Pentland
Freedom of Information (FOI) request – Access Decision
On 11 January 2024, 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:
This is a Freedom of Information Request for the purposes of the Freedom of
Information Act 1982.
I request access to the Style Guides/Brand Guides/Writing Guides currently used
for the Department of Home Affairs.
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 documents relevant to the request
• the FOI Act
• Guidelines published by the Office of the Information Commissioner under section 93A
of the FOI Act (the FOI Guidelines)
Level 3-299 Adelaide Street • www.homeaffairs.gov.au
• advice from Departmental officers with responsibility for matters relating to the
documents to which you sought access
4
Documents in scope of request
The Department has identified two (2) documents as falling within the scope of your request.
These documents were in the possession of the Department on 11 January 2024 when your
request was received.
Attachment A is a schedule which describes the relevant documents and sets out my decision
in relation to each of them.
5
Decision
The decision in relation to the documents in the possession of the Department which fall within
the scope of your request is as follows:
• Release one document in full
• Release one document in part with deletions
6
Reasons for Decision
Detailed reasons for my decision are set out below.
6.1 Section 22 of the FOI Act – irrelevant to request
Section 22 of the FOI Act provides that if giving access to a document would disclose information
that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the request, it is possible for the Department
to prepare an edited copy of the document, modified by deletions, ensuring that the edited copy
would not disclose any information that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the
request.
I have decided that parts of document marked ‘s22(1)(a)(i )’ would disclose information that could
reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to your request. I have prepared an edited copy of the
document, with the irrelevant material deleted pursuant to section 22(1)(a)(i ) of the FOI Act. The
remainder of the document has been released to you as it is relevant to your request.
6.2 Section 47E of the FOI Act- Operations of Agencies
Section 47E(d) of the FOI Act provides that documents are conditionally exempt if disclosure
would, or could reasonably be expected to, have a substantial adverse ef ect on the proper and
efficient conduct of the operations of an agency.
I consider that the disclosure of the parts of documents marked ‘s47E(d)’, would, or could
reasonably be expected to, have a substantial adverse effect on the proper and efficient conduct
of the operations of the Department.
Managing the security and integrity of Australia's borders is integral to the operations of the
Department. Any prejudice to the effectiveness of the operational methods and procedures used
in undertaking that role would result in a substantial adverse effect on the operations of the
Department.
- 2 –
Any disclosure resulting in the prejudice of the effectiveness of the Department’s operational
methods and procedures would result in the need for this Department, and potentially its law
enforcement partners, to change those methods and/or procedures to avoid jeopardising their
future effectiveness.
Some information marked 's47E(d)' consists of operational email addresses used by this
Department. These email addresses are not otherwise publicly available, and disclosure of this
information could reasonably be expected to result in potential vexatious communication and
public inquiries which these operational areas are not resourced to manage. The Department
has established channels of communication for members of the public into the Department, and
I consider there is no public interest in disclosing these operational contact details. Given the
operational focus of those business areas, such a diversion of the resources of that business
area could reasonably be expected to have a substantial adverse effect on the proper and
efficient conduct of the operations of this Department and its partner agencies.
I consider that the disclosure of parts of documents marked ‘s47E(d)’ would, or could reasonably
be expected to, have a substantial adverse effect on the proper and efficient conduct of the
operations of the Department.
7
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.
8
Your Review Rights
Internal Review
If you disagree with this decision, you have the right to apply for an internal review by the
Department of this decision. Any request for internal review must be provided to the Department
within 30 days of you being notified of the decision. Where possible please attach reasons why
you believe a review of the decision is necessary. The internal review wil be carried out by an
officer other than the original decision maker and the Department must make a review decision
within 30 days.
Applications for review should be sent to:
By email to: xxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
OR
By mail to:
Freedom of Information Section
Department of Home Affairs
PO Box 25
BELCONNEN ACT 2617
Information Commissioner Review
You may apply directly to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for an
Information Commissioner 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/your-freedom-of-
information-rights/freedom-of-information-reviews/information-commissioner-review.
- 3 –
9
Making a complaint
You may complain to the Information Commissioner about action taken by the Department in
relation to your request.
Your enquiries to the 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 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.
10 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,
[Electronically Signed]
Anjani
Position number 60165359
Authorised Decision Maker
Department of Home Affairs
- 4 –