FOI-2024-10017
22 February 2024
AJB
Email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear AJB
Freedom of Information request – Part access decision
1. I refer to your request of 23 January 2024 to this Office under the
Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). Your request for documents was framed in the
following way:
According to the Commonwealth Ombudsman Disclosure Log, on 3
November 2023, the Ombudsman granted access to emails or other
communications directed at al staff about the Royal Commission on the
Robo-debt Scheme. The Commonwealth Ombudsman reference is FOI-
2023-10082. A ful disclosure was made of 3 documents and a partial
disclosure was made of 10 documents.
Please grant access to the disclosed documents (3 ful y disclosed and 10
partially disclosed) under the FOI Act by reply email.
2. On 20 February 2024 I wrote to you requesting an extension under s 15AA of the
FOI Act. In this correspondence I explained:
A. One document has been determined as not appropriate for uploading
on the disclosure log as it is an autogenerated transcript of a recording
of an al -staff discussion, which due to misinterpretation of the words
spoken by the auto-generation technology, had a significant number of
errors which are, in sections, quite distorting of the original recording.
B. The disclosure log requirement does not apply if publication of that
information would be ‘unreasonable’ (ss 11C(1)(c) and 11C (2) of the FOI
Act) including information covered by the Information Commissioner’s
Freedom of Information (Disclosure Log – Exempt Documents)
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Determination 2018. The Explanatory Statement accompanying the
Information Commissioner’s Determination says:
The Commissioner … recognises that an agency or Minister may
decide that it is appropriate to provide access to an exempt
document to a particular FOI applicant but that it would be
unreasonable to publish the document more widely. For example, an
agency may have released an exempt document to a particular FOI
applicant in connection with a research project, in connection with
legal proceedings in which the FOI applicant is involved, or because
the confidential nature of information in a document would not be
jeopardised by selective release to a particular FOI applicant. In
these circumstances, the agency or Minister may decide that it is
unreasonable to publish this information more widely in a disclosure
log.
C. I made the decision not to exempt the transcript in full, noting the
applicant’s identity in FOI-2023-10082. However, at the time, I was of the
view publishing the document more widely would be unreasonable,
noting its errors and candid nature. For this reason, I was required to
consult internal y on the release of this document, noting the decision
for your request would be published widely on the Right to Know website.
3. Later on 20 February 2024 you wrote to say you did not agree to an extension of
time under s 15AA of the FOI Act. You instead proposed our Office send 12 of the 13
documents to you via Right to Know, and al 13 documents, including the
transcript, to your private email address by 22 February 2024.
4. As your identity remains anonymous and you have previously engaged with
publishing documents via the Right to Know website, our Office does not accept
this proposal. Instead my decision is as fol ows.
Decision
5. I am an officer authorised under s 23 of the FOI Act to make decisions in relation
to FOI requests. This letter constitutes my notice of decision.
6. Our Office identified thirteen (13) documents within the scope of your request. I
have decided:
• To refuse access to 1 document in ful .
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• To grant access to 3 documents in full.
• To grant access to 9 documents in part.
7. Our Office identified the documents by searching our electronic records
management systems and electronic documents saved on shared or network
drives.
8. I attach the 12 documents with this notice.
9. A schedule setting out my decision in relation to the relevant documents is at
Attachment A.
Reasons
Material taken into account
10. In making my decision I had regard to the fol owing:
• the terms of your request;
• the content of the documents to which you sought access;
• advice from other, relevant Ombudsman officers;
• advice from the Ombudsman;
• relevant provisions of the FOI Act; and
• Guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner under s 93A of
the FOI Act, available at
www.oaic.gov.au (
FOI Guidelines).
Findings of fact and reasons for decision
11. Where the Schedule of Documents at
Attachment A indicates that an exemption
has been applied to part of a document, my findings of fact and reasons for
deciding that the exemption provision applies to part of that document are set out
below.
Partial access
12. 9 documents have been partially released to you, and 1 document has been
exempt in ful , as set out in the attached Schedule of Documents.
13. I have redacted the following:
A. Surnames and contact information of Ombudsman staff;
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B. Information revealing an internal ‘Q and A’ session;
C. Information revealing trade secrets and commercial y valuable
information;
D. Irrelevant material.
14. I have addressed categories A-D below.
15. I have relied on four conditional exemptions, and one general exemption to redact
those documents, being:
A. The personal privacy exemption (s 47F FOI Act);
B. The agency operations exemption (s 47E of the FOI Act);
C. The trade secrets or commercial y valuable information exemption (s 47
of the FOI Act);
D. The exempt or irrelevant material exemption (s 22 of the FOI Act).
A. Names and contact information of Ombudsman Staff
16. Where referenced in the schedule, I have redacted the surnames and contact
details of Ombudsman staff, relying on both s 47F and s 47E of the FOI Act.
Personal privacy: s 47F
17. Section 47F conditional y exempts a document to the extent that its disclosure
would involve the unreasonable disclosure of personal information about any
person.
18. Section 11A of the FOI Act provides that while an agency must give a person access
to a document if it is conditional y exempt, access may be refused if the
document’s disclosure would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest.
19. ‘Personal information’ means:
Information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who
is reasonably identifiable:
(a) whether the information is true or not, and
(b) whether the information is recorded in a material form or not.
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20. The documents contain personal information in the form of Ombudsman staff full
names and contact information, including phone numbers and direct email
addresses. I am satisfied that the relevant information is personal information: s 4
of the FOI Act.
Unreasonable
21. If information is personal information, it will be conditionally exempt if its disclosure
would be ‘unreasonable’. In considering whether disclosure would be
unreasonable, subsection 47F(2) of the FOI Act requires me to take into account:
i. The extent to which the information is wel known.
ii. Whether the person to whom the information relates is known to be (or to
have been) associated with the matters dealt with in the document.
iii. The availability of the information from publicly accessible sources.
iv. Any other matter I consider relevant.
22. The relevant information is not wel known. The individuals to whom the
information relates are not general y known to be associated with the relevant
information. The relevant information is not readily available from public sources.
The agency provides centralised contact phone numbers and email contact
points.
23. Disclosure of a public servant’s personal information may be unreasonable under
s 47F of the FOI Act. I find that it would be unreasonable in this case as, in my view,
given the nature of the work of this Office as a complaint body, disclosure of the
personal information of individual staff members may pose a risk to the health
and safety of staff in this Office. This is particularly the case where the staff
member’s ful name is provided, as this enables complainants to track down the
staff member, for example, through social media. I consider this may subject staff
members to inappropriate contact and be to their detriment.
24. I find that release of such information would involve the unreasonable disclosure
of personal information under s 47F (1) of the FOI Act.
Public Interest
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25. Section 11A (5) of the FOI Act provides an agency must give a person access to a
document that is conditionally exempt at a particular time, unless, in the
circumstances, disclosure would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest.
26. In deciding whether access should be given to this information, I have taken a
number of matters into account. These matters include the public interest factors
for and against disclosure as outlined in the Guidelines at paragraph 6.17 – 6.22,
as wel as matters specific to our agency’s functions and operating environment.
27. I am not of the view that in this instance access to the personal information of
public servants would increase public participation in Government processes or
contribute to scrutiny and discussion around government decisions and
investigations.
28. The fol owing factors mitigate against disclosure:
i. Release of the information could reasonably be expected to prejudice the
protection of a person’s right to privacy.
ii. Release of the information could reasonably be expected to impede the
Office’s work health and safety obligations under the
Work Health and
Safety Act 2011 (Cth).
iii. Disclosure of the relevant personal information could reasonably be
expected to result in inappropriate contact resulting in inefficiencies or
impediments to the Office’s operations.
29. Pursuant to subsection 11A(5) of the FOI Act, I have concluded that this disclosure
at this time would be, on balance, contrary to the public interest.
Certain agency operations: s 47E
30. Section 47E of the FOI Act provides that:
A document is conditional y exempt if its disclosure under this Act would, or
could reasonably be expected to:
…
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d) have a substantial adverse effect on the proper and efficient conduct of
the operations of the agency.
31. The documents contain the full names and direct contact information of
Ombudsman and staff.
Reasonable expectation
32. The Ombudsman has established generic contact points and procedures in place
for members of the public to communicate with the Office. Disclosure of direct
contact details would undermine this and could reasonably be expected to
impede the Ombudsman’s functions.
Public Interest
33. Section 11A (5) of the FOI Act provides an agency must give a person access to a
document that is conditionally exempt at a particular time, unless, in the
circumstances, disclosure would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest.
34. In considering whether access would, on balance, be contrary to the public
interest, I have considered the factors for and against disclosure, including the
factors identified in s 11B (3) of the FOI Act. I have also considered the public interest
factors favouring and against disclosure in the FOI Guidelines [6.17 – 6.22], as wel
as matters particular to the Ombudsman’s functions and operating environment.
35. I am not of the view that in this instance access to the personal information of
public servants would increase public participation in Government processes or
contribute to scrutiny and discussion around government decisions and
investigations. Further, disclosure could:
i. reasonably be expected to affect the ability of staff members to fulfil their
duties;
ii. have a substantial adverse effect on the management of Office personnel;
and
iii. reasonably be expected to prejudice the proper and efficient conduct of
investigations by the Ombudsman (see FOI Guidelines 6.22(l)).
36. I have considered the factors for and against disclosure and find, on balance, that
the factors against disclosure outweigh the factors in favour of disclosure.
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Therefore, I have concluded that this disclosure at this time would be, on balance,
contrary to the public interest.
B. An internal 'Q and A' session
37. The transcript includes a ‘Q and A’ session with the Ombudsman. The entirety of
the session, including the Ombudsman’s introduction and responses, is exempt
from production under s 47E(d) of the FOI Act.
38. Please also note the transcript, when released to the applicant of FOI-2023-10082,
had the following information redacted:
i. Surnames and contact information of Ombudsman staff
ii. Information in relation to Ombudsman investigations
iii. Information regarding internal audits and review
iv. An internal ‘Q and A’ session
v. Information revealing deliberative processes
vi. Information revealing trade secrets and commercially valuable
information
vii. Irrelevant material
39. The redactions relied on to exempt this material were:
i. s 47F of the FOI Act (unreasonable disclosure of personal information)
ii. s 47E(d) – (substantial adverse effect on agency operations)
iii. s 47C of the FOI Act (deliberative processes)
iv. s 47 of the FOI Act (Documents disclosing trade secrets or commercial y
valuable information)
40. However, given I am exempting this document in full under s 47E(d) of the FOI Act
for the reasons provided from paragraph 41-56, I will not canvas in detail the
reasons these exemptions were applied to the transcript in FOI-2023-10082.
Reasonable expectation
41. The town hal meeting was a frank internal discussion, intended solely for staff, and
recorded so staff who were unable to attend could watch the recording. In my
view, public disclosure of a meeting which staff understood to be limited to an
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internal audience, poses a real risk to the wil ingness of staff to participate ful y in
such future discussions.
42. The disclosure of internal candid discussion could reasonably be expected to stifle
such discussions in future. The ability to speak candidly and frankly when
discussing administration of the Ombudsman’s functions ensures the Office
remains robust and dynamic. If officers do not feel they can candidly and frankly
communicate with each other to discuss, question, suggest and workshop ideas,
this could reasonably be expected to stifle such future discussion.
43. Additional y, the quality of the auto-generated transcript is so poor that
publication could materially mislead people as to a range of the matters
discussed. Such misinformation could create misguided views of the Office and in
turn have a substantial adverse effect on the proper and efficient conduct.
44. Finally, Information in the transcript includes content that relates to completed
and ongoing Ombudsman investigations. This information is exempt from
production under s 47E(d) of the FOI Act.
45. Ombudsman investigations are dealt with in private pursuant to s 8(2) of the
Ombudsman Act 1976, and Ombudsman officers are to observe confidentiality
with respect to information disclosed under the Act (see s 35).
46. As noted in Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Commonwealth
Ombudsman [2012] AICmr 11 (26 April 2012) (‘ABC’) at [33]:
“the Ombudsman Act establishes a framework within which the
Ombudsman’s investigations are conducted in private, and information
disclosed or obtained under the Act is treated confidential y…Disclosure,
under the FOI Act, of information provided to the Ombudsman by
complainants in such circumstances would affect the wil ingness of people
to make complaints to the Ombudsman in the future. That would have a
substantial adverse effect on the proper and efficient conduct of the
Ombudsman’s operations”
47. The release of information about an Ombudsman’s investigation could
reasonably be expected to discourage agencies and officers of agencies, from
making complaints and providing information request under s 8 of the
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Ombudsman Act to the Ombudsman, particularly if they knew such information
would be disclosed publicly.
48. Those who make complaints to the Ombudsman must be assured that their
complaints wil be treated in confidence. Release of information, in particular
personal information linked to a complaint or investigation could reasonably be
expected to discourage future complaints.
49. We submit that public detriment wil arise if the Ombudsman is compromised in
our Office’s ability to obtain confidential information in future Ombudsman Act
investigations.
50. Disclosure would reasonably be expected to prejudice the proper and efficient
conduct of investigations by the Ombudsman, disclosure would reasonably be
expected to prejudice the Ombudsman’s ability to obtain confidential information;
and disclosure would reasonably be expected to prejudice an agency’s ability to
obtain similar information in the future.
Public interest
51. Section 11A(5) of the FOI Act provides an agency must give a person access to a
document that is conditionally exempt at a particular time, unless, in the
circumstances, disclosure would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest.
52. In considering whether access would, on balance, be contrary to the public
interest, I have considered the factors for and against disclosure, including the
factors identified in s 11B (3) of the FOI Act. I have also considered the public interest
factors favouring and against disclosure in the FOI Guidelines [6.17 – 6.19] and
[6.22], as wel as matters particular to the Ombudsman’s functions and operating
environment.
53. Factors favouring disclosure include that disclosure would:
i. promote the objects of the FOI Act, including to:
ii. inform the community of the Government’s operations, including, in
particular,
a) the practices fol owed by the Government in its dealings with external
agencies
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b) reveal the reason for a government decision and any background or
contextual information that informed the decision
c) enhance the scrutiny of government decision making
iii. inform debate on a matter of public importance, including to:
a) al ow or assist inquiry into possible deficiencies in the conduct or
administration of an agency or official
iv. contribute to the administration of justice general y, including procedural
fairness; and
v. promote effective oversight of public expenditure.
54. Factors against disclosure include that disclosure could:
i. reasonably be expected to prejudice the protection of an individual’s right
to privacy, in particular individual officers of the Ombudsman
ii. reasonably be expected to affect the ability of staff members to fulfil their
duties
iii. have a substantial adverse effect on the management of Office personnel
iv. reasonably be expected to prejudice the proper and efficient conduct of
investigations by the Ombudsman (see FOI Guidelines 6.22(l))
v. could reasonably be expected to affect the ability of the agency to receive
confidential or candid communications
55. I note that disclosure under the FOI Act is general y to be considered to the world
at large.
56. I have considered the factors for and against disclosure and find, on balance, that
the factors against disclosure outweigh the factors in favour of disclosure. I have
given significant weight to the proper and efficient conduct of Ombudsman’s
investigative and the departments’ functions and processes not being impeded. I
find that disclosure at this time would be contrary to the public interest.
C. Information revealing trade secrets and commercially valuable information
57. I am of the view that parts of documents 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 13, as indicated on the
schedule, are exempt is accordance with s 47 of the FOI Act.
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58. Section 47 of the FOI Act provides that:
A document is an exempt document if its disclosure under this Act
would disclose:
a) trade secrets; or
b) any other information having a commercial value that would be,
or could reasonably be expected to be, destroyed or diminished if
the information were disclosed.
Trade secrets
59. Documents 3 and 7 include terminology showing the use of the relevant computer
systems software at certain stages in the handling of complaint matters under the
Ombudsman Act 1976. In line with FOI Guidelines 5.199-5.203, I am of the view this
is information possessed by one trader which gives that trader an advantage over
its competitors while the information remains general y unknown, constituting
trade secrets.
Commercial value
60. Documents 8 and 9 include information about the use of certain communication
computer systems software operated by the Office. Documents 4, 10 and 13
include information about use of certain record keeping and case management
computer system software operated by the Office. In line with FOI Guidelines
5.204-5.207, I am of the view the information has commercial value, relating to the
profitability and viability of a continuing business operation or commercial activity
in which our Office is involved.
61. For the reasons outlined at 49 and 50, I have refused access to parts of documents
3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 13 under s 47(1)(b) of the FOI Act.
D. Irrelevant material
62. I provide access to an edited copy of 1 relevant document to you with irrelevant
material removed in accordance with s 22 of the FOI Act.
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Review rights
Internal review
63. Under s 54 of the FOI Act, you may apply in writing to our Office for an internal
review of my decision. The internal review application must be made within 30
days of the date on which you were notified of my decision.
64. Where possible, please attach reasons for why you believe review of the decision
is necessary. The internal review wil be carried out by another Ombudsman officer
within 30 days.
65. If you choose to seek an internal review, you wil afterward have a right to apply to
the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (
OAIC) for a review of the
internal review decision.
Review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
66. Under s 54L of the FOI Act, you may apply to the Office of the OAIC to review my
decision. An application for review by the OAIC must be made in writing within 60
days of the decision date, either from the date of this letter or the date of our
internal review decision letter. Your request can be lodged in one of the fol owing
ways:
• online at
oaic.gov.au/about-us/contact-us
• via email to
xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
• by overland mail to GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001
• in person to Level 2, 175 Pitt Street Sydney NSW
67. More information about the OAIC review process is available at its website:
oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/foi-review-process
Complaints to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
68. You may complain to the OAIC about action taken by the Ombudsman in relation
to your FOI request.
69. While there is no particular form required to make a complaint to the OAIC, the
complaint should be in writing and set out the reasons for why you are dissatisfied
with the way your request was processed. It should also identify the Ombudsman’s
Office as the agency about which you are complaining.
70. You may lodge your complaint either:
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• online at
oaic.gov.au
• by overland mail to GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001
• by email to
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx.
Contact details
71. Should you have any questions, you may contact me via email at
xxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx or via telephone on 1300 362 072.
Yours sincerely
Sophia Murray-Walker
Legal Team
Influencing systemic improvement in public administration
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Attachment A
Schedule of Documents – Freedom of Information Request FOI-2024-10017
Doc Date
Pages
Description of
Decision on Exemption
Information
No. Received
Document
access
Redacted
1.
July 2023 2 (1-2)
Robodebt Royal
Full access N/A
N/A
Commission –
Analysis of
Recommendations –
Paper from July
Executive Committee
Meeting.
2.
22 August 22 (3-
Commonwealth
Full access N/A
N/A
2022
24)
Ombudsman
Corporate Plan 2023-
2024. Senior Executive
Staff reviewed this
document in July and
August. Contained in
the Ombudsman’s
foreword and pg. 13
are references to
Robodebt Royal
Commission.
3. 1 0 July
2 (25-
Robodebt Royal
Partial
Conditionally
•
Surnames of
2023
26)
Commission Report
access
exempt under
Ombudsman
Guidelines. This
staff
s 47F of the
Guidance document
FOI Act
redacted.
•
Terminology
sets out instructions
(unreasonable
showing the
for Complaints
disclosure of
use of the
Officers on how to
personal
relevant
respond to contacts,
information)
computer
or other
systems
Conditionally
enquiries/complaints
software
exempt under
redacted.
in relation to the
s 47E(d) –
Report of the Royal
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Doc Date
Pages
Description of
Decision on Exemption
Information
No. Received
Document
access
Redacted
Commission into the
(substantial
Robodebt Scheme.
adverse effect
on agency
operations)
Exempt under
s 47 of the FOI
Act
(Documents
disclosing
trade secrets
or
commercial y
valuable
information)
4. 1 2 July
41 (27-
Transcript Al -Staff
Exempt in
Conditionally
•
An internal ‘Q
and A’
2023
67)
Town Hall Royal
full
exempt under
session.
Commission into the
s 47E(d) –
Robodebt Royal
(substantial
Commission Report
adverse effect
on agency
operations)
5.
7 July 2023 5 (68-
Intranet Post – A
Full access N/A
N/A
72)
Message from the
Ombudsman –
Robodebt Royal
Commission Report
6. 1 0 July
1 (73)
Intranet post - Release Partial
Conditionally
•
Surnames of
2023
to VOLT of Guidance
access
exempt under
Ombudsman
for Complaint Officers
staff
s 47F of the
on responding to
FOI Act
redacted.
•
Online link to
contacts about the
(unreasonable
Guidance
RRC report
disclosure of
document.
personal
information)
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Doc Date
Pages
Description of
Decision on Exemption
Information
No. Received
Document
access
Redacted
Conditionally
exempt under
s 47E(d) –
(substantial
adverse effect
on agency
operations)
7. 1 0 July
2 (74-
Guidance document
Partial
Conditionally
•
Surnames of
2023
75)
in VOLT – Robodebt
access
exempt under
Ombudsman
Royal Commission
s 47F of the
staff
Report
FOI Act
redacted.
•
Terminology
(unreasonable
showing the
disclosure of
use of the
personal
relevant
information)
computer
systems
Conditionally
software
exempt under
redacted.
s 47E(d) –
(substantial
adverse effect
on agency
operations)
Exempt under
s 47 of the FOI
Act
(Documents
disclosing
trade secrets
or
commercial y
valuable
information)
8. 1 0 July
2 (76-
Weekly Exec meeting
Partial
Conditionally
•
Surnames
2023
77)
– possible discussion
access
exempt under
and direct
between
s 47F of the
contact
Ombudsman, Deputy
FOI Act
information of
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Doc Date
Pages
Description of
Decision on Exemption
Information
No. Received
Document
access
Redacted
Ombudsman and
(unreasonable
Ombudsman
Senior Assistant
disclosure of
staff
Ombudsmans about
personal
redacted.
•
the report
information)
Terminology
showing the
Conditionally
use of the
exempt under
relevant
s 47E(d) –
computer
(substantial
systems
software
adverse effect
redacted.
on agency
operations)
Exempt under
s 47 of the FOI
Act
(Documents
disclosing
trade secrets
or
commercial y
valuable
information)
9. 1 2 July
2 (78-
Al staff town hall
Partial
Conditionally
•
Surnames of
2023
79)
invite - Royal
access
exempt under
Ombudsman
Commission into the
staff
s 47F of the
Robodebt scheme
FOI Act
redacted.
•
Terminology
report
(unreasonable
showing the
disclosure of
use of the
personal
relevant
information)
computer
systems
Conditionally
software
exempt under
redacted.
s 47E(d) –
(substantial
adverse effect
on agency
operations)
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Doc Date
Pages
Description of
Decision on Exemption
Information
No. Received
Document
access
Redacted
Exempt under
s 47 of the FOI
Act
(Documents
disclosing
trade secrets
or
commercial y
valuable
information)
10. 20 July
1 (80)
Intranet post –
Partial
Conditionally
•
Surnames of
2023
Recording available – access
exempt under
Ombudsman
Al -staff town hall
s 47F of the
staff
about Robodebt Royal
FOI Act
redacted.
•
Terminology
Commission
(unreasonable
showing the
disclosure of
use of the
personal
relevant
information)
computer
systems
Conditionally
software
exempt under
redacted.
s 47E(d) –
(substantial
adverse effect
on agency
operations)
Exempt under
s 47 of the FOI
Act
(Documents
disclosing
trade secrets
or
commercial y
valuable
information)
Helping people, improving government
Page
19 of
21
1300 362 072 ombudsman.gov.au GPO Box 442, Canberra ACT 2601
Doc Date
Pages
Description of
Decision on Exemption
Information
No. Received
Document
access
Redacted
11.
6 July
2 (81-
Email trail between HR Partial
Conditionally
Surnames and direct
2023
82)
and Execs about staff
access
exempt under contact information
support strategies
s 47F of the
of Ombudsman staff
post RRC Report
FOI Act
redacted.
release
(unreasonable
disclosure of
personal
information)
Conditionally
exempt under
s 47E(d) –
(substantial
adverse effect
on agency
operations)
12. 6 July
3 (83-
Intranet post – A
Partial
Conditionally
•
Surnames of
2023
85)
message from the
access
exempt under
Ombudsman
Ombudsman
s 47F of the
staff
FOI Act
redacted.
•
Irrelevant
(unreasonable
information –
disclosure of
Office
personal
updates from
information)
Ombudsman
to Officers.
Conditionally
exempt under
s 47E(d) –
(substantial
adverse effect
on agency
operations)
Exempt under
s 22 of the FOI
Act (Access to
edited copies
with exempt
or irrelevant
Helping people, improving government
Page
20 of
21
1300 362 072 ombudsman.gov.au GPO Box 442, Canberra ACT 2601
Doc Date
Pages
Description of
Decision on Exemption
Information
No. Received
Document
access
Redacted
matter
deleted)
13. 7 July 2023 1 (86)
Email from Brett to SLG Partial
Conditionally
•
Surnames
access
exempt under
and direct
s 47F of the
contact
FOI Act
information of
Ombudsman
(unreasonable
staff
disclosure of
redacted.
personal
information)
Conditionally
exempt under
s 47E(d) –
(substantial
adverse effect
on agency
operations)
Helping people, improving government
Page
21 of
21
1300 362 072 ombudsman.gov.au GPO Box 442, Canberra ACT 2601
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