PO Box 7820, Canberra BC ACT 2610
28 February 2024
Our reference: LEX 78384
Frank N Fearless
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).You requested access to:
In its response to the Ombudsman's second report on unlawful income apportionment,
the Agency stated as follows:
'The Agency, in consultation with the Department, is now progressing further sampling
activity, with a focus on historically determined debts (prior to 2010), underpayments
and AAT decisions. This further sampling is expected to be completed early in 2024'
I now seek the document(s) communicating the outcome of that sampling. In the event
the work is stil proceeding, I seek the most recent progress report on the sampling sent
by Services Australia to Department of Social Services.
Timeframe for your request
Your request was received by Services Australia (the Agency) on 19 February 2024 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 20 March 2024. The period of 30 days may
be extended if we need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We wil advise you if this
happens.
Charges
The Agency wil 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.
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Your Address
The FOI Act requires you provide us with an address to which we can send notices. 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 wil 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 arrangements
where appropriate and any parts of your FOI request that are addressed by documents
released under the arrangements wil be considered to be withdrawn. The arrangements do
not extend to information or materials of third parties. You wil 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 staf 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, can you confirm that you consent to staff
details being outside of the scope of your request?
Further assistance
If you have any questions, please email xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Tara
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information Team
FOI and Reviews Branch | Legal Services Division
Services Australia
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