28 March 2024
Mr Smith
BY EMAIL: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
In reply please quote:
FOI Request:
FA 24/02/01120
File Number:
FA24/02/01120
Dear Mr Smith
Freedom of Information (FOI) request – Access Decision
On 19 February 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:
Under the FOI Act, can I please obtain a copy of al meeting notes or documents produced for,
and as a result of, the meeting with Minister Giles’ Office, General Counsel and Assistant
Secretary, Compliance and Community Protection Policy Branch on 12 October 2023
described as "Discussion included a litigation update and policy options." in the document
tabled at the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee Senate Estimates on
12 February 2024.
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 one (1) document as falling within the scope of your request. This
document was in the possession of the Department on 19 February 2024 when your request was
received.
Attachment A is a schedule which describes the relevant document and sets out my decision in
relation to it.
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:
• To exempt one (1) document in full from disclosure
6
Reasons for Decision
Detailed reasons for my decision are set out below.
Where the schedule of documents indicates an exemption claim has been applied to a document
or part of any document, my findings of fact and reasons for deciding that the exemption provision
applies to that information 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.
6.2 Section 42 of the FOI Act – Legal Professional Privilege
Section 42 of the FOI Act provides that a document is an exempt document if it is of such a nature
that it would be privileged from production in legal proceedings on the ground of legal professional
privilege.
I am satisfied that parts of the document marked
‘s42(1)’ comprise of confidential
communications passing between the Department and its legal advisers, for the dominant
purpose of giving or receiving legal advice.
In determining that the communication is privileged, I have taken into the consideration the
following:
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• there is a legal adviser-client relationship
• the communication was for the purpose of giving and/or receiving legal advice;
• the advice given was independent and
• the advice was given on a legal-in-confidence basis and was therefore
confidential.
The content of this document is not part of the rules, guidelines, practices or precedents relating
to the decisions and recommendations of the Department. The document does not fall within the
definition of operational information and remain subject to legal professional privilege.
I have therefore decided that these parts of the document are exempt in full from disclosure under
section 42 of the FOI Act.
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
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.
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,
Clare Sharp
28 March 2024
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