ATTACHMENT A
SCHEDULE OF DOCUMENTS RELEVANT TO FOI REQUEST No. 15/106
Document
Date of
No. of
Author
Addressee
Description of Document
Decision
No.
Document
Pages
1
N/A
1
Finance
N/A
Ticket Payments, Travel Allowance,
Release in full
General Payments Summary
2
N/A
3
Finance
N/A
Overseas Payment Summary
Release in full
3
Department of Finance
Freedom of Information
Review by the Australian Information
– Your Review Rights
Commissioner (IC)
The IC is an independent office holder who can
If you disagree with the decision made by the
review the decisions of agencies and ministers
Department of Finance (Finance) under the
under the FOI Act. The IC can review access
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act),
refusal decisions (s 54L(2)(a) of the FOI Act),
you can ask for the decision to be reviewed. You
access grant decisions (s 54M(2)(a)), refusals to
may want to seek review if you sought certain
extend the period for applying for internal review
documents and were not given full access, if you
under s 54B (s 54L(2)(c)), and agency internal
have been informed that there will be a charge
review decisions under s 54C (ss 54L(2)(b) and
for processing your request, if you have made a
54M(2)(b)).
contention against the release of documents that
has not be agreed to by the Department, or if
If you are objecting to a decision to refuse access
your application to have your personal
to documents, impose a charge or refuse to
information amended was not accepted. There
amend a document, you must apply to the IC
are two ways you can ask for review of a
within 60 days of being given notice of the
decision: internal review by Finance, or external
decision. If you are objecting to a decision to
review by the Australian Information
grant access to another person, you must apply
Commissioner.
within 30 days of being notified of that decision.
Internal Review
Do I have to go through Finance’s internal
If Finance makes an FOI decision that you
review process first?
disagree with, you can ask Finance to review its
No. You may apply directly to the IC. However,
decision. The review will be carried out by a
going through Finance’s internal review process
different agency officer, usually someone at a
gives Finance the opportunity to reconsider its
more senior level. There is no charge for internal
initial decision, and your needs may be met more
review.
quickly without undergoing an external review
You must apply within 30 days of being notified
process.
of the decision, unless Finance agrees to extend
the application time. You should contact Finance
Do I have to pay?
if you wish to seek an extension.
No. Review by the IC is currently free.
How do I
Finance is required to make a review decision
apply?
within 30 days. If Finance does not do so, the
You must apply for IC review in writing and you
original decision is considered to be affirmed.
can lodge your application in one of the following
ways:
How to apply for internal review
Post: Office of the Australian Information
You must apply in writing and should include a
Commissioner
copy of the notice of the decision provided and
GPO Box 5218
the points you are objecting and why.
SYDNEY NSW 2001
You can lodge your application in writing through
Email: xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
one of the contact details provided at the end of
Fax:
02 9284 9666
this attachment.
4
Department of Finance
In person:
Level 3
occur where the FOI complaint is only one part of
175 Pitt Street
a wider grievance about an agency’s actions. It is
SYDNEY NSW 2000
unlikely that this will be common. You will be
notified in writing if your complaint is
An electronic application form is also available on
transferred.
the OAIC’s website
(www.oaic.gov.au). Your
application should include a copy of the notice of
Applications to the Ombudsman should be
the decision that you are objecting to (if one was
directed to the fol owing address:
provided), and your contact details. You should
also set out why you are objecting to the
Post: Commonwealth Ombudsman
decision.
PO Box 442
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Making a complaint
Phone: 02 6276 0111
You may make a written complaint to the IC
1300 362 072
about actions taken by Finance in relation to your
application. However, if you are complaining that
Finance FOI contact details
a Finance decision is wrong, it is treated as an
FOI Coordinator
application for review.
Legal Services Branch
Department of Finance
When can I go to the Administrative Appeals
John Gorton Building
Tribunal (AAT)?
King Edward Terrace
Under the FOI Act, you must seek external review
PARKES ACT 2600
through the IC prior to applying to the AAT for
Phone: 02 6215 1783
such a review. The fee for lodging an AAT
Email: xxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx
application is $861, although there are
Website: www.finance.gov.au/foi/foi.html
exemptions for health care and pension
concession card holders and the AAT can waive
the fee on financial hardship grounds.
Investigation by the Ombudsman
The Commonwealth Ombudsman can also
investigate complaints about action taken by
agencies under the FOI Act. However, if the issue
complained about either could be or has been
investigated by the IC, the Ombudsman wil
consult the Commissioner to avoid the same
matter being investigated twice. If the
Ombudsman decides not to investigate the
complaint, then they are to transfer all relevant
documents and information to the IC.
The IC can also transfer a complaint to the
Ombudsman where appropriate. This could
5
Department of Finance
Document Outline
- FOI15-106 Decision Letter.pdf