MRH90 Taipan Comcare Briefing Documents
Dear Department of Employment and Workplace Relations,
I refer to the Senate Order for the Production of Documents of 27 August 2025 (115) relating to Whitsundays Taipan helicopter crash Comcare brief and Comcare final report.
In response to that order the Department provided to the Senate document number 2025-003463, viewable here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...
That tabled document refers to the following documents (a) to (e) below which are requested to be disclosed pursuant to the FOI Act.
Key Evidence - Exhibits - listed in Statement of Facts and Evidence Index/folder
(a) BQ11323479 - Department of Defence internal report.
(b) BQ4288528 - Department of Defence internal report
(c) BQ9968311 - Department of Defence internal report.
(d) BQ10990830 - Department of Defence internal report.
TE - Hazard of Top Owl
(e) Draft Report provided 9 May 2025.
Yours faithfully,
James Smith
Our reference: LEX 1827
Dear Mr Smith
Your Freedom of Information request - Transfer of request
On 10 October 2025, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
received your request for access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(FOI Act) to:
“I refer to the Senate Order for the Production of Documents of 27 August
2025 (115) relating to Whitsundays Taipan helicopter crash Comcare brief
and Comcare final report.
In response to that order the Department provided to the Senate document
number 2025-003463, viewable here:
[1]https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...
That tabled document refers to the following documents (a) to (e) below
which are requested to be disclosed pursuant to the FOI Act.
Key Evidence - Exhibits - listed in Statement of Facts and Evidence
Index/folder
(a) BQ11323479 - Department of Defence internal report.
(b) BQ4288528 - Department of Defence internal report
(c) BQ9968311 - Department of Defence internal report.
(d) BQ10990830 - Department of Defence internal report.
TE - Hazard of Top Owl
(e) Draft Report provided 9 May 2025.”
Transfer of request to Comcare
On 14 October 2025 the department transferred your request to Comcare in
full in accordance with section 16(1)(a) of the FOI Act.
Comcare will contact you shortly about the processing of your request. You
can contact Comcare by sending an email to [2][email address].
Yours sincerely
Cal
Information Law Team
Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
[3]dewr.gov.au
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations acknowledges the
traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and
their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and Elders past, present and
emerging.
OFFICIAL
Dear James Smith
I refer to your FOI request of 10 October 2025 to the Department of
Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) (attached). Comcare has accepted
the transfer of your request from the DEWR. You are seeking access under
the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) to the following
information:
I refer to the Senate Order for the Production of Documents of 27 August
2025 (115) relating to Whitsundays Taipan helicopter crash Comcare brief
and Comcare final report.
In response to that order the Department provided to the Senate document
number 2025-003463, viewable here:
[1]https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...
That tabled document refers to the following documents (a) to (e) below
which are requested to be disclosed pursuant to the FOI Act.
Key Evidence - Exhibits - listed in Statement of Facts and Evidence
Index/folder
(a) BQ11323479 - Department of Defence internal report.
(b) BQ4288528 - Department of Defence internal report
(c) BQ9968311 - Department of Defence internal report.
(d) BQ10990830 - Department of Defence internal report.
TE - Hazard of Top Owl
(e) Draft Report provided 9 May 2025.
Your request has been assigned reference number SOLEX12189. Please include
that number in any communication you have with Comcare concerning the
request.
Information on processing of your request is set out below.
Timeframe for processing your request
The statutory timeframe for processing your request is 30 days from the
day after it was received by the DEWR, which means a decision on your
request is due to be notified to you by 10 November 2025.
This timeframe may change where:
a) we are required to consult with you because your request is not clear
or would require a substantial diversion of Comcare’s resources to
process;
b) we are required to consult with third parties if their information is
included in a document you have requested;
c) you are issued a charge for processing your request;
d) we receive written agreement from you; or
e) we receive an extension from the Information Commissioner.
Administrative Release of Documents
Comcare has administrative access arrangements for the release of certain
documents without the need for a formal FOI request. Unless you tell us
otherwise, we may provide you with documents under these administrative
access arrangements instead of processing the documents formally under the
FOI Act. We will notify you if documents are released to you under the
arrangements.
Exclusion of employee details
Where the full name and contact details of Comcare staff members 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, unless you tell us otherwise,
we will assume that these details are out of scope of your request and
they will be deleted under section 22 of the FOI Act.
Consultation with third parties
The FOI Act requires Comcare to undertake consultation prior to making any
decision to grant access to documents (subject to exemptions) that
contain:
• information that originated with, or was received from, a State or an
authority of a State;
• information that originated with, or was received from, a foreign
government, an authority of a foreign government or an international
organisation;
• information concerning a person's business or commercial affairs, or the
business, commercial or financial affairs of an organisation or
undertaking; or
• personal information about a person (including a deceased person).
We will advise you as soon as possible if external consultation is
required.
Charges
Comcare will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request, as
set out in the FOI Charges Regulations.
No charge is payable for providing a person with their own personal
information.
Disclosure log
Please note that information released under FOI Act may be published in a
disclosure log on Comcare’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.
Contact
Should you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this
email, or have any queries throughout the process, please contact me by
email to [2][email address]
Kind regards
Sami
Sami
Legal Adviser
Statutory Oversight Team
Legal Group | Comcare
Comcare
GPO Box 9905, Canberra, ACT 2601
1300 366 979
[3]www.comcare.gov.au
[4]A blue circle with white letters on it Description automatically
generated [5]A blue circle with a white play button Description
automatically generated [6]A blue and black logo Description
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Comcare acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of country
throughout Australia and acknowledges
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to the people, the cultures and the
elders past, present and emerging.
NOTICE: This e-mail message and attachments may contain confidential,
personal or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient you should not use or disclose any information in the message or
attachments. If received in error, please notify the sender by return
email immediately, if possible, or [email address].
Comcare does not waive any confidentiality or privilege. For information
about how we handle personal information, please visit
www.comcare.gov.au/privacy or contact us on 1300 366 979 and request a
copy of our Privacy Policy
References
Visible links
1. https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bus...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.comcare.gov.au/
4. https://au.linkedin.com/company/comcare
5. https://www.youtube.com/@comcare_australia
6. https://www.instagram.com/comcaregovau
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Smith
Please find attached FOI decision.
Kind regards
Sami
Sami
Legal Adviser
Statutory Oversight Team
Legal Group | Comcare
Comcare
GPO Box 9905, Canberra, ACT 2601
1300 366 979
[1]www.comcare.gov.au
[2]A blue circle with white letters on it Description automatically
generated [3]A blue circle with a white play button Description
automatically generated [4]A blue and black logo Description
automatically generated
Comcare acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of country
throughout Australia and acknowledges
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to the people, the cultures and the
elders past, present and emerging.
NOTICE: This e-mail message and attachments may contain confidential,
personal or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient you should not use or disclose any information in the message or
attachments. If received in error, please notify the sender by return
email immediately, if possible, or [email address].
Comcare does not waive any confidentiality or privilege. For information
about how we handle personal information, please visit
www.comcare.gov.au/privacy or contact us on 1300 366 979 and request a
copy of our Privacy Policy
References
Visible links
1. http://www.comcare.gov.au/
2. https://au.linkedin.com/company/comcare
3. https://www.youtube.com/@comcare_australia
4. https://www.instagram.com/comcaregovau