5 November 2025
Steven RODDIS
BY EMAIL:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
In reply please quote:
FOI Request:
FA 25/10/01674
File Number:
FA25/10/01674
Dear Steven RODDIS
Freedom of Information (FOI) request – Decision
On 14 October 2025, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) received a request for
access to document 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 document:
I am seeking the current number of applicants waiting for Sutherland Shire Council, however
this might be covered by "Total approved applicants". The wording on the page says "the
information includes applicants invited to a citizenship ceremony as at 31 August 2025"
which I'm 90% sure this covers what I'm looking for but want to confirm, if "Total approved
applicants" = the current number of people who have been approved for citizenship but are
currently waiting. If this is the case then consider this part of the request withdrawn. The
wording could mean the total number of approved applicants for all time (not just the month)
which is not the number I want and I suspect it's too low to be that.
6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616
• www.homeaffairs.gov.au
The second part of the request is the number of people who have been invited (not approved
and waiting, but actually sent an invite) to a ceremony by month for 2025 for Sutherland
Shire Council. I cannot find this information on https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au however if it
does exist then I'm happy to use that information and will withdraw this part in the case the
information is already publicly available.
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 a document or to amend or annotate records.
3
Relevant material
In reaching my decision I referred to the following:
• the terms of your request
• the document 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)
• advice from Departmental officers with responsibility for matters relating to the document
to which you sought access
4
Document in scope of request
In accordance with section 17 of the FOI Act, the Department has used its computer system to
produce one document that contains information that falls within the scope of your request. The data
produced in the document existed in the possession of the Department on 14 October 2025 when
your FOI request was received.
5
Decision
The decision in relation to the document in the possession of the Department which fall within the
scope of your request is as follows:
• Release one document in full
6
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.
7
Your review rights
If you disagree with this decision, you have the right to apply for either an internal review or an
Information Commissioner review of the decision.
Internal review
If you want the Department to review this decision, you must make your internal review request
within 30 days of being notified of this decision.
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When making your internal review request, please provide the Department with the reasons why you
consider this decision should be changed.
You can send your internal review request to:
Email: xxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
The internal review will be carried out by an officer who is more senior than the original decision
maker. The Department must make its decision on the review within 30 days of receiving your
request for internal review.
Information Commissioner review
If you want the Australian Information Commissioner to review this decision, you must make your
request to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) within 60 days of being
notified of this decision.
You can apply for an Information Commissioner review using the
Information Commissioner review
application form on the OAIC website.
You can find more information about Information Commissioner review
s on the OAIC website.
8
Making a complaint
You may make a complaint to the Australian Information Commissioner if you have concerns about
how the Department has handled your request under the FOI Act. This is a separate process to the
process of requesting a review of the decision as indicated above.
You can make an FOI complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
at:
FOI Complaint Form on the OAIC website.
9
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
Electronically signed
Susan
FOI Officer Position Number: 60156398
Freedom of Information Section
Privacy FOI & Records Management Branch | Legal Group
Department of Home Affairs
E:
xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
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