FOI 25 26 086 Decision letter.pdf

OFFICIAL

  Agency reference:  FOI 25-26/086
Contact:
FOI Team
E-mail:
xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx
O

By email only:  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx

Dear O,
Decision and Statement of Reasons issued under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 – FOI 25-26/086
On 22 October 2025, the Department of Finance (Finance) received your email, in which
you sought access under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act)
to the following:

any documents that:
•  summarises the dollar savings generated by the ongoing efficiency dividend since its introduction
in 1987 by year to today.
•  lists the different exemptions to the efficiency dividend granted since its introduction.
•  show how much of the efficiency dividend is met by staffing costs.

On 18 November 2025, you agreed to amend the scope of your request to the following:
    a list of the different exemptions to the Efficiency Dividend that currently apply.

On 18 November 2025, the statutory timeframe was also extended under section 15AA
of the FOI Act by 7 days to 28 November 2025.

Authorised decision-maker
I am authorised by the Secretary of Finance under section 23(1) of the FOI Act to make
decisions in relation to FOI requests.

The purpose of this letter is to provide you with notice of my decision under the FOI Act.

My Decision
I have identified one (1) document falling within the scope of your request and I have
decided to release the document in full.

One Canberra Avenue, Forrest ACT 2603 • Internet www.finance.gov.au

OFFICIAL
Material taken into account
In making my decision, I have considered the following:
•  the terms of your FOI request;
•  the content of the document that falls within the scope of your request;
•  relevant provisions of the FOI Act; and
•  the FOI Guidelines issued by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
(FOI Guidelines)1.

Review and appeal rights
You are entitled to request an internal review or an external review by the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) of my decision. The process for review and
appeal rights is set out at Attachment A.

Information Publication Scheme
The Information Publication Scheme requires an agency to publish information released
in response to individual requests made under the FOI Act, except in specified
circumstances.

I am of the view that details of your request should be made available on Finance’s FOI
Disclosure Log, which can be accessed at https://www.finance.gov.au/about-us/freedom-
information/disclosure-log.

Finance only publishes details of the FOI request and the documents released in response
to the request, and does not publish details of FOI applicants.

If you have any questions about this decision, please contact the FOI Team.

Yours sincerely,
mdolman
Marianne Dolman
Assistant Secretary
Budget Policy Branch | Budget Policy and Data Division
Department of Finance
25 November 2025

1 https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/freedom-of-information-guidance-for-government-
agencies/foi-guidelines
One Canberra Avenue, Forrest ACT 2603 • Internet www.finance.gov.au

OFFICIAL
ATTACHMENT A

Your Review Rights

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.

Internal Review (IR)
If you disagree with this decision, you can seek a review of the original decision. The review
will be conducted by a different decision maker, usually someone at a more senior level.

You must apply for an IR within 30 calendar days of being notified of the decision or
charge, unless we agree to extend your time. You should contact us if you wish to seek an
extension.

We are required to make an IR decision within 30 calendar days of receiving your
application. If we do not make an IR decision within this timeframe, then the original
decision stands.

Your request for an IR should include:

•  a statement that you are seeking a review of our decision;
•  attach a copy of the decision you are seeking a review of; and
•  state the reasons why you consider the original decision maker made the wrong
decision.

Email:  xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx

Post: The FOI Coordinator
Legal and Assurance Branch
Department of Finance
One Canberra Avenue
FORREST ACT 2603

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 calendar 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.

3

OFFICIAL
Third parties
If you are a third party objecting to a decision to grant someone else access to your
information, you must apply to the Information Commissioner within 30 calendar days of
being notified of our decision to release your information.

The OAIC asks that you commence a review by completing their online form which is
available on their website noted above.

Your review application must include a copy of the notice of our decision that you are
objecting to, and your contact details. You should also set out why you are objecting to the
decision.

Alternate contact details for the OAIC
If the online form is not available, alternate contact details for the OAIC are as follows:

Email: xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx

Post: Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218
Sydney NSW 2001

Phone: 1300 363 992 (local call charge).

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 Finance as the relevant agency.
One Canberra Avenue, Forrest ACT 2603 • Internet www.finance.gov.au