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In reply, please quote:
9 December 2025
FOI30/183
Zack
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Zack,
Re: Freedom of Information Request – decision on request
1. I refer to your email to the Bureau of Meteorology dated 30 October 2025, in which you
requested access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) ('FOI Act'). Your
wrote:
I request the invoices/receipts relating to payments to any of the following: DigiCert;
CyberTrust; GeoTrust; QuoVadis; RapidSSL; Thawte; Mocana; Setigo; Comodo (Comodo
CA); Xcitium
Timeframe 10 April 2024 to 10 May 2025
2. Timeframe: By email on 30 June 2025 the Bureau acknowledged your request. Section
15(5)(b) of the FOI Act provides the Bureau 30 days to issue a decision on your request.
A decision was due by 1 December 2025. However, the Bureau wrote to you on 2
December 2025 noting:
We are dealing with a high volume of matter and most sincerely apologise for our delay. We
will continue to progress your request and finalise it as soon as practicable.
3. I am authorised to make a decision in relation to your request pursuant
to s 23 of the FOI Act.
4. This is a decision on your request.
My decision and reasons for decision:
Enquiry:
5. Relevant efforts to process your request included considering the terms and character of
your and the functions of the Bureau.
6. I am satisfied that all reasonable steps were taken to identify documents in scope of your
request.
Decision:
7. My decision is:
a. all reasonable steps were taken to identify document/s in scope of your request.
However, given that no document in scope was found, I refuse access to your
Melbourne Office
GPO Box 1289, Melbourne VIC 3001 Australia | T: +61 3 9669 4000 | www.bom.gov.au | ABN 92 637 533 532
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request pursuant s 24A of the FOI Act.
8. Reasons for my decision is provided below.
Reasons for decision:
Section 24A(1) - documents cannot be found or does not exist:
9. Section 24A(1) provides that:
An agency or Minister may refuse a request for access to a document if:
(a) all reasonable steps have been taken to find the document; and
(b) the agency or Minister is satisfied that the document:
(i)
is in the agency’s or Minister’s possession but cannot be found; or
(ii)
does not exist.
10. Subsection 24A(1) requires that I, as the authorised decision-maker, be satisfied that two
circumstances exist before a refusal on this ground is permitted. It requires satisfaction
that 'all reasonable steps have been taken to find the document' in scope of the access
request and, further, the result is the document 'cannot be found' or 'does not exist'.
11. As accepted by the Australian Information Commissioner ('AIC') in Josh Taylor and
Minister for Foreign Affairs [2021] AICmr 33 at [10], 'reasonable' in the context of s 24A
involves taking steps that are 'not going beyond the limit assigned by reason; not
extravagant or excessive; moderate...Of such an amount, size, number etc., as judged to
be appropriate or suitable to the circumstances or purpose’.
12. Relevant FOI guidance provides at [3.89] that '[w]hat constitutes a reasonable search will
depend on the circumstances of each request and will be influenced by the normal
business practices in the agency’s operating environment', and further notes:
At a minimum, an agency or minister should take comprehensive steps to locate documents,
having regard to:
the subject matter of the documents
the current and past file management systems and the practice of destruction or
removal of documents
the record management systems in place
the individuals within an agency or minister’s office who may be able to assist with the
location of documents, and
the age of the documents.
13. I am satisfied that s 24A(1) applies in the circumstances. I am satisfied that all
reasonable steps have been taken to find a document in scope of your request, however
no relevant document was identified.
14. In making my decision, I have had regard to (amongst others) the subject matter of your
request, and the record management systems in place in the Bureau with respect to
processing 'invoices' and relevant practices in the agency. In my view, the Bureau
undertook all reasonable searches through its systems as against the terms of your
request. However, I am satisfied that all reasonable steps have been taken to find
document/s you seek and that any relevant document ‘cannot be found' or 'does not
exist'. I therefore refuse access pursuant to s 24A(1) of the FOI Act.
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Other matters:
15. I have decided not to charge any fees in relation to this request.
Materials considered in making my decision:
16. In making my decision I have had regard to:
a. your request;
b. matters regarding the search process.
c. the FOI Act;
d. the FOI Guidelines issued under s 93A of the FOI Act by the Australian
Information Commissioner; and
e. other relevant matters in the circumstances.
Further information:
17. Information about your review rights are set out in the following pages.
18. The Bureau aims to provide accessible documents. If you need this document in a
different format, or if you have any questions, please contact xxx@xxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
(Approved electronically)
Mark Lyons
General Manager, Business Management
Enterprise Services Group
Review rights:
19. You may seek a review of this decision by way of the review rights available to you.
20. Under section 54 of the FOI Act, you may apply for an internal review of this decision. An
internal review application must be made by whichever date is the later between:
a. 30 days of you receiving this notice; or
b. 15 days of you receiving the documents to which you have been granted access.
21. An internal review will be conducted by a different authorised decision-maker. No
particular form is required to apply for review although it will assist your case to set out
the grounds on which you believe that the original decision should be overturned.
22. An application for an internal review can be made by either:
a. Email: xxx@xxx.xxx.xx
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b. Post, addressing it to:
Freedom of Information Officer
Bureau of Meteorology
GPO Box 1289 Melbourne 3001
23. If you seek an internal review, please note the Bureau's internal reference number
provided at the start of this decision notice.
24. If you seek an internal review, you will subsequently have a right to apply to the
Australian Information Commissioner ('AIC') for a review of the internal review decision.
External review by the Australian Information Commissioner:
25. Alternatively, under section 54L of the FOI Act, you may seek review of this decision by
the AIC without first undertaking an internal review. Your application must be made
within 60 days of you receiving this notice.
26. The AIC is an independent office holder who may review decisions of agencies under the
FOI Act. More information is available on website of the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner: www.oaic.gov.au.
27. You can contact the OAIC to request a review by one of the following ways:
a. Via the online form on the OAIC website: https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-
information/reviews-and-complaints/information-commissioner-review
b. Email: xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
c. Post, addressing it to:
Director of FOI Dispute Resolution
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
FOI complaints:
28. If you are unhappy with the way we have handled your FOI request, please let us know
what we could have done better. We may be able to rectify the problem. If you are not
satisfied with our response, you can complain to the AIC. A complaint must be made in
writing and can be lodged in one of the following ways:
29. You can contact the OAIC to request a review by one of the following ways:
a. Via the online form on the OAIC website: https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-
information/reviews-and-complaints/information-commissioner-review
b. Email: xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
c. Post, addressing it to:
Director of FOI Dispute Resolution
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
30. More information about Information Commissioner reviews and complaints can be found
on the OAIC's website: https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews-and-
complaints.
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