OFFICIAL
On this basis, I intend to refuse access to the documents you requested. However, before I make a final
decision, you have an opportunity to revise your request. This is a ‘request consultation process’ in
accordance with section 24AB of the Act.
Why I intend to refuse the request
I have decided that a practical refusal reason exists because:
1.
You are seeking access to all files created by members of the AFP that have a file extension
ending in .psd for a one year period. In order to satisfy the request I would need to reach out
to every Command area within the AFP, and potentially every AFP member (of which there are
over 5000) to conduct searches within their personal file drives, as well as all shared file drives
on every system of the AFP. Given that the request period is from 7 years ago, many of the
AFP members who may have potentially created files during that time would no longer be with
the AFP, and it would not be feasible to determine who may have been employed during the
time period and conduct searches of their personal drives. There is no mechanism to do an
organization wide search of such file extensions such that it would reasonably satisfy that all
potential files would be discovered.
2.
If it were possible to collate such files, I would need to examine each of these documents
individually to determine the documents within the scope of you request, potentially consult
with another person or body in relation to the request, make a copy or an edited copy of the
documents, and redact exempt material from the documents;
3.
Searching, reviewing and indexing these documents may also substantially and unreasonably
divert the resources of the AFP from its other operations.
Consultation period
This consultation period is for
14 days, commencing the day after the date of this notice. You have an
opportunity to revise your request to enable it to proceed. Before the end of the consultation period, you
must do one of the following in writing:
1.
withdraw the request, or
2.
make a revised request, or
3.
indicate that you do not wish to revise the request.
Potential revision of request
Reducing the scope of your request may involve limiting your request to a particular relevant Command
or business area and potentially reducing the time period of your request. A suggested scope revision
has already been proposed to you, being:
“Files created by the AFP's Media Team and stored within its systems that have the extension ".psd" from
a time period of 1 July 2019 until 31 December 2019”.
This suggestion is offered as guidance only. Should you decide to revise your request, this does not
guarantee that the practical refusal reason will no longer exist. It will simply allow for potential searches
to commence. If it does no longer exist, there is no guarantee that documents will be released without
exemptions applied. These decisions are made when any documents that are the subject of a request
are assessed.
During the consultation period, you may contact me by email at xxx@xxx.xxx.xx. If you revise the request
in a way that adequately addresses the practical refusal grounds, I will recommence processing your
request. Please note that the time taken to consult you regarding the scope of your request is not taken
into account for the purposes of the 30 day time limit for processing the request.
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
If you do not respond in one of the 3 ways indicated above during the consultation period, your request
will be taken to have been withdrawn.
Yours sincerely,
Daniel (AFP27683)
FOI Officer
Commercial, Governance and Information Branch
Chief Counsel Portfolio
OFFICIAL
