21 May 2016
In reply please quote
FOI Request FA 16/05/02461
File Number ADF 2016/23555
Mr Sam Everingham
Sent via email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Freedom of Information request – Release of documents
Dear Mr Everingham,
This letter refers to your request received on 24 May 2016 seeking access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the following documents:
I am seeking statistics on the number of citizenship applications received by the
Department relating to children born through international surrogacy arrangements by
country of birth for the following six financial years:
2013/14
2012/13
2011/12
2010/11
2009/10
2008/09
This letter is to provide you with a decision, which is to release the relevant document to you
in full. The decision is set out in the attached Decision Record. The relevant document is
listed in the Schedule of Documents attached to this letter. Read together, these form the
reasons for decision.
Review rights Internal review
If you disagree with this decision, you have the right to apply for an internal review of the
decision. If you wish to make a request for internal review this must be sent within 30 days of
being notified of the decision. Where possible please attach reasons why you believe review
of the decision is necessary. The internal review will be carried out by an officer other than
the original decision-maker and the Department must make a review decision within 30 days.
6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 25 BELCONNEN ACT 2616 • Telephone: 02 6264 1111 • Fax: 02 6225 6970 • www.border.gov.au
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Applications for review should be sent to:
Freedom of Information
Department of Immigration and Border Protection
PO Box 25
BELCONNEN ACT 2617
Or by email to: xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
Review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
You may apply directly to the Australian Information Commissioner for a review of the
decision. You must apply in writing within 60 days of this notice. For further information about
review rights under the FOI Act please see FOI fact sheet 12 ‘
Freedom of information – Your
review rights’, available online at www.oaic.gov.au .
How to make a complaint about the handling of your FOI request
You may complain to the Australian Information Commissioner if you have concerns about
how the department has handled your request under the FOI Act. Information about how to
submit a complaint is also available at www.oaic.gov.au .
Contacting the FOI section
If you wish to discuss this matter, I can be contacted using the details provided below.
Kind regards,
Brad Collins
Freedom of Information Section
Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Email: xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
Attachments
Attachment A – Decision Record
Attachment B – Schedule of Documents
Attachment C – Documents released
Attachment A
DECISION RECORD
Request Details FOI Request FA 16/05/02461
File Number ADF 2016/23555
Scope of request
1. On 24 May 2016 you requested:
I am seeking statistics on the number of citizenship applications received by the
Department relating to children born through international surrogacy arrangements by
country of birth for the following six financial years:
2013/14
2012/13
2011/12
2010/11
2009/10
2008/09
Documents in scope
2. There is one document within scope of your request, which is the statistics that you
requested. This document was created by the appropriate business area in response to
your request.
Authority to make decision
3. I am an officer authorised under section 23 of the FOI Act to make decisions in respect of
requests to access documents or to amend or annotate Departmental records.
Information considered
4. In reaching my decision, I have considered the following:
The
Freedom of Information Act 1982;
Departmental files and/or documents (identified above); and
The Australian Information Commissioner’s Guidelines relating to access to
documents held by government.
6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 25 BELCONNEN ACT 2616 • Telephone: 02 6264 1111 • Fax: 02 6225 6970 • www.border.gov.au
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Reasons for decision
5. I am satisfied that I have been provided with the relevant document to consider in my
decision. I have considered the document and am satisfied that no exemptions apply.
Therefore, I am releasing the relevant document in full.
Brad Collins
Authorised decision maker
Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Email: xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
21 June 2016
