If not delivered return to PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
15 March 2017
Our reference: LEX 27109
Mr Jackson Gothe-Snape
By email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx Dear Mr Gothe-Snape
Freedom of Information Request
I refer to your request, dated 3 January 2017 and actioned by the Department of Human Services
(the
department) FOI team on 14 February 2017, for access under the
Freedom of Information Act
1982 (the
FOI Act) to the following documents:
'On the morning of 3 January 2017, Christian Porter noted in a radio interview that 276
complaints had been received relating to Centrelink debt notices.
Can you please provide the count of such complaints at 5pm AEDT on 3 January 2017'.
Section 15AC extension of processing time
Due to technical issues experienced by the department’s electronic mailbox, your request did not
come to the attention of the FOI team until 14 February 2017. The matter was then registered,
allocated, and actioned. On receipt of your request, the FOI team considered processing your
request under the FOI Act. Accordingly, the FOI team contacted the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner (OAIC) and sought further time to process your request. The OAIC
decided to grant us further time to process your request under section 15AC of the FOI Act.
Nevertheless, for the reasons detailed below, I consider that your request is not a valid request for
access under the FOI Act. For this reason, the processing period for your request never began and
the extension of time granted by the OAIC does not apply.
Requests for statistical information
Section 12(1)(c) of the FOI Act provides that a person is not entitled to obtain access to a document
that is available for purchase by the public in accordance with arrangements made by an agency.
The Department of Human Services has established a process through which statistical information
can be requested. There are fees associated with this process.
Accordingly, you may like to send your request for the above data to
xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx for action.
The FOI team will take no further action in relation to this matter and the record will be closed.
More information regarding requests for statistical data is available at
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/statistical-information-and-data. Further assistance
If you have any questions please email
xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Team
FOI and Litigation Branch | Legal Services Division
Department of Human Services
xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx