20 February 2017
In reply please quote
FOI Request FA 17/01/00801
File Number ADF2017/7150
Mr Gareth SMITH
Sent via email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Freedom of Information request
Dear Mr Smith,
This letter refers to your request received by the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) on
6 January 2017 seeking access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the
following documents:
•
[Part 1] Statistics relating to the migration of Israelis into Australia over the last
decade.(DIBP)
•
[Part 2] The process of vetting Israelis, either migrating to or visiting Australia, for
possible human rights abuses committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
and (DIBP)
This letter is to provide you with the decision which is at Attachment A – Decision Record.
Review rights Internal review
If you disagree with the 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.
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.xxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 25 BELCONNEN ACT 2616 • Telephone: 02 6264 1111 • Fax: 02 6225 6970 • www.border.gov.au
2
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
FOI Legislation
A copy of the FOI Act is available for your reference from:
www.legislation.gov.au/Browse/ByTitle/Acts/InForce/0/0/Principal
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.
Yours sincerely
(signed electronically)
Helen Simons
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information, Privacy & Records Management Branch
Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Email: xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
Attachment(s)
Attachment A – Decision Record
Attachment A
DECISION RECORD
Request Details
FOI Request FA 17/01/00801
File Number ADF2017/7150
Original scope of request
1. On 6 January 2017, from the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) you requested:
•
[Part 1] Statistics relating to the migration of Israelis into Australia over the last
decade.(DIBP)
•
[Part 2] The process of vetting Israelis, either migrating to or visiting Australia, for
possible human rights abuses committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
and (DIBP)
2. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection agreed to accept the transfer of
these particular parts of your request from AGD on 13 January 2017.
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;
• Consultations with relevant business areas; and
• The Australian Information Commissioner’s guidelines relating to access to
documents held by government; and consultations with relevant Departmental
business areas.
Decision
Part 1 of the request
5. Part 1 of your request refers to statistics that are published and publicly available on the
Department’s website. The data can be located via the following link:
http://www.border.gov.au/about/reports-publications/research-statistics/statistics/live-in-
australia/historical-migration-statistics.
The information you have requested can be found by clicking the link titled
Historical
Migration Statistics (535 KB XLS).
6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 25 BELCONNEN ACT 2616 • Telephone: 02 6264 1111 • Fax: 02 6225 6970 • www.border.gov.au
- 4 -
Part 2 of the request
6. Part 2 of your request refers to policy documents which are included in Procedures
Advice Manual (PAM)
Character& Security Instructions – Controversial visitors, available
on LEGENDcom, via the link http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/LEGE.
As this document is available for purchase by the public in accordance with
arrangements made by an agency, the Department is not required to release it under the
FOI Act. I therefore refuse access to these documents under s12(1)(c) of the FOI Act.
(signed electronically)
Helen Simons
Authorised decision maker
Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Email: xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
20 February 2017