If not delivered return to PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
9 February 2017
Our reference: LEX 25282
Mr Justin Warren
Right to Know
By email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Mr Warren
Acknowledgement of your Freedom of Information Request
I refer to your request dated 16 January 2017 and received by the Department of Human
Services (the
department) on on the same day, for access under the
Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the
FOI Act) to the following documents:
' - The business case document(s) for the Pay As You Go (PAYG) data matching
initiative that is the subject of Question on Notice HS 15 from the Senate Community
Affairs Legislation Committee Budget Estimates hearing on 3 June 2015.
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates/clacctte/estimates/
bud1516/DHS/index
- Documents that describe the algorithm or process used to perform the data
matching that identified the "approximately 1,080,000" discrepancies between PAYG
data and data reported by DHS customers, as referred to in the Answer to Question
HS 15.
- Documents that describe the analysis process for how the value of "historical
discrepancies", as described in the Answer to Question HS 15, was determined. Such
documents should describe the statistical method, the sampling process used,
statistics returned (standard error, mean, confidence interval, etc.), how the likely
average debt value was determined, etc.
- Documents containing the program specifications/requirements used to define how
the data matching process should be implemented by programmers. Such documents
would refer to, for example, the use of certain fields to match on such as ABN,
Business Name, Customer Name, etc'.
An acknowledgement letter was sent to you on 19 January 2017 advising that you could
expect a decision from us by 14 February 2017.
The processing time was suspended during a period of consultation under section 24AB. As
this consultation did occur, as you provided a response on 6 February 2017, you can now
expect a decision from us by 20 February 2017.
I have taken your revised request to be for the following documents:
PAGE 1 OF 3
' - The business case document(s) for the Pay As You Go (PAYG) data matching
initiative that is the subject of Question on Notice HS 15 from the Senate Community
Affairs Legislation Committee Budget Estimates hearing on 3 June 2015.
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates/clacctte/estimates/
bud1516/DHS/index
- Documents that describe the algorithm or process used to perform the data
matching that identified the "approximately 1,080,000" discrepancies between PAYG
data and data reported by DHS customers, as referred to in the Answer to Question
HS 15.
- Documents that describe the analysis process for how the value of "historical
discrepancies", as described in the Answer to Question HS 15, was determined. Such
documents should describe the statistical method, the sampling process used,
statistics returned (standard error, mean, confidence interval, etc.), how the likely
average debt value was determined, etc.
- [the final version of the Requirements Specification (or similar document)] containing
the program specifications/requirements used to define how the data matching
process should be implemented by programmers. Such [a document] would refer to,
for example, the use of certain fields to match on such as ABN, Business Name,
Customer Name, etc
Where multiple revisions of documents exist, I am only interested in the version
current at the time the Department refers to in its answer to HS15'.
The processing time may be extended if we need to consult third parties or for other reasons.
We will advise you if this happens.
The department will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request and the
amount of any such charge as soon as practicable.
Your Address
The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address which we can send notices to. You
have advised your electronic address is
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx. We will send all notices and correspondence to this address. Please advise us as soon as
possible if you wish correspondence to be sent to another address or if your address
changes. If you do not advise us of changes to your address, correspondence and notices
will continue to be sent to the address specified above.
Disclosure Log
Please note that information released under FOI Act may be published in a disclosure log on
the department's website. Section 11C of the FOI Act requires this publication, however it is
subject to certain exceptions, including where publication of personal, business, professional
or commercial information would be unreasonable.
Exclusion of junior departmental employee details
The department is working towards ensuring that all employees have a choice about whether
they provide their full name, personal logon identifiers and direct contact details in response
to public enquiries. Where such details are included in the scope of a request, this may add
to processing time and applicable charges as it may be necessary to consider whether the
details are exempt under the FOI Act. On this basis, unless you tell us otherwise, we will
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Department of Human Services
assume that these details are out of scope of your request and they will be redacted under
section 22 of the FOI Act.
Further assistance
If you have any questions please ema
il xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Authorised FOI Decision Maker
Freedom of Information Team
FOI and Litigation Branch | Legal Services Division
Department of Human Services
PAGE 3 OF 3
Department of Human Services
