This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Privacy impact assessments held by DHS Programme Advice and Privacy Branch'.



If not delivered return to PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610 
 
 
 
2 May 2017 
 
 
 
Our reference:  LEX 28922 
Mr Bill Tarte 
 
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx  
 
 
Dear Mr Tarte, 
 
Freedom of Information Request – Charges and third party notification 
 
I refer to your request, dated and received by the Department of Human Services (the department
on 3 April 2017, for access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) to the 
following: 
 
'I request access to a copy of any privacy impact assessments held by DHS Programme 
Advice and Privacy Branch as referred to in my previous request here by Thomas:   
 
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/3191/response/8981/attach/html/4/LEX%2028 
087%20Decision%20Decision%20final.pdf.html. If any PIA's were provided in a combined 
report, I request access only to that part of the report relating to the PIA'.  
 
Liability to pay charges 
 
You have requested documents in relation to Privacy Impact Assessments. This information is not 
your personal information. 
 
Preliminary Assessment of the Charge  
 

In accordance with section 29 of the FOI Act, I have decided that you are liable to pay a charge for 
the processing of your request. Please note that the payment of a charge does not guarantee 
access to documents, redacted or otherwise.  
 
My preliminary assessment of that charge is $1,128.95 calculated as follows: 
 
Search and retrieval time: 12.57 hours, at $15.00 per hour: 
$188.55  
Decision-making time (*after deduction of 5 hours): 47.02 hours, at 
 
$20.00 per hour 
$940.40 
 
 
TOTAL 
  
$1,128.95 

 
*The FOI Act provides that the first five hours of decision-making time are free of charge and this is reflected in the 
calculation. 
 
I am advised that the department has in its possession 13 documents with 482 pages relevant to 
your request. 
 
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Required Action  
 

If you would like the department to continue processing your request, you must notify the 
department in writing within 30 days of receiving this notice that you: 
 
a)  agree to pay the charge; 
b)  wish to contend that the charge: 
i.  has been wrongly assessed; or 
ii.  should be reduced or not imposed; or 
iii.  both 
c)  withdraw the request for access. 
 
If you do not provide a written response in accordance with one of Options A, B or C above within 
30 days of receiving this notice, your request will be taken to have been withdrawn under section 
29(2) of the FOI Act. 
 
Alternatively you may wish to refine the scope of your FOI request.  If you would like to discuss this 
please contact me for assistance. 
 
Further information on options A, B and C is set out below.   
 
Option A - pay the charge 
 
As the charge exceeds $25, you are required to pay a deposit of $282.24 within 30 days of 
receiving this notice. You may, of course, elect to pay the charge in full at this point. 
 
The amount due should be paid by cheque or money order made out to the Collector of Public 
Monies. Please quote the reference number FOI LEX 28922 with your payment and send it to: 
 
Freedom of Information team 
Department of Human Services  
PO Box 7820  
CANBERRA  ACT  2610   
 
Should you elect to pay the charge, please email xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx once 
you have posted your cheque or money order to advise us of your payment.  
 
Option B - seek reduction or non-imposition of the charge 
 

You may contend that the charge has been wrongly assessed, or should be reduced or not 
imposed. Section 29(5) of the FOI Act provides that, in deciding whether to reduce or not to impose 
a charge, the decision-maker must take into account any relevant reasons, including whether 
payment of the charge, or part of it, would cause your organisation financial hardship, and whether 
the giving of access to the documents is in the general public interest or in the interest of a 
substantial section of the public. 
 
If you wish to contend that the charge has been wrongly assessed or should be reduced or not 
imposed, please set out your reasons and the evidence in support of your reasons as clearly as 
possible.  If you believe that payment of the charge would cause your organisation financial 
hardship, please provide sufficient details of your financial circumstances to enable the 
decision-maker to make a well-informed decision in this regard. 
 
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Department of Human Services 
 

Option C - withdraw your request 
 

If you wish to withdraw your request you may do so in writing. 
 
Time limits for processing your request  
 

Section 31 of the FOI Act provides that where a notice is sent to an applicant regarding the payment 
of a charge in respect of a request, the time limit for processing the request is suspended from the 
date the notice is received until either: 
 
(a)  the day following payment of the charge (in full or the required deposit); or  
(b)  if applicable, the day following the notification to the applicant of a decision not to impose the 
charge. 
 
Address for correspondence 
 
Please send all correspondence regarding your FOI request to me at the following address: 
 
Freedom of Information team 
Department of Human Services  
PO Box 7820  
CANBERRA  ACT  2610   
 
Or by email to xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
 
Publication of information in the FOI disclosure log  
 
Information released under the FOI Act may be published in a disclosure log on the department's 
website.  Section 11C of the FOI Act requires this publication, subject to certain exceptions, 
including where publication of personal, business, professional or commercial information would be 
unreasonable.  
 
Third-party consultation – business documents 
 
Section 27 of the FOI Act provides, among other things, that where a request is made for access to 
a document that: 
 
  contains  information  about  an  organisation’s  commercial  or  financial  affairs  (business 
information); and 
  it  appears  that  the  organisation  might  reasonably  wish  to  contend  that  the  business 
information is: 
o  exempt under section 47 of the FOI Act; or  
o  conditionally  exempt  under  section  47G  of  the  FOI  Act  and  giving  access  to  the 
document would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest; 
 
the department must not release the document without first giving the organisation a reasonable 
opportunity to make a submission in support of the contention. The department must consider 
any submission that it receives.   
 
Searches have identified that your request covers documents that contain information  
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Department of Human Services 
 

concerning the business, commercial or financial affairs of organisations. Consequently, the 
department is required to consult under section 27 of the FOI Act before making a decision on the 
release of those documents. 
 
Timeframes for processing your request 
 
I note that your request was received by the department on 3 April 2017 and that the 30 day 
statutory period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date. 
 
This statutory period has been extended by 30 days under section 15(6) of the FOI Act in order to 
allow the department time to consult with third parties. 
 
Further assistance 
If you have any questions please email xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx. 
 
 
 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
Jessica 
Authorised FOI Decision Maker 
Freedom of Information Team 
FOI and Litigation Branch Legal Services Division 
Department of Human Services 
Email: xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx  
 
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Department of Human Services