If not delivered return to PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
6 July 2017
Our reference: LEX 30212
Mr Derek Adams
By email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx Dear Mr Adams
Freedom of Information Request - Charges
I refer to your request dated 14 June 2017, and received by the Department of Human Services (the
department) on the same date, for access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the
FOI
Act) to the following:
'I request, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, copies of the following documents in
their original electronic file formats (eg .html for webpages, .xlsx or .xls for spreadsheets and
so on):
All documents contained within the file "Perpetual Centrelink Calendar 107-03040000" as
listed on this page:
http://operational.humanservices.gov.au/public/Pages/debts/107-03040000-01.html'.
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. My preliminary assessment of that charge is $14.55 calculated as
follows:
Search and retrieval time: 0.97 hours, at $15.00 per hour:
$14.55
Decision-making time (*after deduction of 5 hours): 0 hours, at
$20.00 per hour
$0.00
TOTAL
$14.55
*The FOI Act provides that the first five hours of decision-making time are free of charge and this is reflected in the
calculation.
You requested documents contained within the following Operational Blue Print page:
http://operational.humanservices.gov.au/public/Pages/debts/107-03040000-01.html. I am advised
that the department has in its possession 1 document with 1 page relevant to your request. The
document is the only document contained within the Operational Blue Print page and the only
document within the scope of your request.
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Option A - pay the charge
You are required to pay the charge of $14.55 in full within 30 days of receiving this notice.
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 30212 with your payment.
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 you 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.
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
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Department of Human Services
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.
Further assistance
If you have any questions please email
xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Bruce
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
