Friday, 19 October 2018
Ms Verity Payne
By email only: foi+request-4817 xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Ms Payne
Decision on your Freedom of Information Request
I refer to your request dated and received by the Specialist Medical Review Council (
SMRC)
on 18
September 2018,
for access to the following documents under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the
FOI Act):
“…copy of the first page only (cover page is fine), of all current, contracts the SMRC has, that
contain a confidentiality clause within them…”
My decision The SMRC holds one document (totalling two pages) that relates to your request.
I have decided to grant you full access to the document.
Please see the schedule at Attachment A for a list of the document being released.
On 4 October 2018, the SMRC acknowledged your request.
How we will send your documents to you The document is attached.
You can ask for a review of our decision If you disagree with any part of the decision you can ask for a review. There are two ways you can do
this. You can ask for an internal review from within the department, or an external review by the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. You do not have to pay for reviews of decisions.
See
Attachment B for more information about how to arrange a review.
Further assistance
If you have any questions please email
xxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx or telephone us on
(07) 3223 8420.
Convener: Professor Charles Guest
Address all Communications to:
The Registrar, SMRC, PO Box 965, Brisbane QLD, 4001
Tel: (07) 3223 8420
Em
ail: xxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx Website
: www.smrc.gov.au
Kind regards
Jan Bowman
Registrar
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Attachment A
LIST OF DOCUMENTS FOR RELEASE
Doc
Pages
Date
Description
Comments
No.
1.
2
1.12.13
Deed of Agreement and Deed of Variation
with FILEforce Brisbane Pty Ltd
Convener: Professor Charles Guest
Address all Communications to:
The Registrar, SMRC, PO Box 965, Brisbane QLD, 4001
Tel: (07) 3223 8420
Em
ail: xxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx Website
: www.smrc.gov.au
Attachment B
INFORMATION ON RIGHTS OF REVIEW
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982
Asking for a full explanation of a Freedom of Information decision
Before you ask for a formal review of a FOI decision, you can contact us to discuss your request. We
will explain the decision to you. This gives you a chance to correct misunderstandings.
Asking for a formal review of a Freedom of Information decision
If you still believe a decision is incorrect, the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) gives you the
right to apply for a review of the decision. Under sections 54 and 54L of the FOI Act, you can apply
for a review of an FOI decision by:
1. an Internal Review Officer in the Department of Human Services (the department); and/or
2. the Australian Information Commissioner.
Note 1: There are no fees for these reviews.
Applying for an internal review by an Internal Review Officer
If you apply for internal review, a different decision maker to the departmental delegate who made
the original decision will carry out the review. The Internal Review Officer will consider all aspects of
the original decision and decide whether it should change. An application for internal review must
be:
made in writing
made within 30 days of receiving this letter
sent to the address at the top of the first page of this letter.
Note 2: You do not need to fill in a form. However, it is a good idea to set out any relevant
submissions you would like the Internal Review Officer to further consider, and your reasons for
disagreeing with the decision.
Applying for external review by the Australian Information Commissioner
If you do not agree with the original decision or the internal review decision, you can ask the
Australian Information Commissioner to review the decision.
Convener: Professor Charles Guest
Address all Communications to:
The Registrar, SMRC, PO Box 965, Brisbane QLD, 4001
Tel: (07) 3223 8420
Em
ail: xxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx Website
: www.smrc.gov.au
If you do not receive a decision from an Internal Review Officer in the department within 30 days of
applying, you can ask the Australian Information Commissioner for a review of the original FOI
decision.
You will have 60 days to apply in writing for a review by the Australian Information Commissioner.
You can
lodge your application:
Online:
www.oaic.gov.au
Post:
Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Note 3: The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner generally prefers FOI applicants to
seek internal review before applying for external review by the Australian Information Commissioner.
Important:
If you are applying online, the application form the 'Merits Review Form' is available at
www.oaic.gov.au.
If you have one, you should include with your application a copy of the Department of Human
Services' decision on your FOI request
Include your contact details
Set out your reasons for objecting to the department's decision.
Complaints to the Information Commissioner and Commonwealth Ombudsman
Information Commissioner
You may complain to the Information Commissioner concerning action taken by an agency in the
exercise of powers or the performance of functions under the FOI Act, There is no fee for making a
complaint. A complaint to the Information Commissioner must be made in writing. The Information
Commissioner's contact details are:
Telephone: 1300 363 992
Website:
www.oaic.gov.au Commonwealth Ombudsman
You may also complain to the Ombudsman concerning action taken by an agency in the exercise of
powers or the performance of functions under the FOI Act. There is no fee for making a complaint. A
complaint to the Ombudsman may be made in person, by telephone or in writing. The Ombudsman's
contact details are:
Phone: 1300 362 072
Website:
www.ombudsman.gov.au
The Commonwealth Ombudsman generally prefers applicants to seek review before complaining
about a decision.
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