Sunshine
Via:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Sunshine
Decision to impose a charge and preliminary assessment of charges
I refer to your request for access to documents relating to the IRRS under the
Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act)
dated 25 October 2018.
I am writing to advise you of my decision that you are liable to pay a charge in respect of the processing of
your request. I, Gemma Larkins, legal officer in the Office of the General Counsel, am an officer authorised
under section 23(1) of the FOI Act to make decisions in relation to FOI requests.
In accordance with section 29 of the FOI Act and the
Freedom of Information Charges Regulations 1982, my
preliminary assessment of the charge you are liable to pay is $1,765.00.
Basis for my preliminary assessment of the charge
On 7 December 2018, I wrote to you to clarify the scope of your request. I have not yet received a response.
You have sought access to
"ARPANSA's written response to the IRRS self-assessment questionnaire for the
applicable modules and the analysis and results of the self-assessment.”
There are 13 modules and each module contains a word document (of varying lengths) with ARPANSA’s
written response, a folder with specific evidence in support of the written response and general reference
evidence.
The evidence and general reference evidence is a combination of publically available information and
sensitive documents relating to ARPANSA and various ARPANSA licence holders. The amount of evidence is
significant and will involve a substantial degree of consultation with various internal and external
stakeholders.
Since I have not received clarification from you that your request does not extend to the underlying evidence.
I have calculated the charges on the basis that I need to consider this information in making my decision.
It is unlikely that charges will apply if you confirm that the only document you are seeking access to is the
200 page IRRS Advanced Reference Material Summary Report.
619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie VIC 3085
38–40 Urunga Parade, Miranda NSW 2228
xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx
+61 3 9433 2211
PO Box 655, Miranda NSW 1490
arpansa.gov.au
+61 2 9541 8333
Document estimate
Number of relevant documents
4000
Number of relevant pages (or other size descriptor)
PROCESSING CHARGES
Search and retrieval
Task
Time (hr)
Cost @ $15/hr
Search and retrieval of relevant electronic and registry files
1
$15
Search and retrieval of relevant pages in file
Preparation of schedule of documents
10
$150
A. Search and retrieval subtotal
11
$165
Decision making
Task
Time
Cost @ $20/hr
Examination of documents
50
$1,000
Consultation with third parties
10
$200
Preparation of documents for release
20
$400
Preparation of notice of access decision
5
$100
Decision making subtotal (before deduction of 5 hours)
$1,700
B. Decision making subtotal (after deduction of first 5 hours
$1,600
free)
ESTIMATED TOTALS AND DEPOSIT
ESTIMATED TOTAL
$1,765.00
REQUIRED DEPOSIT
$441.25
Your right to contend the charge
Under the FOI Act, you have the right to contend that the charge:
• has been wrongly assessed, or
• should be reduced, or
• should not be imposed.
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In deciding whether a charge should be reduced or not imposed, the decision maker in our agency must
take into account:
• whether payment of the charge, or part of it, would cause you financial hardship
• whether giving access to the documents is in the general public interest or in the interest of a
substantial section of the public
• any other relevant matter.
Payment of a deposit
As the charge exceeds $100, a 25 per cent deposit ($441.25) wil be sought if the charge is imposed.
The deposit is not refundable except in some limited circumstances (for example, if ARPANSA fails to make
a decision on your request within the statutory time limit), or may be refundable in part if the final charge
is less than the deposit paid.
Payment can be made by either bank cheque or direct deposit. Details of the bank account are attached.
The time you have to respond and what you need to do
You have 30 days to provide written notice to ARPANSA that you will do any of the fol owing things:
• agree to pay the charge (this wil mean that you wil not be entitled to access the requested
documents until the ful charge is paid);
• contend that the charge has been wrongly assessed, or should be reduced or not imposed and
explain your reasons; or
• withdraw your request.
Please send your response to
xxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx
If you do not provide us with a written response 9 February 2019 your request wil be taken to have been
withdrawn.
More information on charges can be found in section 29 of the FOI Act and Chapter 4 of the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner FOI Guidelines
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/foi-
guidelines/part-4-charges-for-providing-access
The period for processing your request is suspended from the day that you receive this notice and resumes
on either the day you pay the charge (in ful or the required deposit) or the day on which this agency makes
a decision not to impose a charge.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Larkins (Position Number 13529)
Legal Officer
Office of the General Counsel
10 January 2019
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COMPANY NAME
Australian Radiation Protection
and Nuclear Safety Agency
ADDRESS
619 Lower Plenty Road
Yallambie VIC 3085
TELEPHONE NUMBER
(03) 9433 2211
FAX NUMBER
(03) 9432 1835
BANK NAME
Reserve Bank of Australia
BANK ADDRESS
20-22 London Circuit
Canberra ACT 2601
BANK BSB NUMBER
092 009
BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER
11273-8
SWIFT CODE
RSBKAU2S
BANK ACCOUNT NAME
ARPANSA Official Departmental
Account
ABN
61 321 195 155
E-mail: xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx
PO Box 655, MIRANDA NSW 1490
Web: www.arpansa.gov.au
Phone: +61 2 9541 8333, Fax: +61 2 9541 8314
Freecall: 1800 022 333 (a free call from fixed phones in Australia)
619 Lower Plenty Road, YALLAMBIE VIC 3085
ABN No: 613 211 951 55
Phone : +61 3 9433 2211, Fax: +61 3 9432 1835
Document Outline
