This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Internal Corrospondence related to the use of s15(2)(b) of the FOI Act'.


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E-mail Message
From:
Janelle RAINERI [EX:/O=IMMI/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP 
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=PRJRCYE15]
To:
Ben Fairless [SMTP:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx]
Cc:
Sent:

27/2/2014 at 6:45 PM
Received:
27/2/2014 at 6:44 PM
Subject:
Your request for documents [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
UNCLASSIFIED 
 
Our references: FA 14/02/01093; ADF2014/6570 
 
Dear Ben Fairless 
 
Thank you for your prompt response and confirmation that the department can 
contact you at the right to know email address: foi+request-529-
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx. 
 
All correspondence including notices under the FOI Act and a decision on your 
request will be forwarded to the above email address. 
 
Yours sincerely 
Janelle 
__________________________________ 
Janelle Raineri 
FOI Inbox Manager 
FOI & Privacy Policy Section 
Department of Immigration and Border Protection 
 
Email: xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx 
 
-----Original Message----- 
From: Ben Fairless [mailto:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx] 
Sent: Thursday, 27 February 2014 6:35 PM 
To: FOI 
Subject: TRIM: Re: Your request for documents [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED] 
 
Dear Janelle, 
 
I write in reference to your email in relation to my FOI request (Your Reference: 
FA 14/02/01093; ADF2014/6570). A copy of my request and responses to date can be 
found at 
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/directions_from_ministers_in_rel_2 
 
I can confirm the RightToKnow email address is a valid email address to which I 
can be sent notices. 
 
In case you were not aware, RightToKnow provides a way for members of the public 
to submit FOI requests and respond to emails from agencies in relation to FOI 
requests. In addition, it also publishes the request, any correspondence between 
the requestor and the agency, and the final decision of the agency online in a 
searchable, easy to read format on the internet. 
 
I would argue that the way the Right to Know website works would be no different 
to posting a copy of our correspondence on a website. 
 
Other than the DIBP, I am not aware of a single Agency or Minister listed on 
Right to Know that has raised concerns in relation to s15(2)(b) of the Freedom of 
Information Act. 
 
I respectfully request (as a user of RightToKnow, and not on behalf of its 
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administrators or owners) that the Department cease raising concerns under s.15 
(2) (b) of the Freedom of Information Act when it comes to Right to Know. It is 
the only agency that has done so to date. 
 
If you have any questions, please let me know. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
Ben Fairless 
 
-----Original Message----- 
 
UNCLASSIFIED 
 
Our references: FA 14/02/01093; ADF2014/6570 
 
  
 
Dear Ben Fairless 
 
  
 
I am writing to you in response to your email dated 22 February 2014, purportedly 
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) and asking that the Department of 
Immigration and Border Protection provide you with a copy of the following 
document: 
 
  
 
I request, under the Freedom of Information Act, documents (including, but not 
limited to, emails, letters or other notes to which the department has 
access) which reference requests, decisions or opinions by either the minister 
currently responsible for the Department or any other currently serving federal 
minister on how the department should handle Freedom of Information (FOI) 
requests. 
 
  
 
The purpose of this email is to advise you that I consider the request may be 
invalid under the FOI Act.  I will explain my reasons in full below. 
 
  
 
Requirements of the FOI Act 
 
  
 
The requirements for a valid FOI request are set out in section 15(2) of the Act, 
which provides that: 
 
  
 
The request must: 
 
  
 
(a)  be in writing; and 
 
  
 
(aa) state that the request is an application for the purposes of this Act; and 
 
  
 
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(b) provide such information concerning the document as is reasonably necessary 
to enable a responsible officer of the agency, or the Minister, to identify it; 
and 
 
  
 
(c) give details of how notices under this Act may be sent to the applicant (for 
example, by providing an electronic address to which notices may be sent by 
electronic communication). 
 
  
 
The Act envisages that an agency and the applicant will, where necessary and 
appropriate, engage in dialogue about the request.  The Act also envisages that 
there may be instances when an agency will wish to send a formal legal notice to 
an applicant, for example, when the agency believes that it would be a 
substantial and unreasonable diversion of resources to process the request or 
intends to charge the applicant for processing the request.  In addition, the Act 
provides applicants with review rights which are activated by the act of the 
agency ‘notifying’ the applicant of the decision. 
 
  
 
In order to engage in this dialogue, the applicant must provide an address 
through which the applicant intends to be contactable.  It should be an address 
through which the agency will be able to write to the applicant and receive a 
response to the communication. It must also be an address through which the 
agency can reasonably assume that legal notices will be received, read and 
responded to by the applicant.  This requirement has been an element of a valid 
FOI request since the Act was first enacted in 1982. 
 
  
 
Issues regarding your request 
 
  
 
I am not satisfied that the email address you have provided meets the requirement 
of ‘details of how notices under this Act may be sent to the applicant’ (s.15(2)
(b) of the Act).  In particular, it does not appear to be an address to which the 
agency could send a ‘notice’.  The address you have provided appears to be an 
address for publication of correspondence on the internet. 
 
  
 
Next steps 
 
  
 
Please confirm by writing to [1][DIBP request email] that the email address you 
have provided is an address to which the Department can send you notices, by 
close of business Thursday 6 March 2014.  The request will then be validated. 
 
  
 
If you have not provided confirmation by that time, the request will be closed as 
invalid. 
 
  
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Janelle 
 
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__________________________________ 
 
Janelle Raineri 
 
FOI Inbox Manager 
 
FOI & Privacy Policy Section 
Department of Immigration and Border Protection 
 
Email: [2][DIBP request email] 
 
  
 
  
 
UNCLASSIFIED 
 
References 
 
Visible links 
1. mailto:[DIBP request email] 
2. mailto:[DIBP request email] 
 
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Please use this email address for all replies to this request: 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
 
Write your response as plain text. Only send PDF documents as a last resort. 
Government guidelines make it clear that PDF is not an acceptable format for you 
to use in the delivery of government information. 
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/officers#pdf 
 
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UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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