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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'.


Attachment D

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Attachment D
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E-mail Message
From:
Angela O'NEIL [EX:/O=IMMI/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP 
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=EXBTAZBB9]
To:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx [SMTP:foi+request-326-
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx]
Cc:
Sent:
14/8/2013 at 1:32 PM
Received:
14/8/2013 at 1:32 PM
Subject:
Your request FA 13/08/00260 [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
UNCLASSIFIED 
 
Our references: FA 13/08/00260; ADF2013/25003 
 
  
 
Dear s. 22(1)(a)(ii)  
 
  
 
Thank you for confirming that you wish to wish to receive notices from DIAC via 
this email address and that DIAC can anticipate that you will respond to 
communications that are sent to you at this address. I am satisfied that the 
requirement in s.15(2)(c) of the Act is met and will progress your request 
accordingly. 
 
  
 
Yours sincerely 
 
  
 
Angela O'Neil 
Assistant Director  
 
FOI & Privacy Policy 
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 
Telephone: (02) 6264 1382 
Email: HYPERLINK "mailto:xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx"xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx 
 
  
 
UNCLASSIFIED 
 
From:  s. 22(1)(a)(ii)  [mailto:
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
  
Sent: Saturday, 10 August 2013 6:03 PM 
To: FOI NSW 
Subject: Your references: FA 13/08/00260; ADF2013/25003 
 
  
 
I refer to your correspondence dated 9 August 2013 in response to my email of 24 
July 2013 (the FOI request), under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth,) and 
asking that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship provide me with a copy 
of the following document: 
 
•             Incident Detail Report 1-2SOSIL from the Department's Compliance,  
Case Management, Detention and Settlement Portal. I also 
 
requested any documents attached to the detailed report. 
 
  
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Attachment D
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I would like to resolve any doubt you might have that the request was not made 
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth). It was made under the Freedom of 
Information Act 1982 (Cth) ("the FOI Act"). 
 
  
 
In particular, I confirm that the email address provided in the request (the 
email address) is an address to which the Department can send notices. 
 
 
You state you are not satisfied that the email address meets the requirement of 
'details of how notices under this Act may be sent to the applicant', referencing 
section15(2)(c).  
 
  
 
I have noted the paradox that you have sent your notice to an email address which 
you say is not sufficient for the purposes of your considering the FOI request. 
 
  
 
By sending your notice to the email address, I take it you are now satisfied that 
the email address meets the requirements of the FOI Act. 
 
Further, subsection 15(2)(c) makes it clear that an electronic address meets this 
requirement. The full text reads: 
"(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 term "electronic communication" has the same meaning as in the Electronic 
Transactions Act 1999  (see FOI Act s4(1). 
 
  
 
That Act defines an "electronic communication" as follows: 
 
"(a)  a communication of information in the form of data, text or images by means 
of guided and/or unguided electromagnetic energy;  
 
(b)  a communication of information in the form of speech by means of guided 
and/or unguided electromagnetic energy, where the speech is processed at its 
destination by an automated voice recognition system." 
 
  
 
It is clear enough that my request "provided details of how notices under the Act 
may be sent to [me]".  
 
  
 
The email address provided in my request is an electronic address to which the 
Department may send notices by communication of information in the form of data, 
text or images by means of guided electromagnetic energy. 
 
  
 
In the same way that Section 15(2A) authorised me to make my request by sending 
the application to an electronic address specified by the department, I designate 
this address as the detail required by Section 15(2)(c) of how a notice may be 
sent to me. 
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Please note that sending notices to that email address is the only address to 
which notices may be sent in relation to the FOI request. 
 
  
 
It is of no relevance that any notice sent to me at this electronic address 
subsequently may be published, on the internet or anywhere else by me or anybody 
else. 
 
  
 
Yours sincerely 
 
  
 
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
 
 
  
 
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Attachment D
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E-mail Message
From:
Angela O'NEIL [EX:/O=IMMI/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP 
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=EXBTAZBB9]
To:
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)  [SMTP:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx]
Cc:
Sent:
14/8/2013 at 1:37 PM
Received:
14/8/2013 at 1:37 PM
Subject:
RE: Your request for an incident report [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
UNCLASSIFIED 
 
Our references: FA 13/08/00254; ADF2013/24998 
 
Dear s. 22(1)(a)(ii)  
 
Thank you for confirming that you wish to wish to receive notices from DIAC via 
this email address and that DIAC can anticipate that you will respond to 
communications that are sent to you via this address. I am satisfied that the 
requirement in s.15(2)(c) of the Act is met and will progress your request 
accordingly. 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Angela O'Neil 
Assistant Director 
FOI & Privacy Policy 
Department of Immigration and Citizenship 
Telephone: (02) 6264 1382 
Email: xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx 
 
 
-----Original Message----- 
From: s. 22(1)(a)(ii)  [mailto:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx] 
Sent: Saturday, 10 August 2013 5:17 PM 
To: FOI 
Subject: Re: Your request for an incident report [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED] 
 
Dear Angela, 
 
This is to confirm that the email address provided is an address to 
which the Department can send notices. 
You state you are not satisfied that the address meets the 
requirement of 'details of how notices under this Act may be sent 
to the applicant', referencing Section15 (2)(c). 
 
The subsection however makes it clear that an electronic address 
meets this requirement. The full text reads: 
(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. "electronic 
communication" has the same meaning as in the Electronic 
Transactions Act 1999 . 
 
In the same way that Section 15(2A) authorised me to make my 
request by sending the application to an electronic address 
specified by the department, I designate this address as the detail 
required by Section 15(2)(c) of how a notice may be sent to me. 
 
It is of no relevance that any notice sent to me at this electronic 
address subsequently may be published on the internet. 
 
Yours sincerely, 
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Attachment D
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s. 22(1)(a)(ii)  
 
 
 
 
 
UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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Attachment D
Page 7 of 12
From:
Angela O"NEIL on behalf of FOI
To:
Linda ROSSITER; Janelle RAINERI; Rowan PATTERSON; Steven HOCKING; Ashley SMITH
Subject:
Cases to be allocated and new processes for RTK detention log requests [DLM=For-Official-Use-Only]
Date:
Thursday, 15 August 2013 12:10:00 PM
Importance:
High
For-Official-Use-Only
Hi All
 
Linda and I had a chat about the way to progress the ‘Right to Know’ detention incident requests
 while they are dribbling in as they are.
 
The current process is:
 
·         Ashley registers to the point of ‘validation’ and then assigns to me.
·         I write to the applicant to confirm the email address, giving 3 working days.
·         If no response, then I close as Invalid.
·         If a response, I mark as valid and reassign to Ashley for further registration to the stage
 of ‘move to access team’ and then assigns them to me.
·         I allocate to the decision maker. If I’m not here Ashley will allocate.
·         The decision maker assesses the request for charges.
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
I should also mention that for consistency, any requests from the RTK website will be sent an
 email prior to validation seeking confirmation that they will correspond with DIAC using the
 address – not just the detention log requests.
 
Cases to be allocated
 
Currently have the following cases to be allocated with at least 3 more RTK detention incident
 reports currently being validated:
 
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
Policy documents relating to ‘managed
 accommodation’ in detention facilities
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
Review of decision on a detention incident report
 (Amy’s)
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
Incident report via RTK
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
Incident report via RTK
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
Labour agreement via RTK – 1 document in Trim
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
Incident report via RTK
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
Incident report via RTK
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
Meeting minutes from the ‘expert panel’ meetings –

Attachment D
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 possibly no documents in scope
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
5 incident reports – NOT via RTK – 7 Aug received
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
Another 3  incident reports – NOT via RTK – 13 Aug
 
Any takers? The 
 really needs to be allocated asap as does the first s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
s. 22(1)(a)(ii)
 one. We have a rather complex one in the pipeline from s. 22(1)(a)(ii) as well.
 
Cheers
 
Angie
 
 
Angela O'Neil
Assistant Director
FOI & Privacy Policy
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Telephone: (02) 6264 1382
Email: xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
 
For-Official-Use-Only

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Attachment D
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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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Attachment D
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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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Attachment D
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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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