10 September 2019
Mr L Tucks
BY EMAIL: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
In reply please quote:
FOI Request:
FA 19/07/01244
File Number:
OBJ2019/43048
Dear Mr Tucks
Freedom of Information (FOI) request - Access Decision
On 18 July 2019, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) received a request for access
to document under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a decision on your request for access under the
FOI Act.
1
Scope of request
You have requested access to the following document:
Requesting for communication, briefs, memorandum, statistical summary or any
document of the same nature, electronic or otherwise, that contain the following::
1)
Number of approved citizenship applications from the City of Greater Geelong
for January 2019 - July 2019
2)
Number of approved citizenship applications that were invited for ceremony at
the City of Greater Geelong for January 2019 - July 2019
3)
Number of approved citizenship applications for the year 2019 that is from the
City of Greater Geelong, as of July 2019
4)
Number of approved citizenship applicants for the year 2019 that were invited
for ceremony, as of July 2019
5)
Redacted communication (electronic or otherwise) between the City of
Greater Geelong and the Department of Home Affairs from January 2019 to
July 2019 that contains the number of approved citizenship applicants invited
to attend the citizenship ceremony in the City of Greater Geelong for the
following citizenship ceremony dates proposed by the city of Greater Geelong
Council:
6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 • Telephone: 02 6264 1111 • Fax: 02 6225 6970 • www.homeaffairs.gov.au
26 January
25 February
25 March
29 April
20 May
1 July
29 July
26 August
17 September
28 October and
For print documents, please provide the scanned copy.
2
Authority to make decision
I am an officer authorised under section 23 of the FOI Act to make decisions in respect of
requests to access document or to amend or annotate records.
3
Relevant material
In reaching my decision I referred to the following:
• the terms of your request
• the document relevant to the request
• the FOI Act
• Guidelines published by the Office of the Information Commissioner under section 93A
of the FOI Act (the FOI Guidelines)
• advice from Departmental officers with responsibility for matters relating to the
document to which you sought access
4
Document in scope of request
In accordance with section 17 of the FOI Act, the Department has used its computer system
to produce one document that contains information that falls within the scope of your
request. The data produced in the document existed in the possession of the Department
on 18 July 2019 when your FOI request was received.
The Department through the relevant business area has undertaken reasonable searches
in Departmental systems and document holdings. The Department does not hold existing
documents containing the information in relation to parts 2, 4 and 5 as falling in the scope
of your request.
Having regard to your request and the types of document that may fall within the scope of
your request I am satisfied that the searches conducted were extremely thorough and all
reasonable steps have been taken to locate any document relevant to your request.
5
Decision
Section 24A of the FOI Act provides that the Department may refuse a request for access
to a document if all reasonable steps have been taken to find the document and the
Department is satisfied that the document does not exist.
I am satisfied that the Department has undertaken reasonable searches in relation to parts
2, 4 and 5 of your request and that no documents were in the possession of the Department
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on 18 July 2019 when your FOI request was received. As such I am refusing access to the
documents requested by you based on the application of section 24A of the FOI Act.
The decision in relation to the document in the possession of the Department which fall
within the scope of your request is as follows:
• Release one document in full
6
Legislation
A copy of the FOI Act is available at https:/ www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A02562.
If you are unable to access the legislation through this website, please contact our office
for a copy.
7
Your Review Rights
Internal Review
If you disagree with this decision, you have the right to apply for an internal review by the
Department of this decision. Any request for internal review must be provided to the
Department within 30 days of you being notified of the decision. Where possible please
attach reasons why you believe a review of the decision is necessary. The internal review
wil be carried out by an officer other than the original decision maker and the Department
must make a review decision within 30 days.
Applications for review should be sent to:
By email to: xxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
OR
By mail to:
Freedom of Information Section
Department of Home Affairs
PO Box 25
BELCONNEN ACT 2617
Review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
You may apply directly to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for
a review of this decision. You must apply in writing within 60 days of this notice. For further
information about review rights and how to submit a request for a review to the OAIC,
please see Fact Sheet 12 "Freedom of information – Your review rights", available online
at https:/ www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/foi-review-process.
8
Making a Complaint
You may complain to the Australian Information Commissioner about action taken by the
Department in relation to your request.
Your enquiries to the Australian Information Commissioner can be directed to:
Phone 1300 363 992 (local call charge)
Email xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
There is no particular form required to make a complaint to the Australian Information
Commissioner. The request should be in writing and should set out the grounds on which
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it is considered that the action taken in relation to the request should be investigated and
identify the Department of Home Affairs as the relevant agency.
9
Contacting the FOI Section
Should you wish to discuss this decision, please do not hesitate to contact the FOI Section
at xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.
Signed electronically
Position No. 60006174
Authorised Decision Maker
Department of Home Affairs
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