24 February 2020
Mr R Stone
BY EMAIL: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
In reply please quote:
FOI Request:
FA 19/11/01143
File Number:
OBJ2019/59217
Dear Mr Stone
Freedom of Information (FOI) request - Access Decision
On 20 November 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:
1. The number of 188 Business Innovation Visa (Innovation; Investor;
Significant Investor Stream) that are currently been assessed in the Hong
Kong Business Centre to November 2019.
2. The current date of cases that are been currently assessed in Hong Kong
Business Centre.
3. The average processing date of the Business Innovation Category (188A).
4. Average Processing Speed based on the Team within the Hong Kong
Consulate Business Visa Sector.
On 10 December 2019, you agreed to revise the request to refer to the Hong Kong
processing centre only.
On 16 December 2019, you specified that the processing times sought were for 75%
and 90%.
On 17 December 2019, you specified the date range sought as 1 June 2018 to
20 November 2019.
6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 • Telephone: 02 6264 1111 • Fax: 02 6225 6970 • www.homeaffairs.gov.au
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 20 November 2019 when your FOI request was received.
The business area that produced the document has provided the following comments:
• Data provided in the document is as at 30 November 2019, as the available data is
for the end of the month.
• Point 2 regarding “current date of cases” appears to be encompassed in the request
for “visa applications on hand” (point 1). This is given in the first table in the
document.
• Point 4 regarding “average processing speed” – the only measure for this is
“processing time”, which is given in the second table in the document, also covering
point 3.
5
Decision
The decision in relation to the document in the possession of the Department which falls
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.
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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
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.
Yours sincerely
[
Electronically signed]
Position no. 60008303
Authorised Decision Maker
Department of Home Affairs
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