Department Reference: FOI 1922
Alby P
Via email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Alby P
NOTICE OF DECISION UNDER SECTION 24A
OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982
I refer to your request of 24 August 2020 to the Department of Health
(the department) seeking access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act)
to the following documents:
Can you release all information regarding coronavirus herd immunity cost/benefit
analysis or similar studies that may have been submitted to your department?
Of particular interest are any studies that provide opinion on Sweden’s response.
FOI decision
I am authorised under subsection 23(1) of the Act to make decisions in relation to
Freedom of Information requests. I am writing to notify you of my decision on
your request.
Appropriate steps have been taken to find the documents referred to in your
request including searches of departmental file management systems.
I am satisfied, on the basis of the searches conducted, that the documents referred
to in your request do not exist.
As a consequence, relying on section 24A of the Act, I cannot provide access to the
documents you requested.
Freedom of Information Unit (MDP 516) GPO Box 9848 Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6289 1666 ABN: 83 605 426 759
Review rights
If you are dissatisfied with my decision, you may apply for a review.
Internal review
Under section 54 of the Act, you may apply in writing to the department for an
internal review of my decision. The internal review application must be made
within 30 days of the date of this notice (or such further period as the department
allows). To assist in the internal review process, please provide reasons you
consider review of my decision is necessary. The internal review will be carried out
by another officer of this department within 30 days of receipt of your application.
An application for an internal review should be sent to:
Email:
xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
Mail:
FOI Unit (MDP 516)
Department of Health
GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Information Commissioner review
Alternatively, under section 54L of the Act, you may apply to the Information
Commissioner to review my decision. An application for review must be made in
writing within 60 days of this notice (if you do not request an internal review).
More information about the Information Commissioner review is available on the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) website at:
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews/
The Australian Information Commissioner can be contacted by:
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Phone: 1300 363 992
You may also make a complaint to the OAIC about action taken by the department
in relation to your application. Further information about this process is available
on the OAIC website.
Relevant provisions
The Act, including the provisions referred to in this letter, can be accessed from the
Federal Register of Legislation website:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2020C00246
Freedom of Information Unit (MDP 516) GPO Box 9848 Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6289 1666 ABN: 83 605 426 759
Additional information
While the department does not hold documents providing the specific information
you have requested, the following information, provided outside the Act, may be of
assistance to you.
There is information on the department’s website about the Australian
Government’s various response plans and other management strategies relating to
the COVID-19 situation in Australia:
https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-
alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/government-response-to-the-
covid-19-outbreak
I trust this additional information is of assistance to you.
Contacts
If you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this letter you should
contact the department’s Freedom of Information Unit on (02) 6289 1666 or at
xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
K. Bishop
Principal Lawyer
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
21 September 2020
Freedom of Information Unit (MDP 516) GPO Box 9848 Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6289 1666 ABN: 83 605 426 759
