Dear Menzies

 

We refer to your FOI request of 2 December 2020 (attached) to the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (the department).

 

Current status of FOI request:

 

As you are aware, on 9 December 2020 the department sought your agreement to an extension of time under section 15AA of the FOI Act, to which you did not respond.

 

As such, your request has been deemed refused, as the department has not provided you a decision within the statutory timeframe.

 

The department still intends to issue you a decision in relation to your FOI request. At this time, We are unable to provide you with an expected date of decision.

 

The FOI team will keep you updated as the matter progresses.

 

Scope clarification:

 

We note that you have previously made a similar information request – ref 67329. In relation to that request, the decision maker advised you that “The department understands that this request seeks a document bearing the dates of certain correspondence sent by identified officers of the Department. No documents exist falling within the scope of this request”. On this basis, you withdrew your request.

 

It is not clear to us how your existing request differs from your previous request, other than the addition of the two additional staff members. Could you please confirm whether you would like the department to treat this request as being a request for the email correspondence instead of a request for date information? Because we suspect there may only be a small number of relevant documents, the department is willing to proceed on this basis. Please note that if we proceed we will consider the entirety of any identified document to be irrelevant to the request except for the date.

 

Please confirm if this request is a request for email correspondence at your earliest convenience but no later than 8 January 2021.

 

Regards

 

FOI Team

Legal, Audit and Assurance | Corporate & Digital

GPO Box 2013, Canberra ACT 2601 | [Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]

Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources | www.industry.gov.au

 

Supporting economic growth and job creation for all Australians

 

Legal In Confidence - This transmission is intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify me immediately and delete copies of this transmission together with any attachments.