Our reference: FOI 20/21-0652
GPO Box 700
Canberra ACT 2601
1800 800 110
25 May 2021
ndis.gov.au
Karen Reynolds
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Karen Reynolds
Freedom of Information request — Notification of Decision
Thank you for your correspondence of 15 April 2021, in which you requested access under
the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) to documents held by the National Disability
Insurance Agency (NDIA).
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a decision on your request.
Scope of your request
You have requested access to documents about the National Disability Insurance Scheme
(NDIS). Specifically, you requested access to:
“…I request a copy of any report, actuarial figures, documents, emails or other information
relating to the information in this story about 'postcode disparity' between funding levels
and any aligned information provided to the Minister, including details about thin markets,
demographic information about CALD and ATSI status and other factors that may impact
upon funding levels.
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/7163186/disability-scheme-budgets-less-in-states-
regional-areas/”
On 7 May 2021 you revised the scope of your request to be for the following documents:
“…a copy of any report or data provided to Minister Roberts and/or his office during the
period that immediately preceded his public speaking on this matter and which was in
response to a request by his office for disaggregation of data by federal electorate (which
is not usually collated by the Agency).
A copy of the Minister's email request for the data, or a copy of any email that asked
for information to be provided in a format that was disaggregated by federal electorate
rather than usual NDIA reporting format
a copy of any information that related to the above correspondence and the provision
of a report to Minister Roberts office and/or DSS
a copy of the actual report or data that was provided”
Decision on access to documents
I am authorised to make decisions under the FOI Act. My decision on your request and the
reasons for my decision are set out below.
I have identified two documents (including attachments) which fall within the scope of your
request.
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The documents were identified by conducting searches of NDIA’s systems, using all
reasonable search terms that could return documents relevant to your request, and consulting
with relevant NDIA staff who could be expected to be able to identify documents within the
scope of the request.
I have decided to grant access to two documents in full.
In reaching my decision, I took into account the following materials:
your correspondence outlining the scope of your request;
the nature and content of the documents falling within the scope of your request;
the FOI Act;
the FOI Guidelines;
consultation with relevant NDIA staff; and
the NDIA’s operating environment and functions.
Access to edited copies with exempt or irrelevant material deleted (section 22)
I have identified that documents falling within the scope of your request contain material that
is irrelevant to your request. The irrelevant material relates to staff names and contact
information, as well as information included within an email chain which is not relevant to the
subject matter of your request.
In accordance with section 22 of the FOI Act, I have considered whether it is possible to delete
the irrelevant material from the documents and have concluded that it is reasonably
practicable to do so. Accordingly, I have prepared an edited copy of the documents with the
irrelevant material removed.
Release of documents
The documents for release, as referred to in the Schedule of Documents at
Attachment A,
are enclosed.
Further, given that requests for data broken down by electorate are regularly made by
members of parliament, you may wish to search the
Parliament of Australia website, if you
are seeking further information about electorates, with an example found
here, which may
assist you in your search.
Rights of review
Your rights to seek a review of my decision, or lodge a complaint, are set out at
Attachment B.
Should you have any enquiries concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me
by email
at xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Ausilia Woodhead
Parliamentary, Ministerial & FOI Branch
Government Division
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Attachment A
Schedule of Documents for FOI 20/21-0652
Document
Page
Description
Access Decision
Comments
number
number
Email
FULL ACCESS
Irrelevant material removed
1
1-5
Subject: RE: Data Request -
under section 22 of the FOI
participant comparisons
Act.
[SEC=OFFICIAL:Sensitive]
Dated 16.02.2021
Active participants split by state,
FULL ACCESS
1.1
6-9
electorate (CED)
Data as at 31.12.2020
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Attachment B
Your review rights
Internal Review
The FOI Act gives you the right to apply for an internal review of this decision. The review
will be conducted by a different person to the person who made the original decision.
If you wish to seek an internal review of the decision, you must apply for the review, in
writing, within 30 days of receipt of this letter.
No particular form is required for an application for internal review, but to assist the review
process, you should clearly outline your grounds for review (that is, the reasons why you
disagree with the decision). Applications for internal review can be lodged by email to
xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx or sent by post to:
Freedom of Information Section
Parliamentary, Ministerial & FOI Branch
Government Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
GPO Box 700
Canberra ACT 2601
Review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
The FOI Act also gives you the right to apply to the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC) to seek a review of this decision.
If you wish to have the decision reviewed by the OAIC, you may apply for the review, in
writing, or by using the online merits review form available on the OAIC’s website at
www.oaic.gov.au, within 60 days of receipt of this letter.
Applications for review can be lodged with the OAIC in the following ways:
Online:
www.oaic.gov.au
Post:
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Phone:
1300 363 992 (local call charge)
Complaints to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner or the
Commonwealth Ombudsman
You may complain to either the Commonwealth Ombudsman or the OAIC about actions
taken by the NDIA in relation to your request. The Ombudsman will consult with the OAIC
before investigating a complaint about the handling of an FOI request.
Your complaint to the OAIC can be directed to the contact details identified above. Your
complaint to the Ombudsman can be directed to:
Phone:
1300 362 072 (local call charge)
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Your complaint should be in writing and should set out the grounds on which it is considered
that the actions taken in relation to the request should be investigated
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