DEFENCE FOI 543/20/21 STATEMENT OF REASONS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF 
INFORMATION ACT 
1.  I refer to the application by Lucy Lovich under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 
(FOI Act) for access to: 
“Document which shows the number of FOI requests over 30 days old that relate to 
COVID19 between 1 February 2020 and today (3 June 2021). 
The meaning of “over 30 days” means decisions made outside the statutory 
timeframe.” 
FOI decision maker 
2.  I am the authorised officer pursuant to section 23 of the FOI Act to make a decision on 
this FOI request. 
Documents identified 
3. 
One document was generated in accordance with section 17(1)(c)(i) of the FOI Act to 
satisfy the description of the request. This was done on the basis that a written document 
could be produced containing the information in discrete form by using ‘a computer or other 
equipment that is ordinarily available to the agency for retrieving or collating stored 
information’. 
Decision 
3.  I have decided to release the document in full. 
Material taken into account 
4.  In making my decision, I had regard to: 
a.  the terms of the request; 
b.  the content of the identified document in issue; 
c.  relevant provisions in the FOI Act; and 
d.  the Guidelines published by the Office of the Australian Information 
Commissioner under section 93A of the FOI Act (the Guidelines); 
 
 
Haitham Digitally signed 
by 
 
ElgoharyHaithamElgohary 
Date: 2021.07.06 
 
15:46:27 +10'00'
Mr Haitham Elgohary 
Accredited Decision Maker 
Associate Secretary Group 
 
 
Defending Australia and its National Interests 
 

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Document Outline

• FOI decision maker
• Documents identified
• 3. One document was generated in accordance with section 17(1)(c)(i) of the FOI Act to satisfy the description of the request. This was done on the basis that a written document could be produced containing the information in discrete form by using ‘a...
• Decision

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