FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
3 September 2021
Mr Luke Bacon
Our ref: 2021/11002
BY EMAIL ONLY: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Mr Bacon,
RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982 APPLICATION – Application of boat
ID’s
I refer to your request received by AMSA on 25 August 2021 in which you sought access to
documents under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). The request sought
documents in relation to the application of “Boat IDs”, defined by you in a request made on
28 July 2021 as “six character identification numbers given to people who come to Australia
by boat”. Specifically, your request was:
“…I would like to make a similar request now, for documents guiding the application
of Boat IDs (as distinct from the earlier request about their introduction)…”
After consultation with AMSA’s FOI of icer on 27 August 2021 you confirmed the type of
identification numbers you were interested in comprised of the ‘vessel prefix’ and three
numerals.
This letter sets out my decision on your request for access. I am an authorised decision-
maker under section 23 of the FOI Act.
Timeframe for processing your request
Your request was received by AMSA on 25 August 2021. The statutory period for processing
your request is 30 days. The timeframe for processing your request therefore expires on 26
September 2021.
Decision
After taking all reasonable steps to locate relevant documents relating to your
aforementioned request, I am satisfied that no such documents are in the possession of
AMSA. I therefore resolve your application under s.24A(1) of the FOI Act on the basis that
the requested documents do not exist.
I have considered the subject matter of your request and consulted with relevant line areas
within AMSA for the purpose of confirming whether AMSA holds any documents falling
within the scope of your request.
Following this process, I am satisfied that AMSA does not possess any documents in
relation to the application of “Boat IDs” as requested.
Relevant material
In reaching my decision I referred to the following:
• the terms of your request
• the FOI Act
• Guidelines published by the Of ice of the Information Commissioner under
section 93A of the FOI Act
• advice from AMSA of icers with responsibility for matters relating to the documents to
which you sought access, and
• advice from AMSA’s in-house legal team.
Review Rights
You are entitled to seek review of this decision.
Attachment A sets out your rights to apply
for review if you are dissatisfied with my decision.
Contacts
If you have any queries about this notice, please do not hesitate to contact AMSA’s FOI
team at
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Mark Eldon-Roberts
MANAGER SEAFARER CERTIFICATION SERVICES
OPERATIONS
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Attachment A - review rights
If you are dissatisfied with this decision, you have certain rights of review available to you.
Firstly, under section 54 of the FOI Act, you may apply for an internal review of the decision.
Your application must be made by whichever date is the later between:
• 30 days of you receiving this notice; or
• 15 days of you receiving the documents to which you have been granted access
An internal review wil be conducted by a dif erent officer from the original decision-maker.
No particular form is required to apply for review although it wil assist your case to set out in
the application the grounds on which you believe that the original decision should be
overturned. An application for a review of the decision should be addressed to:
The Freedom of Information Of icer
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181
CANBERRA CITY ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6279 5075
Email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
If you choose to seek an internal review, you wil subsequently have a right to apply to the
Australian Information Commissioner for a review of the internal review decision.
Review by the Australian Information Commissioner
Alternatively, under section 54L of the FOI Act, you may seek review of this decision by the
Australian Information Commissioner without first going to internal review. Your application
must be made within 60 days of you receiving this notice.
The Australian Information Commissioner is an independent office holder who may review
decisions of agencies and Ministers under the FOI Act. More information is available on the
Australian Information Commissioner's website www.oaic.gov.au.
You can contact the Information Commissioner to request a review of a decision online or by
writing to the Information Commission at:
GPO Box 2999
Canberra ACT 2601
Complaints to Ombudsman or Australian Information Commissioner
You may complain to either the Commonwealth Ombudsman or the Australian Information
Commissioner about action taken by AMSA in relation to your request. The Ombudsman wil
consult with the Australian Information Commissioner before investigating a complaint about
the handling of an FOI request.
Your enquiries to the Ombudsman can be directed to:
Phone 1300 362 072 (local call charge)
Ema
il xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
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Your enquiries to the Australian Information Commissioner can be directed to:
Phone 1300 363 992 (local call charge)
Ema
il xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
There is no particular form required to make a complaint to the Ombudsman or 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 AMSA as the relevant agency.
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Document Outline
