FOI reference number: 22-013
Mr John Smith
Right to Know
Via email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Mr Smith
Decision made under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 – Nil documents
I refer to your request to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and
Communications (
the Department) received via the Right to Know website on 31 July 2021 for access to
documents under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (
the FOI Act). Your FOI request sought access
to:
The specifications of the flag of Christmas Island and the flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands,
similar to the specification of the flag of the Northern
Territory.(https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/389336/nt-flag-specifications.pdf)
Authority
I am an officer authorised by the Secretary to make decisions about access to documents in the
possession of the Department in accordance with s 23(1) of the FOI Act.
Decision on access to documents
The Department has taken all reasonable steps to identify and locate relevant documents within the
scope of your FOI request and no documents have been located.
The Department undertook thorough searches to ascertain if any relevant documents could be found.
The request was provided to the relevant line areas within the department with responsibility for
external territories as well as relevant senior executive. Searches were undertaken on departmental
record management systems, email accounts and hard copy files and no relevant documents were
located to be within the scope of your request.
A search was also undertaken on the Department’s ministerial correspondence system and no relevant
documents were found.
I am therefore satisfied that no documents exist that are within the scope of your request and have
therefore decided to refuse your request under s 24A(1) of the FOI Act on the ground that the
requested documents do not exist.
As the Department does not hold any documents relevant to your request you may wish to approach
the Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands that may hold relevant
information and may be able to respond to your query. These entities can be contacted as per the
details provided below:
GPO Box 2154, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
telephone +61 (02) 6274 7111 website: www.infrastructure.gov.au
Shire of Christmas Island
Email: xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx.xx
Postal:
PO Box 863
Christmas Island WA 6798
Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Email: xxxx@xxxxx.xx.xxx.xx
Postal:
PO Box 1094
Cocos (Keeling) Islands WA 6799
Your rights of review
If you wish to seek an internal review, you must apply to the Department within
30 days after the day
you are notified of this decision. An application for internal review must be made in writing by post to
the FOI Officer or email to xxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.
Alternatively, you may apply directly to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) to
review my decision. An application for review by the Information Commissioner must be made in
writing within
60 days after the day you are notified of this decision. You can also make a complaint to
the Information Commissioner if you have concerns about how the Department handled your
request. You can find information about requesting a review, making a complaint, and other
information about FOI on the OAIC website www.oaic.gov.au or phone the OAIC on 1300 363 992.
Contacts
If you wish to discuss this matter, please contact the Department’s FOI Coordinator on (02) 6274 7393
or via email at xxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Yours sincerely
Jadranka Matijas
Acting Assistant Secretary
Indian Ocean Territories Branch
26 August 2021
GPO Box 2154, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
telephone +61 (02) 6274 7111 website: www.infrastructure.gov.au
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GPO Box 2154, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
telephone +61 (02) 6274 7111 website: www.infrastructure.gov.au
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