SWSLHD ref: SWD21/100416 
 
 
 
Email address:  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
 
 
 
Dear Sir/Madam 
 
 
Invalid government information access application 
 
I write in response to your email received on 28 August 2021 requesting access to 
information under the Freedom of Information Act. In your email you sought access to: 
 
‘I am requesting documents under the Freedom of Information Act that are containing: 
instructions, notices, evidence to support, in regards to the wearing of face masks by your 
internal staff and public that was sent to you from either the State or Federal Authorities in 
2021 
 
*Notes*: to keep the scope of the docs requested reasonable see below. 
- by docs I am referring to communications ie emails, memos, minutes of decision meeting, 
guides, Q&A. that I expect your offices would be sent due to virus outbreak. 
Such Docs would have been used to convey following info and directive or policy 
 
WHAT the State & Federal Authority wants you to do regarding mask wearing WHY include 
evidence & reason why staff and/or public should obey mask mandate.   
WHO these docs should show where they originated and be ideally dated also WHEN I am 
only after those docs covering this 2021 delta variant covid19 outbreak EXCEPTION - and 
finally what is permitted as Exceptions for staff and public including any advice on who is 
bearing responsibility should any legal claim arise from staff or public suffering harm from 
mask-wearing (risk management)’ 
 
Your application is invalid for the following reasons: 
 
•  In New South Wales access to information is required to be requested under the 
Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act).  The Freedom of 
Information Act does not apply. 
•  You have not provided a $30 application fee made out to South Western Sydney 
Local Health District. 
•  You have not clearly identified yourself such as providing your name.  This is a 
requirement under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act). 
•  The scope of your request is far too broad for SWSLHD to process in its current form. 
It is recommended that you refine the scope of your request to a more reasonable 
search and refine the date range.  
 
Under section 60(1) (a) of the GIPA Act, an agency may refuse to deal with an 
application if:  
 
…dealing with the application would require an unreasonable and substantial 
diversion of the agency’s resources 
 
 
South Western Sydney Local Health District 
 
ABN 46 738 965 845 
 
General Correspondence 
Liverpool Hospital Eastern Campus 
Email xxxxxx.xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xxx.xx 
Locked Bag 7279 Liverpool BC  NSW  1871 
Website www.swslhd.nsw.gov.au 
Tel 612 9828 6000   Fax 612 9828 6001 

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I note that under s52 of the GIPA Act 
 
“(2) The application becomes a valid access application if the applicant pays the required fee 
or provides the required information (as appropriate), and is then deemed to have been 
made when the fee or information was received by the agency”. 
 
 
Rights of review 
 
If you do not agree that your application is invalid, you may seek a review of this decision. 
Your review rights are summarized in the enclosed leaflet. You have four weeks from the 
date of this letter to apply for an internal review, or eight weeks to apply for an external 
review. 
 
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact me on SWSLHD-
xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xxx.xx    
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
 
Emma Scott 
District Right to Information & Records Manager  
 
Date:  06/09/2021 
 
Enc.  Your review rights 
SWD21/100416 

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