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12 November 2021 
M Taha 
BY EMAIL:  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
In reply please quote: 
FOI Request:  FA 21/09/00996 
File Number: 
OBJ2021/28995   
Dear M Taha 
Freedom of Information (FOI) request - Access Decision 
On 22 September 2021, the Department of Home  Affairs (the Department) received a request 
for access to document under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). 
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a decision on your request for access under the 
FOI Act. 
1 
Scope of request 
You have requested access to the following documents: 
1. Any documents or statistical breakdown for the average citizenship processing 
timeframes from date of application to decision for Citizenship by Conferral 
Applicants who are residents of Metropolitan Melbourne or whose applications are 
being processing By a Victorian Home Affairs based office over the past 12 months 
 
2. Any documents or statistical breakdown for the average citizenship processing 
timeframes from date of application to decision for Citizenship by Conferral 
Applicants who are residents of Metropolitan Sydney or whose applications are 
being processing By a New South Wales Home Affairs based office over the past 
12 months.  
 
3. Any documents or statistical breakdown that show the processing time frames for 
citizenship by conferral applications broken down by state over the past 12 months.   
2 
Authority to make decision 
I  am an officer authorised under section 23 of the FOI Act to make decisions in respect of 
requests to access documents or to amend or annotate records. 
 
6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617 
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 • Telephone:   • www.homeaffairs.gov.au 
 
 

 
3 
Relevant material  
In reaching my decision I referred to the following:  
•  the terms of your request 
•  the document relevant to the request 
•  the FOI Act 
•  Guidelines published by the Office of the Information Commissioner under section 93A 
of the FOI Act (the FOI Guidelines) 
•  advice from Departmental officers with  responsibility for matters relating to the 
document to which you sought access 
4 
Document in scope of request 
In accordance with section 17 of the FOI Act, the Department has used its computer system 
to produce one document that contains information that falls within  the scope of your 
request. The data produced in the document existed in the possession of the Department 
on 22 September 2021 when your FOI request was received. 
The Department does not hold an existing discrete document that contains the data you 
are seeking in relation to Part 1-2 of your request. 
The Department has considered whether it can extract the data in accordance with section 
17(1) of the FOI Act.  
The obligation for retrieving or collating information stored in a computer system arises if: 
•  the Department could produce a written document containing the information using 
a computer or other equipment that is ordinarily available to the agency for retrieving 
or collating stored information, and  
•  producing a written document would not substantially and unreasonably divert the 
resources of the agency from its other operations (s17(2)) 
In Collection Point Pty Ltd v  Commissioner of Taxation the full bench of the Federal Court 
decided that if a new computer program is required to be written to produce the document 
then a computer is not being used in a manner that is ordinarily available to the agency 
because an extraordinary step is required to be taken1. 
The data you have requested is  of a detail that cannot be reported on from the 
Department’s computer systems.  Either the data is not collected to that granular detail, or 
it is not possible to extract the data using a computer system in a manner that is ordinarily 
available to it. 
I am satisfied that the Department is not able to produce a written document containing the 
information you seek in a discrete form using a computer or other equipment ordinarily 
available to it. 
Having regard to your request and the types of document that may fall within the scope of 
your request I  am satisfied that the searches conducted were extremely thorough and all 
reasonable steps have been taken to locate any document relevant to your request.  
                                              
 
 
1 Collection Point Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2013] FCAFC  67 [20].   
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5 
Decision 
Section 24A of the FOI Act provides that the Department may refuse a request for access 
to a document if all reasonable steps have been taken to find the document and the 
Department is satisfied that the document does not exist. 
I am satisfied that the Department has  undertaken reasonable searches in  relation to      
Part 1-2 of your request and that no documents were in the possession of the Department 
on 22 September 2021 when  your FOI  request was  received. As such, I am refusing        
Part 1-2 of your request based on the application of section 24A of the FOI Act.  
The decision in  relation to the document in the possession of the Department which falls 
within the scope of your request is as follows: 
•  Release one document in full 
6 
Legislation 
A copy of the FOI Act is available at https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A02562. 
If  you are unable to access the legislation through this website, please contact our office 
for a copy. 
7 
Your Review Rights 
Internal Review 
If  you disagree with this decision, you have the right to apply for an internal review by the 
Department of this decision.  Any request for internal review must be provided to the 
Department within 30  days of  you being notified of the decision.   Where possible please 
attach reasons why you believe a review of the decision is necessary.  The internal review 
wil   be carried out by an officer other than the original decision maker and the Department 
must make a review decision within 30 days.   
Applications for review should be sent to: 
By email to: xxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
OR 
By mail to: 
Freedom of Information Section 
Department of Home Affairs 
PO Box 25 
BELCONNEN   ACT  2617 
Review  by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner 
You may apply directly to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for 
a review of this decision.  You must apply in writing within 60 days of this notice.  For further 
information about review rights and how to submit a request for a review to the OAIC, 
please see https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews-and-
complaints/information-commissioner-review/.  
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8 
Making a Complaint 
You may complain to the Australian Information Commissioner about action taken by the 
Department in relation to your request. 
Your enquiries to the Australian Information Commissioner can be directed to: 
Phone 1300 363 992 (local call charge) 
Email  xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx 
There is no particular form required to make a complaint to 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 the Department of Home Affairs as the relevant agency. 
9 
Contacting the FOI Section 
Should you wish to discuss this decision, please do not hesitate to contact the FOI Section 
at xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.  
 
Yours sincerely 
 
[signed electronically] 
 
Kel  
Position No 60100052  
Authorised Decision Maker  
Department of Home Affairs 
 
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