5 November 2021
Martin Steven
BY EMAIL: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 21/10/00691
File Number:
OBJ2021/30843
Dear Martin Steven
Freedom of Information (FOI) request - Access Decision
On 18 October 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 document:
A) The total number of applicants, as of 18th October 2021, that have been
approved for Australian citizenship and are waiting to attend a Citizenship
Ceremony in the Sunshine Coast Council area.
B) The current wait time between citizenship approval and ceremony in the
Sunshine Coast Council area.
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 document or to amend or annotate records.
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)
6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 • Telephone: • www.homeaffairs.gov.au
• advice from Departmental officers with responsibility for matters relating to the
document to which you sought access
4
Document in scope of request
In regards to Part A of your request, the Department has used its computer system to
produce one document that contains information that falls within the scope of your request
in accordance with section 17 of the FOI Act. The data produced in the document existed
in the possession of the Department on 18 October 2021 when your FOI request was
received.
In regards to Part B of your request, due to the evolving COVID-19 situation across
Australia, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) recognises that many councils
may be constrained in holding citizenship ceremonies. To assist local government councils
in continuing to welcome new citizens into their community and to manage demand for
citizenship ceremonies, the Department has encouraged councils to move to online
citizenship ceremonies where COVID-19 restrictions are in place and in-person citizenship
ceremonies currently cannot take place. Information on citizenship processing times,
including between the point of approval and ceremony, can be found on the Department’s
website at:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/citizenship-processing-times
5
Decision
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
• Refuse Part B of your request
• Section 4(1)(d) of the FOI Act provides that a document for the purpose of the FOI
Act does not include material maintained for reference purposes that is otherwise
publicly available. If the Department did hold any documents falling within the
scope of Part B of your request, I consider that you would not be entitled to
access to those documents, in accordance with section 4(1)(d) of the FOI Act
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.
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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/.
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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