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DOCUMENT 31
FOIREQ21/00277  229
From:
Rocelle Ago
To:
Angelene Falk; Andrew Solomon
Cc:
Irene Nicolaou
Subject:
Overview of FOI complaints [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Date:
Monday, 21 October 2019 2:17:14 PM
Attachments:
Current FOI Complaints before the Commissioner 21102019.docx
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Dear Commissioner
Please find attached attached a brief snapshot of the FOI complaints currently before you for
consideration.
Please note this table does not include other s 86 notices on completion currently before the
Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner.
Kind regards
O A I C logo
Rocelle Ago | Principal Director
Freedom of information
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001 | oaic.gov.au
+61 2 9284 9621 | s 47E(d)
 | xxxxxxx.xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
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FOIREQ21/00277  232
s 22(1)(a)(ii)

FOIREQ21/00277  234
Parties
· The parties are s 47F
 (the complainant) and the respondent
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (the Department).
Scope
· The FOI complaint is about the delay the complainant experienced in
relation to s 47F FOI request made through the Right to Know
website.
Background
· The complainant made an FOI request through the Right to Know
website.
· The Department provided the complainant with its decision outside
the statutory timeframe.
· The Department did not seek an extension of time under ss 15AA,
15AB or 15AC of the FOI Act.
Allegations
· The complainant alleges that the Department has failed to process
FOI requests within the statutory timeframe, particularly in relation
to FOI requests made through the Right to Know website.
Key documents
1. FOI complaint
2. s 72 response dated 15 June 2018
3. s 75 notice
4. s 75 notice first response and attachments from the
Department dated 10 December 2018
5. s 75 notice second response and attachments from the
Department dated 12 February 2019
Findings
· The Department did not comply with s 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act as it did
not provide the complainant with a decision in relation to s 47F FOI
request within the statutory timeframe of 30 days and did not seek
an extension of time under ss 15AA, 15AB or 15AC of the FOI Act.
Draft
· The following recommendations are proposed:
recommendations
1. The Secretary with responsibility for FOI and information
access, issue a statement to all departmental staff highlighting
the Department’s obligations under the FOI Act.
2. The Department should continue to ensure that the objects of
the Act are promoted, and the functions and powers performed
under the Act are exercised, as far as possible, to facilitate and
promote access to information, promptly and at the lowest
reasonable cost.
3. The Department should develop or continue to develop
policies and procedures for providing administrative access to
information and make those policies and procedures publicly
available, in order to demonstrate proactive disclosure through
the information publication scheme (Part II of the FOI Act).
4. The Department, within six months, should conduct an audit
on their guidance material and update the material to reflect
the findings in this investigation and provide clear guidance,
FOIREQ21/00277  235
which is consistent with the objects of the Act.
5. The Department, within six months, should conduct an audit
on and report on the progress and implementation regarding
compliance.
Issues for
· Issue a Notice on completion under s 86
Commissioner
· Make recommendations under s 88

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s 22(1)(a)(ii)
FOIREQ21/00277  238
s 22(1)(a)(ii)
 








DOCUMENT 35
FOIREQ21/00277  239
From:
Elizabeth Hampton
To:
Commissioner
Subject:
FW: [Draft Recommendation Case Closure] s 47F
 and PMC (REC19/00001) [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Date:
Wednesday, 12 August 2020 9:52:17 AM
Attachments:
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Morning Commissioner – following received from Elena:
Hi Libby – this is the advice which I sent to AGD for consultation 2 weeks ago but have not yet
had a response. I followed up Monday but still have not received a response. I understand AGD
previously has obtained an advice from OGC on the same issue so we have not sought formal
OGC advice pending a response from AGD. I will call AGD this morning and see where it is up to.
We can then decide if we think seeking a formal second opinion from OGC is needed.
Let me know if you agree with this approach.
Kind regards
Elena
I think her approach is sound – she’s chasing up and I’ll let you know when we have a response.
Cheers
L
Elizabeth Hampton | Deputy Commissioner
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001 | oaic.gov.au
+61 2 9284 9832 | xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
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From: Elizabeth Hampton 
Sent: Wednesday, 12 August 2020 7:30 AM
To: Commissioner <xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Shelley Napper <xxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>;
Jesse Matheson <xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Rocelle Ago <xxxxxxx.xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>
Cc: Irene Nicolaou <xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Deputy Commissioner <xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>;
Joanne Murray <xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>
Subject: RE: [Draft Recommendation Case Closure] s 47F
 and PMC (REC19/00001)
[SEC=OFFICIAL]
Commissioner
We received updated advice from HWLE on 17 July. Following that, on 20 July Elena and I
discussed the advice and considered it prudent to seek a second opinion from the Office of
General Counsel. Elena has done/ is doing that – I’ve written to her this morning asking for an
update on timing.
Cheers
L
Elizabeth Hampton | Deputy Commissioner
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001 | oaic.gov.au
+61 2 9284 9832 | xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
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|
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FOIREQ21/00277  240
From: Commissioner <xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx> 
Sent: Tuesday, 11 August 2020 11:43 PM
To: Elizabeth Hampton <xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Shelley Napper
<xxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Commissioner <xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Jesse Matheson
<xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Rocelle Ago <xxxxxxx.xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>
Cc: Irene Nicolaou <xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Deputy Commissioner <xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>;
Joanne Murray <xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>
Subject: RE: [Draft Recommendation Case Closure] s 47F
 and PMC (REC19/00001)
[SEC=OFFICIAL]
Thank you team, this is a very good outcome.
@Jesse Matheson please apply my signature to the letter.
On an administrative note, for some reason I couldn’t access the “comments” feature to make
the key documents appear in sequence.
On a broader note, @Elizabeth Hampton and @Rocelle Ago can you please advise timing for
being able to publish complaint outcomes and related guidance?
Thank you
Angelene
From: Elizabeth Hampton <xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx> 
Sent: Wednesday, 29 July 2020 11:33 AM
To: Shelley Napper <xxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Commissioner <xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>;
Angelene Falk <xxxxxxxx.xxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Jesse Matheson <xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>
Cc: Rocelle Ago <xxxxxxx.xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Irene Nicolaou <xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>;
Deputy Commissioner <xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>; Joanne Murray <xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx>
Subject: RE: [Draft Recommendation Case Closure] s 47F
 and PMC (REC19/00001)
[SEC=OFFICIAL]
Thanks Irene – cleared by me.
Commissioner – for your consideration, clearance and signature please.
Regards
Libby
Elizabeth Hampton | Deputy Commissioner
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001 | oaic.gov.au
+61 2 9284 9832 | xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
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Document Outline