30 December 2021
Grace
BY EMAIL: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 21/12/00284
File Number:
OBJ2021/35394
Dear Grace
Freedom of Information (FOI) request - Access Decision
On 7 December 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:
I would like to know the number of citizenship applicants who are waiting to
complete the citizenship ceremony, residing in Ku-ring-gai Council, NSW. Please
consider only applicants who were approved on or before 07/12/2021.
Further, if it is possible, I would also like to know how many people wil be invited to
attend their citizenship ceremony each time in Ku-ring-gai. Thank you.
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 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
6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 • Telephone: 02 6264 1111 • www.homeaffairs.gov.au
4
Document in scope of request
The Department has undertaken reasonable searches in relation to the documents you
have requested access to.
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
part 1 of your request. Please note that the Department does not hold the number of
approved applicants residing in a council area in the Department’s reporting systems,
instead the number of approved applicants who have selected Ku-ring-gai Council for
their ceremony has been provided for this request. The data produced in the document
existed in the possession of the Department on 7 December 2021 when your FOI request
was received.
In relation to part 2 of your request, the Department does not hold any data relevant to
this part of your request as there is no set number of people invited to attend a citizenship
ceremony hosted by local government councils.
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.
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
2 of your request and that no documents were in the possession of the Department on 7
December 2021 when your FOI request was received. As such, I am refusing part 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 fall
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
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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/.
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.
[signed electronically]
Tina
Position number: 60008296
Authorised Decision Maker
Department of Home Affairs
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