17 June 2022
LC
BY EMAIL: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
In reply please quote:
FOI Request:
FA 22/05/00725
File Number:
OBJ2022/12178
Dear LC
Freedom of Information (FOI) request – Access Decision
On 16 May 2022, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) received a request for access
to a 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:
Would you please help share last 12 month information for Woollahra, NSW council
regarding to…
For each month…
# of citizenship application submitted
# of citizenship application approved
Avg waiting time from submission to approve
Avg waiting time from approve to pledge
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: 02 6264 1111 • 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 16 May 2022
when your FOI request was received.
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 part with deletions
6
Reasons for Decision
Detailed reasons for my decision are set out below.
My findings of fact and reasons for deciding that the exemption provision applies to that
information are set out below.
6.1 Section 22 of the FOI Act – irrelevant to request
Section 22 of the FOI Act provides that if giving access to a document would disclose information
that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the request, it is possible for the Department
to prepare an edited copy of the document, modified by deletions, ensuring that the edited copy
would not disclose any information that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the
request.
Your request is for data for months, it does not seek cumulative total figures. I have decided that
parts of document marked ‘s22(1)(a)(i )’ would disclose information, namely certain cumulative
total figures, that could reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to your request. I have prepared
an edited copy of the document, with the irrelevant material deleted pursuant to
section 22(1)(a)(i ) of the FOI Act.
The remainder of the document has been released to you as it is relevant to your request.
7
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.
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8
Final decision on charge
On 9 June 2022 the Department issued you with a notice of the preliminary charge in the amount
of
$45.00 to process your request, which includes the first five hours of decision-making at no
cost.
Amount already paid
On 16 June 2022, the Department received your payment of $45.00 - the total charge indicated
in the preliminary charges notice issued by the Department.
As you have paid the full amount required, the Department is now releasing the document to you.
If you are dissatisfied with the decision to impose charges, your review rights are set out in the
paragraph titled “Your Review Rights” below.
9
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/.
10 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
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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.
11 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]
Guy
Position no. 60103474
Authorised Decision Maker
Department of Home Affairs
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