If not delivered return to PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
12 October 2022
Our reference: LEX 69187
OpenWelfare
Only by email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear OpenWelfare
Decision on your Freedom of Information Request
I refer to your request, received by Services Australia (the Agency) on 13 August 2022, for
access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) to the fol owing documents:
Internal communications/documentation on reasons why it is not technical y possible
to upload documents to the Services Australia FOI Disclosure log and/or link to
elsewhere where they are/could be available (such as operational blueprints).
If no such documents exist, I would accept an administratively generated explanation.
My decision
I have decided to refuse your request for access under s 24A of the FOI Act on the basis al
reasonable steps have been taken to locate the documents requested and I am satisfied they
do not exist. Please see Attachment A for the reasons for my decision.
The Agency’s approach to publication on its disclosure log is informed by many factors,
including reliability and accessibility of the Agency’s website, the Agency’s committment to
providing simple, helpful, respectful and transparent services for customers, and compliance
with disclosure log obligations under the FOI Act.
You can ask for a review of our decision
If you disagree with any part of the decision you can ask for a review. There are two ways
you can do this. You can ask for an internal review from within the Agency, or an external
review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. You do not have to pay for
a review of the decision. See Attachment B for more information about how to request a
review.
Further assistance
If you have any questions, please email: xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Yours sincerely
Spencer
Authorised FOI Decision Maker
Freedom of Information Team
Information Access Branch | Legal Services Division
Services Australia
PAGE 1 OF 4
If not delivered return to PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
Attachment A
REASONS FOR DECISION
What you requested
Internal communications/documentation on reasons why it is not technical y possible
to upload documents to the Services Australia FOI Disclosure log and/or link to
elsewhere where they are/could be available (such as operational blueprints).
If no such documents exist, I would accept an administratively generated explanation.
What I took into account
In reaching my decision I took into account:
your request dated 13 August 2022
searches undertaken by Agency staff
guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner under s 93A of the FOI
Act (Guidelines), and
the FOI Act.
Reasons for my decisions
I am authorised to make decisions under s 23(1) of the FOI Act.
Section 24A of the FOI Act
Section 24A of the FOI Act provides that:
(1) An agency or Minister may refuse a request for access to a document if:
(a) al reasonable steps have been taken to find the document; and
(b) the agency or Minister is satisfied that the document:
(i) is in the agency's or Minister's possession but cannot be found; or
(i ) does not exist.
The Agency’s Information Access and Marketing Communications Branches conducted
comprehensive searches of electronic files for documents fal ing within the scope of your
request. The focus of these searches included internal hard drive file systems, personal and
positional email inboxes, internal systems and executive briefing records. If relevant
documents were held by the Agency, I am satisfied they would have been located by the
searches conducted within these electronic filing systems.
On the basis of the searches conducted, I am satisfied in accordance with s 24A of the FOI
Act that al reasonable steps have been taken to find the documents requested and they do
not exist.
PAGE 2 OF 4
If not delivered return to PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
Attachment B
INFORMATION ON RIGHTS OF REVIEW
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982
Asking for a full explanation of a freedom of information (FOI) decision
Before you ask for a formal review of a FOI decision, you can contact us to discuss your
request. We wil explain the decision to you. This gives you a chance to correct
misunderstandings.
Asking for a formal review of a FOI decision
If you stil believe a decision is incorrect, the FOI Act gives you the right to apply for a review
of the decision. Under ss 54 and 54L of the FOI Act, you can apply for a review of an FOI
decision by:
1. an Internal Review Officer in the Agency; and/or
2. the Australian Information Commissioner.
Note: There are no fees for these reviews.
Applying for an internal review by an Internal Review Officer
If you apply for internal review, a different decision maker to the Agency delegate who made
the original decision wil carry out the review. The Internal Review Officer wil consider al
aspects of the original decision and decide whether it should change. An application for
internal review must be:
made in writing
made within 30 days of receiving this letter
sent to the address at the top of the first page of this letter, or via email to:
xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Note: You do not need to fil in a form. However, it is a good idea to set out any relevant
submissions you would like the Internal Review Officer to further consider, and your reasons
for disagreeing with the decision.
Applying for external review by the Australian Information Commissioner
If you do not agree with the original decision or the internal review decision, you can ask the
Australian Information Commissioner to review the decision.
If you do not receive a decision from an Internal Review Officer in the Agency within 30 days
of applying, you can ask the Australian Information Commissioner for a review of the original
FOI decision.
You wil have 60 days to apply in writing for a review by the Australian Information
Commissioner.
PAGE 3 OF 4
You can lodge your application:
Online:
www.oaic.gov.au
Post:
Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Note: The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner general y prefers FOI
applicants to seek internal review before applying for external review by the Australian
Information Commissioner.
Important:
If you are applying online, the application form the 'Merits Review Form' is available at
www.oaic.gov.au
If you have one, you should include with your application a copy of the Agency’s
decision on your FOI request
Include your contact details
Set out your reasons for objecting to the Agency’s decision.
Complaints to the Australian Information Commissioner and Commonwealth
Ombudsman
Australian Information Commissioner
You may complain to the Australian Information Commissioner concerning action taken by
an agency in the exercise of powers or the performance of functions under the FOI Act,
There is no fee for making a complaint. A complaint to the Australian Information
Commissioner must be made in writing. The Australian Information Commissioner's contact
details are:
Telephone: 1300 363 992
Website: www.oaic.gov.au
Commonwealth Ombudsman
You may also complain to the Commonwealth Ombudsman concerning action taken by an
agency in the exercise of powers or the performance of functions under the FOI Act. There is
no fee for making a complaint. A complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman may be
made in person, by telephone or in writing. The Commonwealth Ombudsman's contact
details are:
Phone: 1300 362 072
Website: www.ombudsman.gov.au
The Commonwealth Ombudsman general y prefers applicants to seek review before
complaining about a decision.
PAGE 4 OF 4
