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This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'number of approved applicants for citizenship by conferral waiting for a citizenship ceremony in Canterbury Bankstown council'.


 
 
 
27 September 2022 
A Maqsood 
BY EMAIL:  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
In reply please quote: 
FOI Request:  FA 22/08/01589 
File Number: 
OBJ2022/23318   
Dear Arslan Maqsood 
Freedom of Information (FOI) request – Access Decision 
On 30 August 2022, 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: 
 
The number of approved applicants for citizenship by conferral waiting for a 
citizenship ceremony in Canterbury Bankstown council and any proposed dates for 
upcoming ceremonies. 
. 
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 
 
9 Wentworth Street Parramatta NSW 2150 
P O  Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616 • Email:xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx • www.homeaffairs.gov.au 
 
 

 
4 
Document in scope of request 
In accordance with section 17 of the FOI Act, the Department has used its computer system to 
produce no documents that contains information that falls within the scope of your request. The 
data produced in the documents existed in the possession of the Department on 30 August 2022 
when your FOI request was received.  
The Department has no information in relation any proposed dates for upcoming ceremonies. 
5 
Decision 
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 
In  relation to any proposed dates for upcoming ceremonies the responsible business area has 
advised that they cannot provide upcoming citizenship ceremony dates or how many people wil 
be invited for each ceremony as local government councils determine the date a ceremony wil  
be held and there is  no set number of people who  are invited to attend a  ceremony hosted by 
local government councils. 
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 
Final decision on charge 
On 19 September, 2022 the Department issued you with a notice of the preliminary charge in the 
amount of $15.00 to process your request, which includes the first five hours of decision-making 
at no cost. 
Amount already paid 
On  20 September, 2022, the  Department received your payment of $15.00 - 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 my  decision to impose charges, your review rights are set out in the 
paragraph titled “Your Review Rights” below. 
8 
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/.  
9 
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. 
10  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] 
 
Vythees  
Position number: 60141911 
Authorised Decision Maker 
Department of Home Affairs 
 
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