Ref: 1302729
Mr Alan Ashmore
By email only: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
4 November 2022
Dear Mr Ashmore,
Request under Freedom of Information Act 1982 – minutes and briefing papers concerning
atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter
I refer to your website request email of 31 October 2022 seeking access under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act) to documents concerning atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
The specific terms of your request are as follows :-
“a FULL COPY of the minutes of each meeting from 22 October 2021 as it relates to atrial fibril ation and
atrial flutter, including al briefing papers that have been written. I am comfortable for the requested
minutes to redact surnames, email addresses and phone numbers if required, of DVA staff and the
secretariat plus those mentioned who have made a submission to atrial fibril ation or any and other
conditions being discussed, but NOT the names of the 6 RMA members.”
Your email of 1 November 2022 clarified that you were seeking “ a ful copy of any minutes since 22
October 2021 which mention atrial fibril ation and atrial flutter “ and “ any briefing papers concerning
atrial fibril ation and atrial flutter written since 22 October 2021”
Request under the FOI Act
In accordance with section 23 of the FOI Act I am the officer authorised to make the decision in respect of
your request. In making my decision, I have had regard to the following:
the terms of your request
a review of the records of the RMA
guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner under section 93A of the FOI Act
(Guidelines), and
the relevant provisions of the FOI Act.
Following a search of the Repatriation Medical Authority records I have identified the following documents
in scope of your request as follows:
1. Endorsed minutes of meeting - Repatriation Medical Authority – 2 August 2022
2. Briefing paper Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter
I have decided to refuse to grant access to these documents as conditionally exempt documents whose
disclosure would be contrary to the public interest (exempt documents) pursuant to sections 4, 11,11A and
31B of the FOI Act. I have however decided that it is reasonably practicable to provide these documents as
edited copies pursuant to sections 22 and 11A of the FOI Act. The reasons for my decision and notice of the
grounds for the deletions are attachment “A” to this letter.
Review Rights
If you are dissatisfied with this decision, you have certain rights of review available to you. As I am the
principal officer for the Repatriation Medical Authority and the decision maker in your FOI request, you will
need to seek review of my decision by the Information Commissioner. There is no right of internal review
under the FOI Act where the original decision was made by the principal officer of the agency (see s 52 of
the FOI Act).
The Information Commissioner is an independent office holder who may review decisions made under the
FOI Act. Any application to the Information Commissioner must be made within 60 days of you receiving
this decision.
If you require additional time for making an application to the Information Commissioner, you can seek an
extension of time to apply. There is no cost for making an application for review to the Information
Commissioner.
An application for review to the Information Commissioner must be submitted in writing, either via the on-
line form, an email, by fax or in a letter. More information is available on the Information Commissioner's
website www.oaic.gov.au. You can write to the Information Commission at: GPO Box 2999, Canberra ACT
2601. You can also send an email to xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx or ring the enquiries line on 1300 363 992.
Complaints to Ombudsman or Australian Information Commissioner
You may complain to either the Commonwealth Ombudsman or the Australian Information Commissioner
about action taken by the RMA in relation to your request. The Ombudsman will consult with the Australian
Information Commissioner before investigating a complaint about the handling of an FOI request.
Your enquiries to the Ombudsman can be directed to:
Phone 1300 362 072 (local call charge)
Email xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
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 Ombudsman or 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 RMA as the relevant
agency.
Yours sincerely
Amanda Evans
Registrar
Repatriation Medical Authority
Encl
