PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
2 December 2022
Our reference: LEX 70429
Mr Jon Lawrence (Right to Know)
Only by email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Mr Lawrence
Decision on your Freedom of Information Request
I refer to your request to Services Australia (the Agency) dated 2 November 2022 for access
under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) to the following documents:
I request access to any documents relating to the decision not to support any third party
authentication applications and/or hardware devices (such as Yubikeys) for the recent
upgrade of the MyGov website.
My decision
I have decided to refuse your request for access under section 24A of the FOI Act on the basis
that all reasonable steps have been taken to locate the documents you have requested and I
am satisfied they do not exist. Please see
Attachment A for the reasons for my decision.
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. See
Attachment B for more
information about how to request a review.
Further assistance
If you have any questions please ema
il xxx.xxxxx.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Leanne
Authorised FOI Decision Maker
Freedom of Information Team
Information Access Branch | Legal Services Division
Services Australia
PAGE 1 OF 4
PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
Attachment A
REASONS FOR DECISION
What you requested
I request access to any documents relating to the decision not to support any third party
authentication applications and/or hardware devices (such as Yubikeys) for the recent
upgrade of the MyGov website.
What I took into account
In reaching my decision I took into account:
• your request dated 2 November 2022
• searches conducted by Agency staf
• guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner under section 93A of
the FOI Act (the Guidelines), and
• the FOI Act.
Reasons for my decisions
I am authorised to make decisions under section 23(1) of the FOI Act.
Documents do not exist
Section 24A of the FOI Act permits an Agency to refuse a request for access to documents if
all reasonable steps have been taken to find the document, and the Agency is satisfied that
the document cannot be found, or does not exist.
The myGov Integrated Services Branch (the Branch) conducted searches of the Agency’s
electronic and paper files for the documents requested. This Branch did not identify any
documents relating to the decision not to support any third party authentication applications
and/or hardware devices for the recent upgrade of the MyGov website. The Branch advised
there was no change to the use of the myGov Code Generator application as part of the
transition from legacy myGov to enhanced myGov in September 2022.
On the basis of the searches conducted, and the information received from the Branch, I am
satisfied in accordance with section 24A of the FOI Act, all reasonable steps have been taken
to find the documents and the documents do not exist.
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PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
Attachment B
INFORMATION ON RIGHTS OF REVIEW
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982
Asking for a ful 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
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) gives
you the right to apply for a review of the decision. Under sections 54 and 54L of the FOI Act,
you can apply for a review of an FOI decision by:
1. an Internal Review Officer in Services Australia (the Agency), and/or
2. the Australian Information Commissioner.
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 all
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.
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.
You can
lodge your application:
Online:
www.oaic.gov.au
PAGE 3 OF 4
Post:
Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Note: The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner generally 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 generally prefers applicants to seek review before
complaining about a decision.
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Document Outline
