This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'English language tests for Australian visas'.


 
 
 
21 March 2023 
D.A. 
BY EMAIL:  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
 
 
In reply please quote: 
FOI Request: 
FA23/02/00916 
File Number: 
FA23/02/00916  
Dear D.A. 
Freedom of Information (FOI) request – Access Decision 
I refer to your email dated 14 February 2023, in which you requested access to documents held 
by the Department of Home Affairs  (the ) 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.  

Scope of Request 
You have requested access to the fol owing documents held by the Department: 
Please provide all emails, correspondence, ministerial briefings, and all other 
documents dated on or after 1 January 2020, relating to the Department's policies, 
procedures, decision-making, etc. regarding English language tests for Australian 
visas, including but not limited to all documents relating to the 2022 Request for 
Expression of Interest for the selection of English language tests for Australian visas 
On 16 February 2023 the Department sent you a notice under section 24AB(2) of the FOI Act, 
advising you that a ‘practical refusal reason’ existed in relation to this request. we advised you 
that we were satisfied that your request met the definition of a practical refusal reason in section 
24AA(1) of the Act, as it appeared that the work involved in processing the request would 
‘substantially and unreasonably divert the resources’ of the Department from its other 
operations. 
Under the notice, you were provided with a 14 day ‘consultation period’, during which you could 
consult with us about the scope of the request. The notice advised you that you were required 
to respond before the end of the consultation period and either (a) withdraw your request or (b) 
revise the scope of your request or (c) confirm that you did not wish to revise the scope. The 
notice advised that if you failed to respond before the end of the consultation period to do one 
of those three things, the request would be ‘deemed withdrawn’ under section 24AB(6)(a) of the 
Act. 
 
 
 
Casselden 2 Lonsdale Street MELBOURNE 
GPO Box 241 MELBOURNE VIC 3000 • Telephone:  • www.homeaffairs.gov.au 
 
 


 
 
 
On the 16 March 2023 in response to the above notice you wrote clarifying the terms of your 
request as follows:  
 
I write to clarify my FOI request. I am interested in all documents that relate to the 
Department's decision making on which English language tests are permissible for 
demonstrating English language proficiency requirements for various visas. (Which 
tests are permissible does not differ between visa subclass.) This would include, but is 
not limited to.   
   •  any discussions of the requirements for such tests 
•  determinations of how test score cut-offs for visa requirements are associated  
consultations with subject matter experts both inside and outside of the 
Department on the subject  
•  correspondence with universities relating to how the Department's English 
language proficiency requirements interact with their English language 
proficiency requirements  

Authority to make decision 
I am an officer authorised under section23 of the Act to make decisions in respect of requests 
to access documents. 

Relevant material  
In reaching my decision I referred to the following:  
•  the terms of your request 
•  the documents relevant to the request 
•  advice from Departmental officers with responsibility for matters relating to the 
documents to which you sought access 
•  the FOI Act 
•  Guidelines published by the Office of the Information Commissioner under section 93A 
of the FOI Act (the FOI Guidelines) 

Decision 
My decision is to refuse access under section 24(1)(a)(i) of the Act. 
My reasons are set out overleaf.  
 

Section 24 of the FOI Act - Power to refuse request - diversion of resources 
5.1 
Power to refuse request 
Section 24(1)(b) of the FOI Act provides that if the Department is satisfied that a practical refusal 
reason exists in relation to a request, the Department must undertake a consultation process 
with you, and if, after that consultation process, the Department remains satisfied that the 
practical refusal reason stil  exists, the Department may refuse to give you access to the 
documents subject to the request. 



 
 
The Department has undertaken the consultation process in section 24AB, nevertheless I remain 
satisfied that  your  request stil  meets the definition of a ‘practical refusal reason’ in section 
24AA(1)(a)(i) in that processing the request wil  involve a substantial and unreasonable diversion 
of the Department’s resources. 
5.2 
Reasons for practical refusal 
practical refusal reason exists under section 24AA of the FOI Act if either (or both) of the 
following applies: 
(1)(a)(i) the work involved in the processing of the request would substantially and 
unreasonably divert the resources of the Department from its other operations  
(1)(b)   the request does not satisfy the requirement in section 15(2)(b) of the FOI Act, 
which requires you to provide such information concerning the document you are 
seeking access to, to enable the Department to be able to identify it. 
The Department believes that documents falling within the scope of your request would 
encompass a number of branches within the Immigration Services Group. This Group consists 
of  business areas involved with processing of Australian visas where there is  an  English 
language requirement as well as the Migrant and English Language Services Branch.  
A preliminary assessment has been conducted regarding documents that would likely  be 
captured by the revised scope of your request. These include: 
•  files & electronic documents  
•  emails, 
•  correspondence 
•  ministerial briefings 
•  minutes of meetings  
•  and all other documents 
These documents will be located over a number of Departmental systems in multiple branches 
including:   
•  The Departments Electronic record keeping system - Context Manager  
•  The Parliamentary Document Management System (PDMS)  
•  Individual and group emails (including enterprise vault)  
•  Departmental System drives for Individual branches  
Noting the use of “not limited too” in your revised scope the business area involved has  identified 
that it is not possible to estimate the number of documents likely to fall within scope however it 
is expected to be in excess of one thousand documents.  
Additionally a number of external stakeholders have been identified including  
•  English Language test providers  
•  Universities and other Educational Institutions  
•  Other Government departments / authorities  
•  Business Regulatory Bodies  
 



 
 
Taking into consideration this assessment of the number and variety  of documents  that are 
identified as likely to fal  within the scope of your request the business area considers that it 
would take 1 FTE an estimated three months to complete the search and retrieval of documents 
as well as any external and internal consultation required.  
On that basis I am satisfied that the Department would be required to divert significant resources 
from its current operations in order to identify, locate and collate the documents held by the 
responsible business areas in addition to the time required to make and prepare a decision on 
access to those documents.  
Such a diversion would result in a significant drain on the resources involved in the processing 
of visas for travel to Australia including within the skil ed visa branch which has been identified 
by Government as a priority processing area.  
 
After considering your response to the Departments consultation, I am stil  satisfied that the 
work involved in processing the request wil  substantially and unreasonably divert the 
resources of this Department from its other operations. Therefore, I am satisfied that a 
practical refusal reason stil  exists under section 24AA(1)(a)(i) of the Act and am refusing   
access to documents falling within the scope of your request on that basis.  

Legislation 
A copy of the FOI Act is available at https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A02562.  

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 241 
Melbourne Vic 3001 
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/.  



 
 

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. 

Contacting the FOI Section 
Should you wish to discuss my decision, please do not hesitate to contact via email at 
xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.  
 
 
 
 
Mary | Position Number # 11706 
FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group 
Department of Home Affairs 
 


Document Outline