Attachments named in FOI 26-2264 LD – NDIS budget modelling documents
Dear Department of Health, Disability and Ageing,
I am writing to request the following attachments mentioned in disclosure log documents published as "FOI 26-2264 LD – NDIS budget modelling documents" last week. This is a request for the purposes of the FOI Act. Please consider the entire documents relevant except: personal information of non-SES DHDA staff or non-DHDA individuals; internal emails.
Please ensure consideration of exemptions gives due weight to the public interest factor of upholding Australia's obligations under the CRPD for people with disabilities to be actively involved in development of legislative and policy measures concerning them in their formative stages, and to be equal partners in monitoring implementation of the Convention at all stages, as required by section 3(1)(a) of the NDIS Act in giving effect to these obligations. These obligations require transparency.
DOCUMENTS:
Minister's Office request -5-6pct growth target v2.xlsx
Minister's Office request - 5-6pct growth target sent 20250925.xlsx
S25 and S24 population and cost estimates v2_20250820.pptx
S25 and S24 population and cost estimates v2_20250820.xlsx
5 Draft June 2025 Scheme Projections.docx
5a Detailed commentary on Draft June 2025 Scheme projections.docx
5b Key assumptions and material risks associated with Reforms and the Sustainability Initiative .docx
Section 25 population and cost estimates v4.pptx
Future NDIS Reforms_ADA modelling 20250719.pptx
Attachment A - Future NDIS Reforms_ADA modelling_sent 20250712.pptx
Attachment B - Access options_13072025.pptx
Attachment B -Sustainability impacts of timing of reforms to send.docx
MB25-000168 NDIA Ministerial Brief - Sustainability Initiatives
Attachment A4 Indicative financial impacts of updated health and disability deal CLEAN.docx
Reframing National Cabinet’s December 2023 Health and Disability Deal Short Notice Submission to upload to CabNet.docx
Yours faithfully,
Cat
OFFICIAL
Good morning Cat,
Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health, Disability
and Ageing (the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:
The following attachments mentioned in disclosure log documents published
as "FOI 26-2264 LD – NDIS budget modelling documents".
Minister's Office request -5-6pct growth target v2.xlsx
Minister's Office request - 5-6pct growth target sent 20250925.xlsx
S25 and S24 population and cost estimates v2_20250820.pptx
S25 and S24 population and cost estimates v2_20250820.xlsx
5 Draft June 2025 Scheme Projections.docx
5a Detailed commentary on Draft June 2025 Scheme projections.docx
5b Key assumptions and material risks associated with Reforms and the
Sustainability Initiative .docx
Section 25 population and cost estimates v4.pptx
Future NDIS Reforms_ADA modelling 20250719.pptx
Attachment A - Future NDIS Reforms_ADA modelling_sent 20250712.pptx
Attachment B - Access options_13072025.pptx
Attachment B -Sustainability impacts of timing of reforms to send.docx
MB25-000168 NDIA Ministerial Brief - Sustainability Initiatives
Attachment A4 Indicative financial impacts of updated health and
disability deal CLEAN.docx
Reframing National Cabinet’s December 2023 Health and Disability Deal
Short Notice Submission to upload to CabNet.docx
The reference number for your request is FOI 26-2503. Please ensure that
you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning this
request.
Request for a 21 day extension
Your request was received on 11 December 2025. The FOI Act requires the
department to provide you with an access decision by 12 January 2026 (30
days).
Many areas of the department, including the FOI Section, will be closed
from 24 December 2025 to 2 January 2026.
To ensure the department has sufficient time to process your request and
provide access to all relevant documents, we are seeking your agreement to
extend the period for completing your FOI request by 21 days (under
section 15AA of the FOI Act). If you agree to this extension, the
department would be required to provide you with an access decision by 2
February 2026.
If you agree to this extension, could you please advise by COB 15 December
2025 by return email.
Request to exclude irrelevant information from your request
To assist with processing your request, can you also please advise by 15
December 2025, if you agree that information regarding any public service
employee names below Senior Executive Service level and direct telephone
numbers of all staff will be excluded from the scope of your request under
s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act
Other Information
The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge you will be
notified in writing.
Unless you advise otherwise any draft and duplicate documents will be
excluded from the scope of your request.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure
log [1]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)
You can contact the FOI team via email at [2][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Riley (she/her)
Acting Assistant Director – Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First Nations
peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and
present.
OFFICIAL
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Dear FOI,
My apologies, I didn't see an alert for your response. 21 days seems excessive given the length of the Christmas break and the known locations of the documents (attachments to a previous request), however I'd be happy with a 10 day extension.
Regarding potential costs, I would request these be waived on the basis I am a member of the disability community impacted by these reforms, and it would seem at odds with international obligations engaged by these reforms and associated legislation for Article 33.3 of the CRPD to come at a financial cost to Australians with disabilities.
Exclusion of direct contact details for all and names of below-SES staff is fine.
Yours sincerely,
Cat
Dear FOI,
Further to my email yesterday regarding FOI 26-2503, please note also that I do not agree to exclusion of draft or duplicate documents.
For clarity, this is simply because those listed in my scope clearly include different versions, some of which are noted to be drafts or regarding drafts, and all of which are relevant in their entirety. The versions sought are those attached to the emails in FOI 26-2264.
Please let me know if you require any further clarification to assist timely processing,
Yours sincerely,
Cat
...
Yesterday's email: Dear FOI,
My apologies, I didn't see an alert for your response. 21 days seems excessive given the length of the Christmas break and the known locations of the documents (attachments to a previous request), however I'd be happy with a 10 day extension.
Regarding potential costs, I would request these be waived on the basis I am a member of the disability community impacted by these reforms, and it would seem at odds with international obligations engaged by these reforms and associated legislation for Article 33.3 of the CRPD to come at a financial cost to Australians with disabilities.
Exclusion of direct contact details for all and names of below-SES staff is fine.
Yours sincerely,
Cat
Dear FOI,
As per my previous correspondence (available at https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a... ) and phone call on 12 January 2026, I understand the 10 day extension was applied, making yesterday the due date (22/1/2026).
Can you please provide an update on release?
Yours sincerely,
Cat
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon Cat,
Thank you for your email below.
As you note below, you agreed to an extension of time request under s15AA
extending the request to 20 January 2026.
On 20 January 2026 the department applied for an extension of time request
under s15AB from the OAIC due to the complexity of this request.
We are currently still processing this request while we wait to hear from
the OAIC.
Kind regards,
Acting Assistant Director – Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First Nations
peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and
present.
OFFICIAL
Dear FOI,
Thank you very much for the prompt update. In the meantime, could you please provide me with a copy of the 15AB application and any attachments or email submissions in support of this? This would assist me in understanding the nature of the complexities delaying processing of documents already identified, and whether I am happy to support the request or wish to make submissions to OAIC.
Yours sincerely,
Cat
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon Cat,
I can advise that the OAIC will provide you with this information when
they have reached a decision on the s15AB request.
Kind regards,
Acting Assistant Director – Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First Nations
peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and
present.
OFFICIAL
Our reference: RQ26/00558
Agency reference: 26-2503
Agency name Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
By Email: [Department of Health, Disability and Ageing request email]
Name Cat
By Email:
[FOI #14117 email]
Extension of time under s 15AB
Dear Parties,
Please find attached an extension of time decision relating to the above
referenced FOI request.
Regards,
[1][IMG] Andriana DeIeso
Review Adviser
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5288 Sydney NSW 2001
E [2][email address]
The OAIC acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country across
Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and
communities. We pay our respect to First Nations people,
cultures and Elders past and present.
[3]Subscribe to Information Matters
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Dear OAIC - FOI DR,
Thank you for this update. I am writing to correct an error in the Department's reasons at Attachment B for your records and theirs as there appear to be some crossed wires (noting that the 15AB decision has been finalised).
Attachment B states: "13.01.26 - Applicant called FOI team seeking an update on status of the FOI request. FOI team discussed seeking an extension of time with the applicant citing the request is more complex than anticipated. The applicant verbally denied this request."
This is incorrect. I was happy to agree to a shorter extension under 15AA equivalent to the shutdown, but not the length originally requested as no other reasons were provided for this. I called the FOI team on 12th January 2026 (being the original due date, not the 13th) for the sole purpose of confirming the 10 day extension had been applied as I had not received confirmation of this and was unsure if it would become deemed the following day.
The individual I spoke to in the absence of the assigned decision-maker located the request and confirmed that the extension had been applied and I happily advised I would leave them to it and await the outcome, or words to that effect. This was the entirety of the brief and pleasant conversation. The call itself was only 8 minutes, the majority of this being automatically diverted from the initial 'unavailable' message and waiting on hold, until someone answered when I was about to hang up. No further extension request was discussed nor the cited reasons for one, for me to verbally deny such a request (nor is this mentioned in the Department's update advising me the 15AB request had been made). The only extension request discussed during the call was the original 15AA request based on the shutdown and the period I had agreed to on that basis.
The first I was aware of the extension request on 15AB grounds was the Department's response to my follow-up on 23 January 2026 when no decision was received, which cited the complexity. As I was advised when I called, the extension had been applied until 20/1/26 and assuming 10 full days from 12/1/26, I allowed until after 22/1/26 to follow-up.
As per my further reply when advised a 15AB extension had been requested (on the extended due date the Department was working to), I did not deny this request either and requested further clarification to understand the nature of the complexity cited in the response to assist me in understanding whether I was happy to support the request or wished to make submissions, but was advised the Department's reasons would be provided with the outcome: https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...
I trust this clears the chronology up for both Agencies. The Department is welcome to reach out should any further clarification or negotiation be required to assist in timely processing and I otherwise look forward to an update after the steps outlined.
Yours sincerely,
Cat
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon Cat,
We refer to your FOI request received on 11 December 2025.
Please find attached a decision on access.
If you have any queries in relation to this decision, please contact the
FOI Section on the details below.
Kind regards,
Senior FOI Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First Nations
peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and
present.
OFFICIAL
From: FOI <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, 23 January 2026 3:27 PM
To: Cat <[FOI #14117 email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information Request 26-2503 –
Acknowledgement of Receipt and Request for an Extension of Time
[SEC=OFFICIAL]
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon Cat,
I can advise that the OAIC will provide you with this information when
they have reached a decision on the s15AB request.
Kind regards,
Acting Assistant Director – Freedom of Information Section
Commercial and Information Law Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [2][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing acknowledges First Nations
peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and
their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and
present.
OFFICIAL