Contract for use of Mantra hotel as APOD

Eleanor Davey made this Freedom of Information request to Department of Home Affairs

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

The request was successful.

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

I am writing to request a copy of the contract or contracts under which the Mantra Bell City Hotel operates as an alternative place of detention (APOD) for immigration detention purposes. I believe that understanding of this arrangement, particularly given the public health concerns associated with immigration detention during the COVID-19 pandemic, is in the public interest, and I would like to make the request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Yours faithfully,

Eleanor Davey

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

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Information updated 22 May 2020

 

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FOI, Department of Home Affairs

OFFICIAL

In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 20/06/00066
File Number: OBJ2020/25493

Dear Ms Davey

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 3 August 2020 seeking access to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (link). As the Department focuses its efforts on managing the impact of COVID-19 on its critical services and employees, other non-critical services may not be delivered within expected timeframes. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience during this period.

Scope of request

You have requested access to the following:

A copy of the contract or contracts under which the Mantra Bell City Hotel operates as an alternative place of detention (APOD) for immigration detention purposes.

Your request was received by the Department on 3 August 2020 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 20/06/00066 . Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.

Timeframe for receiving your decision

The statutory timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the date upon which your application was received by the Department.

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner here.

Duplicate documents

If the FOI decision-maker deems a document to be a duplicate, they will not assess those pages as part of your FOI request. This means that if a there is a decision to release the document to you, you will receive only one copy, even if multiple copies of that document exists.

Contacting the FOI Section

Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at [DIBP request email].

Yours sincerely,

FOI Officer
Freedom of Information
FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division
Strategy & Law Enforcement Group
Department of Home Affairs | Email: [DIBP request email]

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: Eleanor Davey <[FOI #6568 email]>
Sent: Monday, 3 August 2020 1:12 PM
To: FOI <[DIBP request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Contract for use of Mantra hotel as APOD

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

I am writing to request a copy of the contract or contracts under which the Mantra Bell City Hotel operates as an alternative place of detention (APOD) for immigration detention purposes. I believe that understanding of this arrangement, particularly given the public health concerns associated with immigration detention during the COVID-19 pandemic, is in the public interest, and I would like to make the request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Yours faithfully,

Eleanor Davey

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #6568 email]

Is [DIBP request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Department of Home Affairs? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
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If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

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Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.

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FOI, Department of Home Affairs

OFFICIAL

Good afternoon Ms Davey

We refer to your request for access to documents received on 3 August 2020.

The Contract that the Department holds, under which the Mantra Bell City operates as an Alternative Place of Detention (APOD), is a contract with Serco. This document has previously been released under the FOI Act and is published on the Department’s FOI disclosure log here: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files...

The Department does not hold any commercial contract with the hotel provider, this is an arrangement between Serco and the provider. As such, the Department holds no further documents relevant to your FOI request.

In the circumstances, could you please confirm that this request may be closed as withdrawn.

With kind regards
Freedom of Information Section
FOI and Records Management Branch
Data Division
Strategy and Law Enforcement Group
Department of Home Affairs
E: [DIBP request email]

OFFICIAL

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.

Dear FOI,

Thank you for your message. In light of that context, I would like to amend my request to cover the declaration or designation of the Mantra Bell City Hotel as an APOD and any documents flowing from or associated with that declaration.

Many thanks for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Davey

Alison SMITH, Department of Home Affairs

OFFICIAL

Good morning Ms Davey

I note that you are now seeking to access different documents to those your originally requested. As such, we have closed your original request, and will register a new request, received on 17 August, for the documents you are now seeking to access. You will be provided with a formal acknowledgement and a new FA reference shortly.

With kind regards
Freedom of Information Section
FOI and Records Management Branch
Data Division
Strategy and Law Enforcement Group
Department of Home Affairs
E: [DIBP request email]

-----Original Message-----
From: Eleanor Davey <[FOI #6568 email]>
Sent: Monday, 17 August 2020 9:32 AM
To: FOI <[DIBP request email]>
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request FA 20/08/00066 - Contract for use of Mantra hotel as APOD [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Dear FOI,

Thank you for your message. In light of that context, I would like to amend my request to cover the declaration or designation of the Mantra Bell City Hotel as an APOD and any documents flowing from or associated with that declaration.

Many thanks for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Davey

-----Original Message-----

OFFICIAL

Good afternoon Ms Davey

We refer to your request for access to documents received on 3 August 2020.

The Contract that the Department holds, under which the Mantra Bell City operates as an Alternative Place of Detention (APOD), is a contract with Serco. This document has previously been released under the FOI Act and is published on the Department’s FOI disclosure log here: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files...

The Department does not hold any commercial contract with the hotel provider, this is an arrangement between Serco and the provider. As such, the Department holds no further documents relevant to your FOI request.

In the circumstances, could you please confirm that this request may be closed as withdrawn.

With kind regards
Freedom of Information Section
FOI and Records Management Branch
Data Division
Strategy and Law Enforcement Group
Department of Home Affairs
E: [DIBP request email]

OFFICIAL

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #6568 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICIAL

hide quoted sections

Alison SMITH, Department of Home Affairs

Alison SMITH would like to recall the message, "Freedom of Information request FA 20/08/00066 - Contract for use of Mantra hotel as APOD [SEC=OFFICIAL]".

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

OFFICIAL

In reply please quote:

FOI Request:         FA 20/08/01045

File Number:          OBJ2020/27421 

Dear Ms Davey,

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 17 August 2020 seeking access
to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under
the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

Scope of request

You have requested access to the following:

The declaration or designation of the Mantra Bell City Hotel as an APOD
and any documents flowing from or associated with that declaration.

Your request was received by the Department on 17 August 2020 and has been
allocated FOI request number FA 20/08/01045 . Please include your FOI
request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information
Section.

Timeframe for receiving your decision

 

The statutory timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the date
upon which your application was received by the Department.

 

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the
website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner [1]here.

 

Duplicate documents

 

If the FOI decision-maker deems a document to be a duplicate, they will
not assess those pages as part of your FOI request. This means that if a
there is a decision to release the document to you, you will receive only
one copy, even if multiple copies of that document exists.

Contacting the FOI Section

 

Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at
[DIBP request email].

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

FOI Officer

Freedom of Information

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & Law Enforcement Group

Department of Home Affairs | Email: [DIBP request email]

 

OFFICIAL

 

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

OFFICIAL

Good morning Ms Davey,

 

I refer to your request received on 17 August 2020 for access to documents
under the FOI Act.

 

The current due date for your request is 16 September 2020. 

 

Due to the number of requests currently being processed by our office, we
will not be able to finalise your request by the original due date.

 

The Department seeks your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to
extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days.  This
would extend the due date for your request to 16 October 2020.

 

It would assist the Department in managing its FOI caseload if you could
provide a response to this request by close of business, Friday 11
September 2020.

 

If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to
contact the FOI section on the details below.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

FOI Officer

Freedom of Information

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs | Email: [1][DIBP request email]

 

 

 

 

From: FOI
Sent: Monday, 24 August 2020 1:52 PM
To: '[FOI #6568 email]'
<[FOI #6568 email]>
Subject: HPRM: Acknowledgement – FOI request FA 20/08/01045 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

OFFICIAL

In reply please quote:

FOI Request:         FA 20/08/01045

File Number:          OBJ2020/27421 

Dear Ms Davey,

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 17 August 2020 seeking access
to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under
the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

Scope of request

You have requested access to the following:

The declaration or designation of the Mantra Bell City Hotel as an APOD
and any documents flowing from or associated with that declaration.

Your request was received by the Department on 17 August 2020 and has been
allocated FOI request number FA 20/08/01045 . Please include your FOI
request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information
Section.

Timeframe for receiving your decision

 

The statutory timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the date
upon which your application was received by the Department.

 

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the
website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner [2]here.

 

Duplicate documents

 

If the FOI decision-maker deems a document to be a duplicate, they will
not assess those pages as part of your FOI request. This means that if a
there is a decision to release the document to you, you will receive only
one copy, even if multiple copies of that document exists.

Contacting the FOI Section

 

Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at
[3][DIBP request email].

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

FOI Officer

Freedom of Information

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & Law Enforcement Group

Department of Home Affairs | Email: [4][DIBP request email]

 

OFFICIAL

OFFICIAL

 

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[DIBP request email]
2. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
3. mailto:[DIBP request email]
4. mailto:[DIBP request email]

Dear FOI,

Thank you for your message. I note that work is ongoing and agree to the additional 30 days.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Davey

Dear FOI,

I am writing to seek an update on the request FA 20/08/01045. The deadline of the agreed extension has now passed. Thank you very much for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Davey

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

2 Attachments

OFFICIAL

Dear Ms Davey

 

FOI request FA 20/08/01045

 

I refer to your FOI request received on 17 August 2020, seeking access to
the following:

The declaration or designation of the Mantra Bell City Hotel as an APOD
and any documents flowing from or associated with that declaration.

 

The Department has made a decision on this request. Please find attached
the decision record and document released under the FOI Act.

 

This request has now been closed.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Freedom of Information Officer

FOI Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division

Strategy & Law Enforcement Group

Email: [1][DIBP request email]

Department of Home Affairs - [2]www.homeaffairs.gov.au

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

 

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[DIBP request email]
2. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/