Documents containing "NDIS" and "AUKUS" (2022–24)
Dear Department of Social Services,
Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, I request access to:
1. Any briefs, submissions, talking points, issues notes or options papers prepared by the Department of Social Services between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 where the text of the document contains both of the words “NDIS” and “AUKUS”.
2. Any emails (including attachments) sent to or from SES Band 1 and Band 2 officers in the Department’s Disability and Carers Policy group, Communities Policy and Support Group or Corporate and Finance divisions between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 where the body of the email or any attachment contains both of the words “NDIS” and “AUKUS”.
I am not seeking duplicate copies of the same document, routine administrative emails (for example, diary requests or purely logistical correspondence), or drafts that differ only in trivial formatting.
If you consider that processing this request in full would involve a substantial and unreasonable diversion of resources, I ask that you first provide me with a practical refusal consultation and a schedule of documents (for example, a keyword hit list) so that I can refine the scope.
Yours faithfully,
Mark Pietsch
Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information (FOI) team of the
Department of Social Services (the Department).
This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only and
correspondence received that is not a request under the FOI Act may not be
responded to. For non-FOI enquiries, please visit
[1]https://www.dss.gov.au/contact-us for details on how to contact the
Department.
If your email relates to a FOI application made under the Commonwealth
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), the Department will respond to
you as soon as practicable.
Information on accessing documents under the FOI Act is available on our
website at:
[2]https://www.dss.gov.au/access-informatio...
With regards
DSS FOI team
Information Law and Access
Programs and Information Legal
Department of Social Services
E: [3][Department of Social Services request email]
[4]National Relay Service
The Department of Social Services acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia and their continuing
connection to land, water, culture and community. We pay our respects to
the Elders both past and present.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.dss.gov.au/contact-us
2. https://www.dss.gov.au/access-informatio...
3. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
4. https://www.accesshub.gov.au/
Good morning Mark
I refer to your below correspondence received by the Department of Social
Services (the Department) on 10 December 2025, in which you requested
access under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982 to:
1. Any briefs, submissions, talking points, issues notes or options papers
prepared by the Department of Social Services between 1 January 2022 and
31 December 2024 where the text of the document contains both of the words
“NDIS” and “AUKUS”.
2. Any emails (including attachments) sent to or from SES Band 1 and Band
2 officers in the Department’s Disability and Carers Policy group,
Communities Policy and Support Group or Corporate and Finance divisions
between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 where the body of the email or
any attachment contains both of the words “NDIS” and “AUKUS”
The subject matter of your request more closely relates to the functions
of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and they have agreed to
accept the transfer of your request under the provisions of section 16 of
the FOI Act.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing will contact you directly
in relation to this matter.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the
Freedom of Information team at the Department of Health, Disability and
Ageing at [1][email address] or visit the FOI page of their website at
[2]https://www.health.gov.au/about-us/corpo...
for further information.
Regards
DSS FOI team
Information Law and Access
Programs and Information Legal
Department of Social Services
E: [3][Department of Social Services request email]
[4]National Relay Service
The Department of Social Services acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia and their continuing
connection to land, water, culture and community. We pay our respects to
the Elders both past and present.
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Pietsch,
I refer to your request received by the Department of Social Services for
access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
You have requested access to:
1. Any briefs, submissions, talking points, issues notes or options papers
prepared by the Department of Social Services between 1 January 2022 and
31 December 2024 where the text of the document contains both of the words
“NDIS” and “AUKUS”.
2. Any emails (including attachments) sent to or from SES Band 1 and Band
2 officers in the Department’s Disability and Carers Policy group,
Communities Policy and Support Group or Corporate and Finance divisions
between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 where the body of the email or
any attachment contains both of the words “NDIS” and “AUKUS”.
I am not seeking duplicate copies of the same document, routine
administrative emails (for example, diary requests or purely logistical
correspondence), or drafts that differ only in trivial formatting.
I am writing to tell you that on 15 December 2025, the Department of
Health, Disability and Ageing (the department) has accepted transfer of
your request from the Department of Social Services.
The reference number for your request is FOI 26-2514. 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 by the Department of Social Services on 10
December 2025 and the 30-day statutory period for processing your request
commenced from the day after that date. The department will treat your
request as though we received it the same day that the Department of
Social Services did. You should expect a decision from us by 9 January
2026. The period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third
parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
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 30
January 2026.
If you agree to this extension, could you please advise by COB 19 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 COB
19 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, and
· any Commonwealth 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.
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,
I am happy to agree to an extension of time, though I would like to request a scoping meeting as soon as practicable to discuss the request after initial searches have been conducted, to help refine the direction of the investigation and reduce any administrative burden or voluminous document releases.
I am happy to redact employee names below the SES band.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Pietsch
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Pietsch,
I refer to your request transferred to the Department of Health,
Disability and Ageing for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
Request for Clarification of Scope
The department is currently processing documents relevant to the scope of
your request. During this process, we have identified documents where the
terms ‘NDIS’ and ‘AUKUS’ appeared in unrelated context to the other.
For example, in some cases these terms appear only in a document index of
contracts within a report. While such documents have been considered in
scope, they do not contain substantive content linking the two topics.
In light of this, the department is seeking your agreement to revise parts
1 and 2 of your scope as follows:
1. Any briefs, submissions, talking points, issues notes or options
papers prepared by the Department of Social Services between 1 January
2022 and 31 December 2024 where the text of the document contains both
of the words “NDIS” and “AUKUS”, and are contextually related.
2. Any emails (including attachments) sent to or from SES Band 1 and Band
2 officers in the Department’s Disability and Carers Policy group,
Communities Policy and Support Group or Corporate and Finance divisions
between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 where the body of the email or
any attachment contains both words “NDIS” and “AUKUS”, and are
contextually related to each other.
I am not seeking duplicate copies of the same document, routine
administrative emails (for example, diary requests or purely logistical
correspondence), or drafts that differ only in trivial formatting.
For convenience, these have been highlighted yellow above.
We would be grateful if you could confirm by 19 January 2026, whether you:
1. agree to revising the scope of your request as outlined above.
2. wish to proceed with your request in its current form.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Kind regards,
Jordan
Administration 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]
This email comes to you from Ngunnawal Country
Location: Level 3
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
OFFICIAL
Good morning Mr Pietsch,
The department would like to follow up on its email of 15 January 2026.
If you would kindly refer to the below and please confirm the details
requested.
Kind regards,
Jordan Rubio [He/Him]
Administration 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]
This email comes to you from Ngunnawal Country
Location: Level 3 North
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: Thursday, 15 January 2026 10:22 AM
To: Mark Pietsch <[FOI #14110 email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request FOI 26-2514 - Request for Scope
Clarification [SEC=OFFICIAL]
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Pietsch,
I refer to your request transferred to the Department of Health,
Disability and Ageing for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
Request for Clarification of Scope
The department is currently processing documents relevant to the scope of
your request. During this process, we have identified documents where the
terms ‘NDIS’ and ‘AUKUS’ appeared in unrelated context to the other.
For example, in some cases these terms appear only in a document index of
contracts within a report. While such documents have been considered in
scope, they do not contain substantive content linking the two topics.
In light of this, the department is seeking your agreement to revise parts
1 and 2 of your scope as follows:
1. Any briefs, submissions, talking points, issues notes or options
papers prepared by the Department of Social Services between 1 January
2022 and 31 December 2024 where the text of the document contains both
of the words “NDIS” and “AUKUS”, and are contextually related.
2. Any emails (including attachments) sent to or from SES Band 1 and Band
2 officers in the Department’s Disability and Carers Policy group,
Communities Policy and Support Group or Corporate and Finance divisions
between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 where the body of the email or
any attachment contains both words “NDIS” and “AUKUS”, and are
contextually related to each other.
I am not seeking duplicate copies of the same document, routine
administrative emails (for example, diary requests or purely logistical
correspondence), or drafts that differ only in trivial formatting.
For convenience, these have been highlighted yellow above.
We would be grateful if you could confirm by 19 January 2026, whether you:
1. agree to revising the scope of your request as outlined above.
2. wish to proceed with your request in its current form.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Kind regards,
Jordan
Administration 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: [2][email address]
This email comes to you from Ngunnawal Country
Location: Level 3
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
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon,
We refer to your FOI request received on 10 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,
Jordan
Administration 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]
This email comes to you from Ngunnawal Country
Location: Level 3
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