Dear Mr Houghton,

 

In terms of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, I confirm receipt of your
request and advise that processing of it commenced on 22 July 2017.

 

Yours sincerely

Phil Lomas | FOI Officer | Secretary's Department  
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
p: +61 2 9551 9744 | f: +61 2 9551 8041 | e: [1][RBA request email] | w:
[2]www.rba.gov.au

 

 

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Dear Mr Houghton,

 

I refer to your recent request (enclosed below) regarding alcohol
purchases by the Reserve Bank of Australia over the last three years.

 

Your request in its current form is too broad for the Bank to process (it
would entail more than 40 hours search and retrieval and decision making
time) and we have determined that processing it would substantially and
unreasonably divert the resources of the Bank from its other operations in
terms of s24AA(1)(a)(i) of the Act. Accordingly, we formally notify you
under section 24AB(2)(a) of the Act that it is our intention to refuse
access to all of the documents covered by your request. 

 

As provided for by s24AB of the Act, you are now afforded the opportunity
to engage in a ‘request consultation process’ with the Bank regarding
possible revision of the scope of your request to remove the practical
refusal reason (diversion of resources) applicable to your request. 
Section 24AB(2) requires:

(a)    That we state our intention to refuse access to a document in
accordance with your request (this notice satisfies this part);

(b)    That we state the practical refusal reason (that is, processing
your request in its current form would substantially and unreasonably
divert the resources of the Bank from its other operations);

(c)    Provision of the name of a contact officer of the Bank with whom
you can discuss your application (the Bank’s FOI Officer, Phil Lomas,
whose contact details appear below, is the contact person for this
purpose);

(d)    Provision of contact details for the contact officer (as indicated
below); and

(e)    Notification that the consultation period, during which you may
consult with the contact person, commences the day after this notice is
sent and is open for 14 days (i.e. ends on 17 August 2017).

 

We encourage you to contact us to discuss your options as provided for by
the Act. 

 

Contact Officer details:

 

Phil Lomas, FOI Officer, Secretary's Department
e: [1][RBA request email] | p: +61 2 9551 9744 | f: +61 2 9551 8041

 

Before the end of the consultation period, you have three options
available to you under s24AB(6):

(a)    Withdraw your request; or

(b)    Make a revised request; or

(c)    Indicate to the Bank that you do not wish to revise your request.

 

Please understand that the Bank is required by the Act to inform you that
if you indicate that you do not wish to revise your request, the practical
refusal reason would still exist (in terms of section 24(1)(b)) and the
Bank would refuse to give you access to the documents covered by your
(broad) request. In that case, you would have rights of review of our
decision as provided for by the Act.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Phil Lomas | FOI Officer | Secretary's Department  
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
p: +61 2 9551 9744 | f: +61 2 9551 8041 | e: [2][RBA request email] | w:
[3]www.rba.gov.au

 

 

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