"Enhanced Screening" Process

Ben Fairless 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 Immigration and Border Protection,

I refer to the article in the Guardian Online today[1] which quotes Scott Morrison discussing the "transfer of "41 persons, including 37 Sinhalese and 4 Tamil Sri Lankan nationals" to the Sri Lankan Navy.

In the above article, it is reported that "The minister confirmed asylum claims were assessed via the controversial process of “enhanced screening”.

I request a copy of the "enhanced screening" process to which the Minister refers.

If this document has already been released by the Department under FOI or in response to a request outside of FOI, I would appreciate the department providing a link to it. If the document is not in the possession of the Department, I would appreciate the department transferring the request to the agency which would posses the document.

I also request that the costs associated with this request be waived as this matter is entirely in the public interest. There are several concerns regarding "enhanced screening"[2][3][4][5][6][7] the worst of which that we are breaching our international and humanitarian obligations. Access to this document would help inform public debate around Australia's compliance with its International and humanitarian obligations.

Yours faithfully,

Ben Fairless

[1]http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/ju...

[2] https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publicati...

[3] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-10/as...

[4] http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/the...

[5] http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/ope...

[6] http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree...

[7] http://hrlc.org.au/un-human-rights-counc...

1 Attachment

  • Attachment

    23 08 2013 FA 13 06 00920 Enhanced Screening Policy Guidelines file note and interview transcript pro formas.pdf

    714K Download View as HTML

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Mr Fairless

 

I refer to your recent request seeking access to the ‘Enhanced screening’
process.

 

The department has released these types of documents under the FOI Act.
These documents are listed on the department’s 2013 Disclosure log. I have
attached the relevant documents to this email.

 

Included in these documents is a copy of the department’s Enhanced
Screening Policy Guidelines. These guidelines are still current.

 

In light of the documents being released to you as part of the disclosure
log, please confirm in writing if you agree to withdraw this FOI request.
To assist the department in managing its FOI caseload please provide your
response by close of business Thursday 10 July 2014.

 

If no response is received the department will continue to process your
request in accordance with the FOI Act.

 

Your Sincerely

 

 

Janelle Raineri

FOI Inbox Manager

FOI & Privacy Policy Section
Parliamentary and Executive Coordination Branch  I  Immigration and Border
Protection Portfolio

E:  [1][email address]

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Fairless [mailto:[FOI #670 email]]
Sent: Monday, 7 July 2014 11:06 AM
To: FOI
Subject: Freedom of Information request - "Enhanced Screening" Process

 

Dear Department of Immigration and Border Protection,

 

I refer to the article in the Guardian Online today[1] which quotes Scott
Morrison discussing the "transfer of "41 persons, including 37 Sinhalese
and 4 Tamil Sri Lankan nationals" to the Sri Lankan Navy.

 

In the above article, it is reported that "The minister confirmed asylum
claims were assessed via the controversial process of “enhanced
screening”.

 

I request a copy of the "enhanced screening" process to which the Minister
refers.

 

If this document has already been released by the Department under FOI or
in response to a request outside of FOI, I would appreciate the department
providing a link to it. If the document is not in the possession of the
Department, I would appreciate the department transferring the request to
the agency which would posses the document.

 

I also request that the costs associated with this request be waived as
this matter is entirely in the public interest. There are several concerns
regarding "enhanced screening"[2][3][4][5][6][7] the worst of which that
we are breaching our international and humanitarian obligations. Access to
this document would help inform public debate around Australia's
compliance with its International and humanitarian obligations.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Ben Fairless

 

[1][2]http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/ju...

 

[2]
[3]https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publicati...

 

[3]
[4]http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-10/as...

 

[4]
[5]http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/the...

 

[5]
[6]http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/ope...

 

[6]
[7]http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree...

 

[7]
[8]http://hrlc.org.au/un-human-rights-counc...

 

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

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[9][FOI #670 email]

 

Is [10][email address] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Department of Immigration and Border Protection? If so, please
contact us using this form:

[11]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

 

Write your response as plain text. Only send PDF documents as a last
resort. Government guidelines make it clear that PDF is not an acceptable
format for you to use in the delivery of government information.

[12]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

 

This request is being made by an individual using the Right to Know
website. The unique email address provided by the service for this request
satisfies s.15(2)(c) of the Freedom of Information Act.

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[13]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.

 

 

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

UNCLASSIFIED

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Important Notice: 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. DIBP respects your privacy and has
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988. The official departmental privacy
policy can be viewed on the department's website at www.immi.gov.au. See:
http://www.immi.gov.au/functional/privac...

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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/ju...
3. https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publicati...
4. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-10/as...
5. http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/the...
6. http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/ope...
7. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree...
8. http://hrlc.org.au/un-human-rights-counc...
9. mailto:[FOI #670 email]
10. mailto:[email address]
11. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
12. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
13. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

Dear Janelle,

Thanks for that, happy to withdraw my request.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Fairless

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Mr Fairless

 

Thank you for your email and your advice that you withdraw the request.
The request has been closed in our FOI system.

 

You remain welcome to submit a new request at any time.

 

Yours Sincerely

 

Janelle Raineri

FOI Inbox Manager

FOI & Privacy Policy Section
Parliamentary and Executive Coordination Branch  I  Immigration and Border
Protection Portfolio

E:  [1][email address]

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Fairless [mailto:[FOI #670 email]]
Sent: Monday, 7 July 2014 6:17 PM
To: FOI
Subject: TRIM: RE: Freedom of Information request - "Enhanced Screening"
Process [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

 

Dear Janelle,

 

Thanks for that, happy to withdraw my request.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Ben Fairless

 

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

 

UNCLASSIFIED

 

Dear Mr Fairless

 

 

 

I refer to your recent request seeking access to the ‘Enhanced screening’

process.

 

 

 

The department has released these types of documents under the FOI Act.

These documents are listed on the department’s 2013 Disclosure log. I
have  attached the relevant documents to this email.

 

 

 

Included in these documents is a copy of the department’s Enhanced 
Screening Policy Guidelines. These guidelines are still current.

 

 

 

In light of the documents being released to you as part of the disclosure 
log, please confirm in writing if you agree to withdraw this FOI request.

To assist the department in managing its FOI caseload please provide your 
response by close of business Thursday 10 July 2014.

 

 

 

If no response is received the department will continue to process your 
request in accordance with the FOI Act.

 

 

 

Your Sincerely

 

 

 

 

 

Janelle Raineri

 

FOI Inbox Manager

 

FOI & Privacy Policy Section

Parliamentary and Executive Coordination Branch  I  Immigration and
Border  Protection Portfolio

 

E:  [1][DIBP request email]

 

 

 

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[2][FOI #670 email]

 

Write your response as plain text. Only send PDF documents as a last
resort. Government guidelines make it clear that PDF is not an acceptable
format for you to use in the delivery of government information.

[3]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

 

This request is being made by an individual using the Right to Know
website. The unique email address provided by the service for this request
satisfies s.15(2)(c) of the Freedom of Information Act.

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[4]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.

 

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

UNCLASSIFIED

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Important Notice: 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. DIBP respects your privacy and has
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988. The official departmental privacy
policy can be viewed on the department's website at www.immi.gov.au. See:
http://www.immi.gov.au/functional/privac...

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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[FOI #670 email]
3. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
4. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections