Thank you for your email.

You have contacted the Freedom of Information (FOI) team of the Department
of Social Services (the Department).

If your email relates to a Freedom of Information application made under
the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), the Department
will respond to you as soon as practicable.

Further information about FOI is available on our website at:
[1]https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...

This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only. The
Department is unable to respond to non-FOI related enquiries sent to this
email address. Any correspondence received that is not an information
access request will not be responded to or forwarded. Should you have a
query unrelated to FOI, please complete our [2]online feedback, enquiry or
compliment form on our website or direct your email to
[3][email address].  Alternatively you can contact the Department by
calling 1800 634 035.

With regards

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Freedom of Information

Legal Services Branch

Department of Social Services
E: [4][Department of Social Services request email]

The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.

We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present.

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References

Visible links
1. https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
2. https://www.dss.gov.au/contact/feedback-...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]

Good Morning Andorra,

I refer to your correspondence received by the Department of Social
Services (the Department) on 14 November 2022, in which you requested
access under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act)
to:

‘the index of the Department's Senate Estimates issues brief that was
prepared for the Secretary for the Senate Estimates conducted between 28
October and 11 November 2022 ‘

Your request states that you are not seeking any drafts of the documents
sought.

Clarification of scope

We have contacted the relevant business area who have confirmed that there
is not a ‘issues brief’ prepared for the Secretary for Senate Estimates.
Please confirm if you are seeking the index of the Senate Estimates briefs
prepared for the Secretary for Senate Estimates conducted between 28
October 2022 and 11 November 2022.

Removal of personal information from the scope of your request

The Department is seeking your agreement to the removal of the email
addresses, signatures and mobile numbers of all DSS staff, and the removal
of the names of non-Senior Executive Service staff, which may be contained
within the documents identified in relation to your request.

Please respond to this email by 5:00pm Friday, 18 November 2022 to clarify
the scope of the request and to advise whether you agree that the personal
information may be removed from the scope of your request.

Decision due

The statutory period for processing your request is 30 days commencing
from the day after your request was received. If the due date falls on a
Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, the decision will be provided on the
next business day.

In accordance with paragraph 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, the decision on your
request is due on Wednesday, 14 December 2022.

When the processing period may be extended or suspended
The current due date may be extended by:

·       Up to 30 days if agreed by you (section 15AA of the FOI Act);

·       30 days if your request is considered voluminous or complex
(section 15AB of the FOI Act); and

·       30 days if the Department is required to undertake a third party
consultation (sections 26A, 27 or 27A of the FOI Act).

If any of these extensions apply, the Department will notify you.  

Additionally, there are occasions where the processing period of your FOI
application may be suspended. This may take place if:

·       A practical refusal consultation process is required (section 24AB
of the FOI Act); and

·       If a charges notice is issued for the processing of your FOI
application (section 29 of the FOI Act).

If the Department decides that either of these apply to your request, we
will notify you. 

Should you have any queries about this matter, please do not hesitate to
contact the FOI team via email at [1][Department of Social Services request email].

Yours sincerely,

DSS FOI Team

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Freedom of Information section

Legal Services Group

Department of Social Services
E: [2][Department of Social Services request email]

The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.

We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present. 

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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
2. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]

Thank you for your email.

You have contacted the Freedom of Information (FOI) team of the Department
of Social Services (the Department).

If your email relates to a Freedom of Information application made under
the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), the Department
will respond to you as soon as practicable.

Further information about FOI is available on our website at:
[1]https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...

This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only. The
Department is unable to respond to non-FOI related enquiries sent to this
email address. Any correspondence received that is not an information
access request will not be responded to or forwarded. Should you have a
query unrelated to FOI, please complete our [2]online feedback, enquiry or
compliment form on our website or direct your email to
[3][email address].  Alternatively you can contact the Department by
calling 1800 634 035.

With regards

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

Freedom of Information

Legal Services Branch

Department of Social Services
E: [4][Department of Social Services request email]

The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.

We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present.

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

References

Visible links
1. https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
2. https://www.dss.gov.au/contact/feedback-...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]

Good Evening,

FOI LEX 45960 – Decision and Document

Please find attached the decision in response to your Freedom of
Information request submitted to the Department of Social Services on 14
November 2022.

In accordance with the decision, we attach the document relevant to your
request.

For your reference, we also attach a document providing information in
relation to your review rights.

Kind Regards,

DSS FOI Team

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Freedom of Information section

Legal Services Group

Department of Social Services
E: [1][Department of Social Services request email]

Please be advised the Department is subject to a shutdown period from
12:30pm on Friday, 23 December 2022 to Tuesday, 2 January 2023
(inclusive). The FOI team will endeavour to finalise requests prior to
this period where possible and anticipates seeking an FOI applicant’s
agreement to an extension of time. During the shutdown period, FOI
requests will not be processed.

The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.

We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present. 

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

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]