Dear Department of Social Services,

Consistent with the Freedom of Information Act 1982, I request the incoming government briefs provided from the Department to its respective Ministers since 21 May 2022.

I am not seeking drafts of the above documents.

Yours faithfully,

JH

FOI, Department of Social Services

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]

FOI, Department of Social Services

Dear JH,

 

Thank you for your freedom of information request, made on 27 July 2022.

 

The Department of Social Services has received a number of similar
requests for the release of the Incoming Government Briefs, and we have
since made redacted versions of the Briefs available on our Disclosure
log. They are listed under FOI Reference No. FOI LEX 44773, and can be
accessed [1]here.

 

For this reason, we respectfully request that you withdraw your FOI
request, given that documents you seek are now publically available.

 

Kind regards,

 

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

Annabelle

Freedom of Information Section

Legal Services Branch

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. 

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

 

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

Dear FOI,

Thank you for your reply. I would like to confirm that I would still like to have my application processed under the terms I have submitted.

I would also like to have an assurance that the decision maker allocated this application will make a decision independent to the document and decisions you may have already made, particularly with reference to matters the Department believes is exempt under Division 3 of the Act.

I expect to be provided detailed explanation for redactions made using these exemptions and how they meet a public interest test.

Yours sincerely,

JH

FOI, Department of Social Services

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]

FOI, Department of Social Services

Dear JH,

 

I refer to your correspondence received by the Department of Social
Services (the Department) on 27 July 2022, in which you requested access
under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) to:

 

‘the incoming government briefs provided from the Department to its
respective Ministers since 21 May 2022’ 

 

Removal of non-SES staff names and contact details

The Department is seeking your agreement to the removal of the names and
contact details of non-Senior Executive Service (non-SES) staff, which may
be contained within the documents identified in relation to your request.

 

Please respond to this email by Monday, 15 August 2022 to advise whether
you agree that this information may be removed.

 

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, in accordance with the FOI guidelines
issued by the Australian Information Commissioner, the timeframe will
expire on the first day following which is none of those days.

 

In accordance with paragraph (b) of subsection 15(5) of the FOI Act, the
decision on your request is due on 26 August 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). The due date may also be extended by an
additional 30 days in each instance, if your request is considered
voluminous or complex (section 15AB of the FOI Act) or 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 time to process your request
may be suspended. This will usually take place if a practical refusal
consultation process takes place (section 24AB of the FOI Act) or if a
charges notice is issued to process your request (section 29 of the FOI
Act). If the Department decides that either of these apply to your
request, the Department will notify you.

The Department will correspond with you by email in relation to your FOI
request. 

 

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,

 

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

Annabelle

Freedom of Information Section

Legal Services Branch

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]

FOI, Department of Social Services

2 Attachments

Dear JH,

 

LEX 45243 – Decision – Email 1 of 3

 

Please find attached the decision in response to your Freedom of
Information request submitted to the Department of Social Services on 27
July 2022.

 

In accordance with the decision, we provide the following documents:

1.      Incoming Government Brief Minister for Social Services;

2.      Incoming Government Brief Minister for the NDIS and Minister for
Government Services; and

3.      Incoming Government Brief Minister for Housing and Minister for
Homelessness.

 

Due to the size of the documents, we will send the three documents listed
above to you in two further emails.

  

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

 

If you have any questions about the decision, please feel free to contact
the FOI Team.

 

Kind Regards,

 

DSS FOI Team

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

Freedom of Information Section

Legal Services Branch

Department of Social Services
E: [1][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]

FOI, Department of Social Services

1 Attachment

  • Attachment

    Incoming Government Brief Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness Redacted.pdf

    3.9M Download View as HTML

Dear JH,

 

LEX 45243 – Decision – Email 3 of 3

 

Please find attached the final document in response to your Freedom of
Information request submitted to the Department of Social Services on 27
July 2022, being:

 

1.      Incoming Government Brief Minister for Housing and Minister for
Homelessness.

 

If you have any questions about the decision, please feel free to contact
the FOI Team.

 

Kind Regards,

 

DSS FOI Team

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

Freedom of Information Section

Legal Services Branch

Department of Social Services
E: [1][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]

FOI, Department of Social Services

1 Attachment

  • Attachment

    Incoming Government Briefing Minister for Social Services Redacted.pdf

    15.4M Download View as HTML

Dear JH,

 

LEX 45243 – Decision – Email 2 of 3 (part 1)

 

Apologies for the change in the structure of our emails, but the second of
our three emails bounced back due to its size. Email 2 of 3 will therefore
be split into two parts, meaning that in total, our response to your
request will now be provided over four emails

 

Please find attached the following document in response to your Freedom of
Information request submitted to the Department of Social Services on 27
July 2022:

 

1.      Incoming Government Brief Minister for Social Services; and

 

As advised due to the size of the documents, the second and third document
will be provided in two further emails.

 

If you have any questions about the decision, please feel free to contact
the FOI Team.

 

Kind Regards,

 

DSS FOI Team

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

Freedom of Information Section

Legal Services Branch

Department of Social Services
E: [1][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]

FOI, Department of Social Services

1 Attachment

  • Attachment

    Incoming Government Briefing Minister for the NDIS and Minister for Government Services Redacted.pdf

    10.7M Download View as HTML

Dear JH,

 

LEX 45243 – Decision – Email 2 of 3 (part 2)

 

Please find attached the following document in response to your Freedom of
Information request submitted to the Department of Social Services on 27
July 2022:

 

1.      Incoming Government Brief Minister for the NDIS and Minister for
Government Services.

 

As advised due to the size of the documents, the third document will be
provided in a further email.

 

If you have any questions about the decision, please feel free to contact
the FOI Team.

 

Kind Regards,

 

DSS FOI Team

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

Freedom of Information Section

Legal Services Branch

Department of Social Services
E: [1][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]