Information provided to the media about children with developmental delay and autism who have mild or moderate support needs
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
I refer to an article published in the Age, Sydney Morning Herald and other newspapers on 26 August 2025 by Natassia Chrysanthos, entitled 'After autism changes, Labor will still need to find billions more in NDIS savings'.
The article states: "Figures supplied to this masthead by the National Disability Insurance Agency reveal that about $3.1 billion in payments were made to 214,865 children with developmental delay and autism who have mild or moderate support needs in the 2024-25 financial year."
I request copies of all correspondence in relation to this, between the NDIA and the journalist (or between the NDIA and the media company for whom the journalist works), including copies of any request for information made by the journalist/media company to the NDIA, and all information supplied by the NDIA to the journalist/media company.
Yours faithfully,
David Wright
Dear David,
Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement & Extension of Time
Request
Thank you for your request on 26 August 2025, made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for copies of documents held by the
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Scope of your Request
You have requested access to:
"...I refer to an article published in the Age, Sydney Morning Herald and
other newspapers on 26 August 2025 by Natassia Chrysanthos, entitled
'After autism changes, Labor will still need to find billions more in NDIS
savings'.
The article states: "Figures supplied to this masthead by the National
Disability Insurance Agency reveal that about $3.1 billion in payments
were made to 214,865 children with developmental delay and autism who have
mild or moderate support needs in the 2024-25 financial year."
I request copies of all correspondence in relation to this, between the
NDIA and the journalist (or between the NDIA and the media company for
whom the journalist works), including copies of any request for
information made by the journalist/media company to the NDIA, and all
information supplied by the NDIA to the journalist/media company...."
Processing Timeframes
In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from 27 August 2025. This
30-day period expires on 25 September 2025.
The 30-day period can be extended in a number of ways, including with your
agreement.
Extension of Time Request:
Unfortunately, it is currently taking us a little longer than 30 days to
process FOI requests due to a very high volume of incoming matters. I am
therefore seeking your agreement to a 30-day extension of time under
section 15AA of the FOI Act. If you agree to this extension, the new due
date for us to decide on your request will be 25 October 2025.
Please let us know if you agree by 1 September 2025.
Explanation of Extension of Time Request:
The reason I am seeking an extension of time is to ensure I preserve your
review rights under the FOI Act.
FOI applicants are normally entitled to exercise a right of internal
review if they are unsatisfied with the outcome of an FOI decision.
However, this right of review lapses if a FOI decision is not made within
the statutory timeframe. This is because if an agency doesn’t issue their
decision within the statutory timeframe, they are deemed to have refused
the request for documents. If this situation happens, it will limit your
options for formal review to only contacting the OAIC.
You are not obligated to agree to this request, you would still retain
your review rights with our regulatory body OAIC (Office of the Australian
Information Commission).
Irrelevant Information
Section 22 of the FOI Act allows an Agency to redact information from
documents if that information would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant
to a request for access.
Given the nature of your request, it does not seem that NDIA staff
members’ surnames and contact details would be relevant to you. Can you
please send me a reply email confirming that such details are irrelevant
to your request for access?
Action Required
Can I please request a response regarding our request for a 30-day
extension of time, by 1 September 2025..
Next steps
I have completed some preliminary work on your request; however, your
matter will be allocated to an authorised FOI decision-maker for any
further action. The decision-maker may need to contact you to discuss a
range of matters, including refining the scope of your request.
We will contact you using the email address you have provided. Please
advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or need help, please contact us
at [1][NDIA request email].
Kind regards,
Adam
Freedom of Information Officer – Triage and Early Resolution
Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch
Reviews and Information Release Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [2][email address]
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The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout
Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to them and their cultures and to Elders past and
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Dear Adam
I agree to the extension of time, making the new new due date for you to decide on my request 25 October 2025.
I agree that NDIA staff members’ surnames are irrelevant to my request.
Yours sincerely,
David Wright