Minister's stated preference for contract provider on Nauru

Eleanor Davey 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 refused by Department of Home Affairs.

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

Under Freedom of Information I would like to request documentation indicating the Minister's preference for retaining the services of Save the Children for welfare services on Nauru over the possibility of seeking a quote from Transfield, and the reasoning for this preference.

According to ANAO Auditor-General Report no. 16 of 2016-17, this preference was stated in writing on 3 December 2013 (see paragraph 3.67 of the report).

Yours faithfully,

Eleanor Davey

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

** This is an automated response. Please do not reply to this email **

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Information (FOI) Section. Please note that we will only action and
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Information updated 21 October 2019

 

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FOI, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED

In reply please quote:

FOI Request: FA 19/11/01159
File Number: OBJ2019/59180

Dear Ms Davey

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 21 November 2019 seeking access to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

You have requested access to the following:
Documentation indicating the Minister's preference for retaining the services of Save the Children for welfare services on Nauru over the possibility of seeking a quote from Transfield, and the reasoning for this preference.

According to ANAO Auditor-General Report no. 16 of 2016-17, this preference was stated in writing on 3 December 2013 (see paragraph 3.67 of the report).

Your request was received by the Department on 21 November 2019 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 19/11/01159 . Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.

Timeframe for receiving your decision
The statutory timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the date upon which your application was received by the Department.

Duplicate documents
If the FOI decision-maker deems a document to be a duplicate, they will not assess those pages as part of your FOI request. This means that if a there is a decision to release the document to you, you will receive only one copy, even if multiple copies of that document exists.

Contacting the FOI Section
Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at [DIBP request email].

Yours sincerely,

FOI Officer
Freedom of Information National Office
FOI and Records Management Branch
Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group
Department of Home Affairs | Email: [DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

show quoted sections

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon

I refer to your request received on 21 November 2019 for access to documents under the FOI Act.

The current due date for your request is 21 December 2019. Due to the number of requests currently being processed by our office, together with upcoming Christmas/New Year leave commitments of key personnel in your request, we will not be able to finalise your request by the original due date.

The Department seeks your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days. This would extend the due date for your request to Monday 20 January 2020.

It would assist the Department in managing its FOI caseload if you could provide a response to this request by close of business, Monday 23 December 2019

If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me on the details below.

With kind regards
Freedom of Information Section
FOI and Records Management Branch
Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group
Department of Home Affairs
E: [DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. 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. The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.

Dear FOI,

Thank you for the update on progress of the request. I am sorry to hear that it will not be completed within the normally expected time frame, and I agree to your request to extend the deadline by 30 days.

I will look forward to receiving the documentation in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Davey

Dear FOI,

FOI Request: FA 19/11/01159
File Number: OBJ2019/59180

Could you please provide an update on this request?

The extended deadline passed yesterday. Thank you for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Davey

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Eleanor,

 

Thank you for your email enquiring about the progress of your FOI
requests:

·         FA 19/11/01159

·         FA 19/11/01160

·         FA 19/11/01162

·         FA 19/11/00227

 

Please be advised that the Department is currently processing a large
number of FOI requests.  Our staff are working hard and the Department is
committed to processing your requests as quickly as possible.

 

A number of documents have been identified as falling within the scope of
your request and an FOI Officer will be reviewing those documents in due
course.  A decision on access will be made on your request and you will be
notified of this as soon as possible.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

 

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. 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. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Eleanor,

 

Thank you for your email enquiring about the progress of your FOI
requests:

·         FA 19/11/01159

·         FA 19/11/01160

·         FA 19/11/01162

·         FA 19/11/00227

 

Please be advised that the Department is currently processing a large
number of FOI requests.  Our staff are working hard and the Department is
committed to processing your requests as quickly as possible.

 

A number of documents have been identified as falling within the scope of
your request and an FOI Officer will be reviewing those documents in due
course.  A decision on access will be made on your request and you will be
notified of this as soon as possible.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

 

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. 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. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Eleanor,

 

Thank you for your email enquiring about the progress of your FOI
requests:

·         FA 19/11/01159

·         FA 19/11/01160

·         FA 19/11/01162

·         FA 19/11/00227

 

Please be advised that the Department is currently processing a large
number of FOI requests.  Our staff are working hard and the Department is
committed to processing your requests as quickly as possible.

 

A number of documents have been identified as falling within the scope of
your request and an FOI Officer will be reviewing those documents in due
course.  A decision on access will be made on your request and you will be
notified of this as soon as possible.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

 

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. 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. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Eleanor,

 

Thank you for your email enquiring about the progress of your FOI
requests:

·         FA 19/11/01159

·         FA 19/11/01160

·         FA 19/11/01162

·         FA 19/11/00227

 

Please be advised that the Department is currently processing a large
number of FOI requests.  Our staff are working hard and the Department is
committed to processing your requests as quickly as possible.

 

A number of documents have been identified as falling within the scope of
your request and an FOI Officer will be reviewing those documents in due
course.  A decision on access will be made on your request and you will be
notified of this as soon as possible.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

 

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. 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. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

Dear FOI,

Re: FOI Request: FA 19/11/01159
File Number: OBJ2019/59180

I am writing to ask for an update on the above request. The last correspondence was four weeks ago and the request is extremely overdue. Thank you for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Davey

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Eleanor,

 

Thank you for your email enquiring about the progress of your FOI
requests:

 

·         FA 19/11/01159

·         FA 19/11/01160

·         FA 19/11/01162

·         FA 19/11/00227

 

The identified documents contain information that may be pertinent to the
business information of 3^rd party stakeholders. Due to this we are
working with the decision maker to consult the 3^rd party prior to
release. We will continue to resolve your requests as soon as possible.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [DIBP request email]

 

UNCLASSIFIED

 

show quoted sections

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Eleanor,

 

Thank you for your email enquiring about the progress of your FOI
requests:

 

·         FA 19/11/01159

·         FA 19/11/01160

·         FA 19/11/01162

·         FA 19/11/00227

 

The identified documents contain information that may be pertinent to the
business information of 3^rd party stakeholders. Due to this we are
working with the decision maker to consult the 3^rd party prior to
release. We will continue to resolve your requests as soon as possible.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [DIBP request email]

 

UNCLASSIFIED

 

show quoted sections

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Eleanor,

 

Thank you for your email enquiring about the progress of your FOI
requests:

 

·         FA 19/11/01159

·         FA 19/11/01160

·         FA 19/11/01162

·         FA 19/11/00227

 

The identified documents contain information that may be pertinent to the
business information of 3^rd party stakeholders. Due to this we are
working with the decision maker to consult the 3^rd party prior to
release. We will continue to resolve your requests as soon as possible.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [DIBP request email]

 

UNCLASSIFIED

 

show quoted sections

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Eleanor,

 

Thank you for your email enquiring about the progress of your FOI
requests:

 

·         FA 19/11/01159

·         FA 19/11/01160

·         FA 19/11/01162

·         FA 19/11/00227

 

The identified documents contain information that may be pertinent to the
business information of 3^rd party stakeholders. Due to this we are
working with the decision maker to consult the 3^rd party prior to
release. We will continue to resolve your requests as soon as possible.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [DIBP request email]

 

UNCLASSIFIED

 

show quoted sections

Eleanor Davey

Dear FOI,

I write in relation to the following claims:
· FA 19/11/01159
· FA 19/11/01160
· FA 19/11/01162
· FA 19/11/00227

It has been approximately two months since the last correspondence. I appreciate that these are challenging times however these requests are extremely overdue. Please advise as to the status of decision-making on these requests. Thank you for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Davey

Eleanor Davey

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Home Affairs's handling of my FOI request 'Minister's stated preference for contract provider on Nauru'.

The request is now very long overdue. It was not a large or unwieldy request, and my submission included details about the date and context of the material. It has now been three months since the last correspondence I have received and by law, DHA should have responded by now. I have previously agreed to extensions but can not see how any further extension is warranted given the modest scope of the request.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/m...

Yours faithfully,

Eleanor Davey

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

** This is an automated response. Please do not reply to this email **

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

show quoted sections

FOI Reviews mailbox, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED

In reply please quote:

FOI request: FA19/11/01159

File number: OBJ2019/59180

 

Dear Ms Davey,

Thank you for your email requesting an Internal Review of your current
Freedom of Information Request (Reference FA19/11/01159).

I am writing to advise that under Section 54E(b) of the Freedom of
Information Act 1982, Internal Review is not available for decisions made
in relation to the provision of access under Section 15AC (deemed
refusals).

For this reason, the Internal Review that you have requested is not able
to be conducted by the Department of Home Affairs. Please take this notice
as advice that the Internal Review is invalid.

It is open to you to seek review of the deemed decision via the
Information Commissioner, via the following means:

Online:                 [1]www.oaic.gov.au

Post:                   GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001

Fax:                     +61 2 9284 9666

Email:                  [2][email address]

More information about Information Commissioner review is available on the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website at
[3]www.oaic.gov.au.

You can also provide feedback directly to the Department about Freedom of
Information section via the Global Feedback Unit at:
[4]https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...

 

Kind regards

 

Reviews Officer

FOI Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division

Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs | www.homeaffairs.gov.au

 

 

 

 

 

UNCLASSIFIED

 

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. 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. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.oaic.gov.au/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.oaic.gov.au/
4. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...

Posty left an annotation ()

This makes no sense to me, they went on about collaborating with 3rd parties to refusing an internal review?

Eleanor Davey left an annotation ()

The correspondence for some requests has gotten mixed up and the decision letter (unsuccesful) is available here: https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/l...