NDIS communication with media about Mild Autism
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
Please provide, in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, all information and records of communication between the NDIS/NDIA and media agencies, media representative, and/or personnel/staff employed in media organisations that mention or refer to "mild autism" since June 2024.
Yours faithfully,
Bob Buckley (A4 Co-convenor)
Thank you for your email to the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA) Freedom of Information (FOI) team.
Please note: due to a high volume of requests, our ability to respond to
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You can also request data and statistics. Please visit our [6]Data and
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Further Information
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[8]Freedom of Information
Should you have a query unrelated to FOI, please contact the Agency by
email at [9][email address] or via webchat at [10]ndis.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can also contact us by phoning 1800 800 110.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [11][NDIA request email]
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, present
and emerging.
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IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for the use of the intended recipient only and
may contain information that is confidential, commercially valuable and/or
subject to legal or parliamentary privilege. If you are not the intended
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this information is prohibited and may result in severe penalties. If you
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References
Visible links
1. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
2. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
3. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
4. https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/usi...
5. https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/workin...
6. https://data.ndis.gov.au/
7. mailto:[NDIA request email]
8. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
9. mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.ndis.gov.au/
11. mailto:[NDIA request email]
Dear Bob Buckley,
Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement
Thank you for your request of 6 May 2025, made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for copies of documents/information held
by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Scope of your Request
You have requested access to:
"... all information and records of communication between the NDIS/NDIA
and media agencies, media representative, and/or personnel/staff employed
in media organisations that mention or refer to "mild autism" since June
2024..."
Processing Timeframes
In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request will commence from 7 May 2025. This
30-day period expires on 6 June 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 6 July 2025.
Please let us know if you agree by Thursday 29 May 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
1. Can I please request a response regarding our request for a 30 day
extension of time, by Thursday 29 May 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].
Regards,
Cindy
Cindy – CGN062
Senior Freedom of Information Officer
Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch
Reviews and Information Release Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [2][NDIA request email]
[3]NDIA logo
[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic
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, present
and emerging.
[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic
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, present
and emerging.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Buckley (A4 Co-convenor)
[6][FOI #13118 email]
Sent: Tuesday, 6 May 2025 8:52 AM
To: foi [7][NDIA request email]
Subject: Freedom of Information request - NDIS communication with media
about Mild Autism
[You don't often get email from
[8][FOI #13118 email]. Learn why this is
important at [9]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
Please provide, in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act 1982, all information and records of communication between
the NDIS/NDIA and media agencies, media representative, and/or
personnel/staff employed in media organisations that mention or refer to
"mild autism" since June 2024.
Yours faithfully,
Bob Buckley (A4 Co-convenor)
**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for the use of the intended recipient only and
may contain information that is confidential, commercially valuable and/or
subject to legal or parliamentary privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient you are notified that any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon,
this information is prohibited and may result in severe penalties. If you
have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately
and delete all electronic and hard copies of this transmission together
with any attachments. Please consider the environment before printing this
e-mail
**********************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[NDIA request email]
2. mailto:[NDIA request email]
6. mailto:[FOI #13118 email]
7. mailto:[NDIA request email]
8. mailto:[FOI #13118 email]
9. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
Dear foi,
I agree to a 30-day extension for this request.
I reject your suggestion "that NDIA staff members’ surnames and contact details would [not] be relevant to you". I believe the identities of senior NDIA officials and their roles in the organization are highly relevant to my request in this instance.
For staff in lesser roles, their names are not needed though their role (job title) are less important.
Yours sincerely,
Bob Buckley (A4 Co-convenor)
Dear Bob Buckley
Thank you for your request for information.
Please find attached correspondence in relation to your request. If you
require this in a different format, please let us know.
Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or
require help.
Thank you.
Kind regards
Patrick (PHO293)
Senior Freedom of Information Officer
Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch
Reviews and Information Release Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E: [2][NDIA request email]
[3]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency
[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic
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, present
and emerging.
[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Buckley (A4 Co-convenor)
<[6][FOI #13118 email]>
Sent: Friday, 30 May 2025 9:20 AM
To: foi <[7][NDIA request email]>
Subject: Re: FOI 24/25-1928 - your request for information -
acknowledgement and extension of time request [SEC=OFFICIAL]
[You don't often get email from
[8][FOI #13118 email]. Learn why this is
important at [9]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
Dear foi,
I agree to a 30-day extension for this request.
I reject your suggestion "that NDIA staff members’ surnames and contact
details would [not] be relevant to you". I believe the identities of
senior NDIA officials and their roles in the organization are highly
relevant to my request in this instance.
For staff in lesser roles, their names are not needed though their role
(job title) are less important.
Yours sincerely,
Bob Buckley (A4 Co-convenor)
-----Original Message-----
Dear Bob Buckley,
Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement
Thank you for your request of 6 May 2025, made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for copies of documents/information held
by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Scope of your Request
You have requested access to:
"... all information and records of communication between the NDIS/NDIA
and media agencies, media representative, and/or personnel/staff employed
in media organisations that mention or refer to "mild autism" since June
2024..."
Processing Timeframes
In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request will commence from 7 May 2025. This
30-day period expires on 6 June 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 6 July 2025.
Please let us know if you agree by Thursday 29 May 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
1. Can I please request a response regarding our request for a 30 day
extension of time, by Thursday 29 May 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].
Regards,
Cindy
Cindy – CGN062
Senior Freedom of Information Officer
Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch
Reviews and Information Release Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [2][NDIA request email]
[3]NDIA logo
[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic
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, present
and emerging.
[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic
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, present
and emerging.
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**********************************************************************
IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for the use of the intended recipient only and
may contain information that is confidential, commercially valuable and/or
subject to legal or parliamentary privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient you are notified that any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon,
this information is prohibited and may result in severe penalties. If you
have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately
and delete all electronic and hard copies of this transmission together
with any attachments. Please consider the environment before printing this
e-mail
**********************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[NDIA request email]
2. mailto:[NDIA request email]
4. https://intranet.ndiastaff.ndia.gov.au/h...
6. mailto:[FOI #13118 email]
7. mailto:[NDIA request email]
8. mailto:[FOI #13118 email]
9. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
10. mailto:[FOI #13118 email]
11. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...