OAIC submissions in relation to the FOI Bill 2025
Dear Office of the Australian Information Commissioner,
Pursuant to the FOI Act 1982 (Cth), I seek the following documents:
1. All correspondence and communications and submissions made by the OAIC to the Attorney General’s office or Attorney General’s Department in relation to the Freedom of Information Bill 2025, particularly communication about FOI reforms leading up to the release of the Bill on 3 September 2025.
Please limit documents to documents from 1 January 2024 up to 3 September 2025.
For staff members below SES I do not seek their names or direct contact details but would be grateful if their position title can remain.
Yours faithfully,
John
Your email has been received by the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC). Important: Please note the OAIC is not a central
repository and does not hold documents of other Commonwealth agencies, nor
documents of State or Territory Departments.
FOI requests to the OAIC
Important: This email address is only for making requests to obtain access
to document(s) held by the OAIC, pursuant to the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act). We will only action and respond to emails making
FOI requests to the OAIC.
For information on how to make an FOI request to the OAIC, and to ensure
that your request complies with the requirements of the FOI Act, please
refer to the FOI page on the OAIC website at:
[1]https://www.oaic.gov.au/about-us/access-...
Once your request has been assessed by the OAIC, and registered, an
acknowledgement email will be sent to you with an FOI reference number.
Statistics
The OAIC publishes an Australian Government FOI statistics dashboard which
provides key freedom of information (FOI) data over the last 5 years, as
reported by Australian Government agencies and ministers to the OAIC under
the Freedom of Information Act 1982. This dashboard is updated quarterly
and available on our website at [2]Australian Government freedom of
information statistics | OAIC
The OAIC does not hold documents of other Commonwealth agencies, nor for
other state agencies, or private organisations. The OAIC does not hold
Police Records or State Government Records. Further information on how to
access these types of records is here [3]Freedom of information requests
to the OAIC
Accordingly:
1) if you are seeking to access documents of a particular
Commonwealth agency, you will need to make your request directly to the
relevant agency. For example, if you are requesting a copy of your visa
records, please make an FOI request and send it to the Department of Home
Affairs. Further details and information is below.
2) if you are seeking to access documents of a state or local
government agency, each Australian state and territory have separate FOI
legislation which governs information held by state government agencies.
Please contact the relevant agency as to how to make an application to
access the documents. For example, if you are seeking access to police
reports from the NSW Police Force, this agency is governed by the
Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act); you will
need to contact NSW Police to find out how to make a GIPA application for
a police report.
3) if you are seeking to access documents of a private organisation,
which the FOI Act does not apply to, please contact the organisation
directly to find out how to access the documents you are seeking. For
example, if you are seeking to access hospital records or your medical
records, please contact these organisations directly.
4) You can request copies of documents directly from other
Commonwealth agencies, such as:
Australian Federal Police
[4]Freedom of Information access requests - AFP
Department of Home Affairs
[5]Freedom of information (homeaffairs.gov.au)- external site
Services Australia
[6]Freedom of information - Services Australia- external site
Department of Veterans Affairs
[7]Freedom of information | Department of Veterans' Affairs (dva.gov.au)-
external site
Australian Taxation Office
[8]Freedom of information (FOI) request – individuals and businesses |
Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au)- external site
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (passports)
[9]Freedom of information | Australian Government Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au)- external site
5) For other Commonwealth or State agencies, please visit the
relevant agency's website and search 'freedom of information' or 'FOI
request'.
Enquiries and other matters
If your email relates to any of the following, please use the OAIC's
online forms at [10]https://www.oaic.gov.au/about-us/contact...
- Enquiry
- Privacy Complaint
- Notifiable Data Breach
- Consumer Data Right Complaint
- FOI Complaint
- Freedom of Information (IC) Review
- Agency FOI Extension of Time Requests
- Speech requests.
Kind regards
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Notice:
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/about-us/access-...
2. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
3. https://www.oaic.gov.au/about-the-OAIC/a...
4. https://www.afp.gov.au/about-us/governan...
5. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
6. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/fre...
7. https://www.dva.gov.au/about-us/overview...
8. https://www.ato.gov.au/forms-and-instruc...
9. https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/corpora...
10. https://www.oaic.gov.au/about-us/contact...
OAIC reference: FOIREQ25/00414
To J C Hobbs,
I refer to your request (below), sent to the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner (OAIC) in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) on 5 September 2025.
Scope of your request
Your FOI request was made in the following terms:
All correspondence and communications and submissions made by the OAIC to
the Attorney General’s office or Attorney General’s Department in relation
to the Freedom of Information Bill 2025, particularly communication about
FOI reforms leading up to the release of the Bill on 3 September 2025.
Please limit documents to documents from 1 January 2024 up to 3 September
2025.
For staff members below SES I do not seek their names or direct contact
details but would be grateful if their position title can remain.
Timeframes for dealing with your request
Section 15 of the FOI Act requires the OAIC to process your request no
later than 30 days after the day we receive it. Your FOI request was
received by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
on 5 September 2025. The decision on your FOI request therefore falls due
on Sunday 5 October 2025.
Paragraph 3.141 of the Australian Information Commissioner Guidelines
states ‘If the last day for notifying a decision falls on a Saturday,
Sunday or a public holiday, the timeframe will expire on the first
business day following that day.’ I moved this para up to where it makes
sense and added the notifiable date below.
Accordingly, as the legislated timeframe for your request expires on a
Sunday, a decision will be notified to you on the first working day
following that, being Monday 6 October 2025.
Section 15(6) of the FOI Act allows us a further 30 days in situations
where we need to consult with third parties about certain information,
such as business documents or documents affecting their personal privacy.
We will let you know if the timeframe for issuing you a decision is
extended for any reason, including where we need to consult a third party
during the processing of your matter.
If you do not receive a decision within 30 days, or advice that the
statutory timeframe has been extended, you can apply to the Information
Commissioner for review of what is called a ‘deemed decision’. For further
information, see [1]Apply for an Information Commissioner review | OAIC
(or visit [2]www.oaic.gov.au).
Disclosure Log
Documents released under the FOI Act may be published online on our
disclosure log, unless they contain personal or business information that
would be unreasonable to publish.
In order to process your request more quickly, we will remove duplicate
material from any document bundle we provide.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Regards
[3][IMG] FOI Administration
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Sydney
E [4][OAIC request email]
Dear J C Hobbs
We are writing to provide an update on your FOI request.
Currently, the legislated timeframe for you’re a decision on your request
expires on 5 October 2025.
However, we had a number of key staff away due to illness which has
impacted our workflow. Consequently, we are seeking your agreement to a
15-day extension of time under section 15AA of the FOI Act. This would
make the new statutory due date 20 October 2025.
An extension of time would enable us to make the best and most robust
decision on your request.
Please let us know if you agree to this extension by COB 29 September
2025.
Kind regards,
[1][IMG] FOI administration
Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner
E: [2][OAIC request email]
[3][IMG] | [4][IMG] | [5][IMG] | [6]Subscribe to Information
Matters
The OAIC acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country across Australia
and their continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We pay
our respect to First Nations people, cultures and Elders past and present.
Notice:
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/
2. mailto:[OAIC request email]
3. http://www.facebook.com/OAICgov
4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/office-...
5. https://twitter.com/OAICgov
6. https://www.oaic.gov.au/media-and-speech...
Dear J C Hobbs
Thank you for agreeing to our request, it is greatly appreciated.
I confirm that the new statutory due date is now 20 October 2025.
Kind regards
FOI administration
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
E: [OAIC request email]
Subscribe to Information Matters
The OAIC acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country across Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We pay our respect to First Nations people, cultures and Elders past and present.
OAIC reference: FOIREQ25/00414
Dear J C Hobbs
We are writing to provide an update on your FOI request.
Currently, the legislated timeframe for you to receive a decision on your
request expires on 20 October 2025.
On 24 September 2025, we wrote to you seeking your agreement to an
extension of time for the processing of your request of 15 days. On 30
September 2025, you kindly agreed to that extension.
Unfortunately, we have had unexpected delays in the processing of your
request due to the complex nature of the documents, and a requirement to
further consult with the relevant business areas regarding the technical
nature of the subject matter.
Consequently, we are seeking your agreement to a further 15-day extension
of time under section 15AA of the FOI Act. If you are in agreement, this
would make the new statutory due date 4 November 2025.
An extension of time would enable us to make the best and most robust
decision on your request.
Please let us know if you agree to this extension by 19 October 2025.
Kind regards,
[1][IMG] FOI administration
Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner
E: [2][OAIC request email]
[3][IMG] | [4][IMG] | [5][IMG] | [6]Subscribe to Information
Matters
The OAIC acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country across Australia
and their continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We pay
our respect to First Nations people, cultures and Elders past and present.
Notice:
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/
2. mailto:[OAIC request email]
3. http://www.facebook.com/OAICgov
4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/office-...
5. https://twitter.com/OAICgov
6. https://www.oaic.gov.au/media-and-speech...
OAIC REF: FOIREQ25/00414
Dear J C Hobbs
Please find attached a decision in relation to your FOI request to the
OAIC.
The documents and schedule will follow as soon as possible.
Your review rights are attached to the decision letter.
Kind regards
[1][IMG] FOI administration
Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner
E: [2][OAIC request email]
[3][IMG] | [4][IMG] | [5][IMG] | [6]Subscribe to Information
Matters
The OAIC acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country across Australia
and their continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We pay
our respect to First Nations people, cultures and Elders past and present.
Notice:
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/
2. mailto:[OAIC request email]
3. http://www.facebook.com/OAICgov
4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/office-...
5. https://twitter.com/OAICgov
6. https://www.oaic.gov.au/media-and-speech...
Dear Office of the Australian Information Commissioner,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Office of the Australian Information Commissioner's handling of my FOI request 'OAIC submissions in relation to the FOI Bill 2025'.
On 20 October 2025, while I have received a decision which purportedly gave me access to some documents, no documents or schedule were released. No information were forthcoming as to when these documents will be released either as of 24 October 2025. This can only be viewed as disingenuous conduct to delay access to the documents that’s against the spirit of the FOI Act. I trust the office is well familiar with the definition of an access refusal decision under section 53A(c) of the FOI Act, which this decision clearly is. It’s mightily disappointing to see this type of result from no other than the FOI regulator after agreeing to an extension of time.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: http://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/oa...
Yours faithfully,
John
Thank you for your email which has been received by the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
Notice:
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.
OAIC REF: FOIREQ25/00414
Dear J C Hobbs
Please find attached documents and schedule in relation to your FOI
request to the OAIC.
Thank you for your patience while we finalised the documents for release.
Kind regards
[1][IMG] FOI administration
Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner
E: [2][OAIC request email]
[3][IMG] | [4][IMG] | [5][IMG] | [6]Subscribe to Information
Matters
The OAIC acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country across Australia
and their continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We pay
our respect to First Nations people, cultures and Elders past and present.
Notice:
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/
2. mailto:[OAIC request email]
3. http://www.facebook.com/OAICgov
4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/office-...
5. https://twitter.com/OAICgov
6. https://www.oaic.gov.au/media-and-speech...