Pezzullo and visa privatisation

M Poler 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 successful.

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

Last month, just after the election was called, in caretaker period, the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, Mr Michael Pezzullo, sent an email to all (or otherwise most) Department of Home Affairs' staff spruiking the Government's policy to privatise Australia's visa processing system.

Like every policy decision made by this corrupt Government, this Government's decision to privatise Australia's visa processing system has not been made in the public interest, but rather to enrich its dodgy mates. See here: https://www.afr.com/street-talk/briggs-r...

Under the FOI Act, I seek access to Mr Pezzullo's email to staff spruiking this crooked Government's policy to privatise Australia's visa processing system.

Release of the document the subject of my request is in the public interest because it will provide authoritative guidance to all public servants as to the extent to which public servants can openly spruik (and equally, criticise) corrupt government policy without contravening their legal obligations under the Public Service Act. I am willing to exclude from the scope of my request, the personal information of any person other than Mr Pezzullo.

Thank you.

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

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General information regarding travelling to Australia

Information for visitors to Australia can be found [1]here.

Information regarding potential visa options can be found [2]here.

 

Updating your details once a visa has been granted, including minor
corrections to date of birth and name

The Department has an administrative process for minor corrections to date
of birth or name due to client error (such an a typographical error in an
online application) where the visa application has already been finalised.

You can update your details online if your application is available in
ImmiAccount. Go to the Department’s website [3]here.
Alternatively, you can complete a form 929, which can be found [4]here.
The completed form and attachments should be sent by email to
[5][email address]. This form will not be actioned by the FOI
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Details of our offices located around the world can be found [6]here.

 

Queries regarding your current Visa status

You can check your visa details and conditions on the Department’s Visa
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necessary reference numbers to access the VEVO portal, you should contact
the office where you lodged your visa application for further information.

 

Refund of Visa fees

If you are seeking a refund of fees associated with your Visa, you should
contact the office where you lodged your visa application.  Details of our
offices located around the world can be found [7]here.

 

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or assistance, including advice regarding the lodgement of visa
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[8]here.  Please note that the Department is unable to assist you in this
regard.

 

If you are experiencing technical difficulties in lodging your visa
application through ImmiAccount, you should submit your concerns through
the ImmiAccount Technical Support Form, which is accessible [9]here.

 

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Information on how to apply for Australian citizenship, information for
Australian citizens and Australian Citizenship Day can be found [11]here.

 

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Superannuation – Evidence of Immigration Status

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Update Passport Details

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[14]here.

 

Notification of Change in Circumstances

If you have lodged a visa application and your circumstances have changed,
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application. Details of our offices located around the world can be found
[16]here. The FOI Section does not process these forms. 

 

Notification of incorrect answers

If you wish to correct answers that you have provided to the Department
either:

·         in a visa application

·         on a passenger card or

·         in response to a notice given to you by the Department inviting
you to comment on possible non-compliance with an obligation to correct
incorrect information

You should submit [17]Form 1023 to the Department. Details of our offices
located around the world can be found [18]here. The FOI Section does not
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Duty Free concessions

Information relating to duty free concessions can be found [19]here.

 

General Enquiries

If you have a question, which has not been answered above, and which is
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out of Australia, please refer to our general enquiries web form [20]here.

 

 

Thank you

 

Information updated 13 November 2018

 

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visi
2. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1
3. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/immiaccount
4. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-lis...
5. mailto:[email address]
6. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o...
7. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o...
8. https://www.mara.gov.au/
9. https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Immi...
10. http://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents...
11. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Citi
12. http://www.border.gov.au/FormsAndDocumen...
13. http://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents...
14. http://www.border.gov.au/Lega/Lega/Form/...
15. http://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents...
16. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o...
17. http://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents...
18. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/o...
19. http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Ente/Duty-...
20. http://www.border.gov.au/about/contact/m...

FOI, Department of Home Affairs

UNCLASSIFIED
In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 19/05/01587

Dear M Poler

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

I refer to your correspondence received on 26 May 2019 seeking access to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

Your request was received by the Department on 26 May 2019 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 19/05/01587 . 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.

Exclusion of non-SES staff personal details and SES telephone contact details

The Department’s policy is to exclude the personal details of staff not in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as well as the direct contact details of SES staff, contained in documents that fall within scope of an FOI request. If you require personal details of non-SES officers, or direct contact details of SES staff, please inform us so the decision maker may consider your request. Otherwise we will take it that you agree to that information being excluded from the scope of your request.

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Where documents are released to you in response to your request, the Department may be required to publish these documents on its website within 10 working days in accordance with section 11C of the FOI Act. Publication will not be required where the documents contain personal or business affairs information.

Contacting the FOI Section

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

With kind regards
Freedom of Information Section
FOI, Privacy and Records Management Branch
Productivity and Compliance 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

2 Attachments

UNCLASSIFIED
Dear M Poler

FOI request FA 19/05/01587

I refer to your FOI request received on 26 May 2019.

Please find attached the decision record and document released under the FOI Act.

This request has now been closed.

With kind regards
Freedom of Information Section
FOI, Privacy and Records Management Branch
Productivity and Compliance 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.