Public servants access to ‘top up ‘ hearing aids

Thank you for your email to Freedom of Information (FOI) at Comcare. If
your request meets the requirements for a valid FOI request, an
acknowledgement letter will be sent to you within 14 days. Otherwise, FOI
staff will contact you to discuss your request.

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copy of our Privacy Policy.

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Mr Griffiths,

Thank you for your email of 12 February 2019 seeking access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) to the following:

‘statistics in 2018 on Public Servants and Government contractors access
to ‘ ‘top up ‘ hearing aid through SRCA / Comcare’.

During our telephone conversation on 20 February 2019, we discussed that
data cannot be extracted from Comcare systems to provide this information.
You agreed to revise your scope to the following:

Data showing amounts paid to claimants, related to hearing aids, devices
or instruments for the 2017/2018 financial year.

Could you please confirm by reply email, that you would like to proceed
with the request, based on the revised scope above.

Your request has been assigned reference number 2019/1555 and you are
asked to cite that number in any communication you have with Comcare
concerning the request. Information on processing of your request is set
out below.

Timeframe for receiving your decision

The statutory timeframe for processing your request is 30 days from the
date on which it was received by Comcare, which makes the due date for the
decision on your request 14 March 2019.

This timeframe may be extended where:

a)       charges are levied as prescribed by the Freedom of Information
(Fees and Charges) Regulations 1982 (the FOI Regulations)(see charges
below);

b)      consultation with third parties is necessary (see consultation
with third parties below);

c)       by agreement from you, under section 15AA of the FOI Act; or

 d. by approval of the Information Commissioner, under section 15AB of the
FOI Act.

Disclosure Log
Please note that information released under FOI Act may be published in a
disclosure log on the Comcare’s website. Section 11C of the FOI Act
requires this publication, however it is subject to certain exceptions,
including where publication of personal, business, professional or
commercial information would be unreasonable.

Exclusion of employee details
Where the full name and contact details of staff members are included in
the scope of a request, this may add to processing time and applicable
charges as it may be necessary to consider whether the details are exempt
under the FOI Act. On this basis, unless you tell us otherwise, we will
assume that these details are out of scope of your request and they will
be redacted under section 22 of the FOI Act.

Consultation with third parties

The FOI Act requires Comcare to undertake consultation prior to making any
decision to grant access to documents (subject to exemptions) that
contain:

·         information that originated with, or was received from, a State
or an authority of a State;

·         information that originated with, or was received from, a
foreign government, an authority of a foreign government or an
international organisation;

·         information concerning a person's business or commercial
affairs, or the business, commercial or financial affairs of an
organisation or undertaking; or

o personal information about a person (including a deceased person).

You will be advised as soon as possible if external consultation is
required.

Charges

The department will advise you if a charge is payable to process your
request. No charge is payable for providing a person with their own
personal information.

Contact

Should you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this
email, or have any queries throughout the process, please contact me by
email to [1][Comcare request email] or by telephone 1300 366 979.

Yours sincerely

FOI Officer

Comcare

1300 366 979 | [2][Comcare request email]

GPO Box 9905, Canberra, ACT, 2601 | [3]www.comcare.gov.au

NOTICE: This e-mail message and attachments may contain confidential,
personal or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient you should not use or disclose any information in the message or
attachments. If received in error, please notify the sender by return
email immediately, if possible, or [email address].
Comcare does not waive any confidentiality or privilege. For information
about how we handle personal information, please visit
www.comcare.gov.au/privacy or contact us on 1300 366 979 and request a
copy of our Privacy Policy.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Comcare request email]
2. mailto:[Comcare request email]
3. http://www.comcare.gov.au/