Question Time Briefs

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Department of the Treasury should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Department of the Treasury,
I seek access under the FOI Act 1982 to Question Time briefs (however described). This request is for Question Time briefs for the 47th Parliament (ie Question Time briefs prepared for 27 – 28 July and 1-4 August).

I also request a copy of the Department’s current index of Question Time briefs.

Duplicate copies of the same document are not required, although different or updated versions of a document are. If a document contains tracked changes or comments, it is requested that the document be provided in a form where all tracked changes and comments are visible.

Names and contact details for departmental staff below the SES level are not required and can be treated as irrelevant under s22 of the Act for the purposes of this request.

Yours faithfully,

BE

FOI, Department of the Treasury

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    FOI 3148 Acknowledgement SEC OFFICIAL.html

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OFFICIAL

 

Dear BE,

 

We write to acknowledge receipt of your request, under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), in the following terms:

 

I seek access under the FOI Act 1982 to Question Time briefs (however
described).  This request is for Question Time briefs for the 47th
Parliament (ie Question Time briefs prepared for 27 – 28 July and 1-4
August). 

 

I also request a copy of the Department’s current index of Question Time
briefs.  

 

Duplicate copies of the same document are not required, although different
or updated versions of a document are.  If a document contains tracked
changes or comments, it is requested that the document be provided in a
form where all tracked changes and comments are visible.

 

Names and contact details for departmental staff below the SES level are
not required and can be treated as irrelevant under s22 of the Act for the
purposes of this request.

 

The Treasury received your request on 4 August 2022. The FOI Act provides
that we have 14 days to acknowledge the request. The FOI Act provides that
we have 30 days to process the request. This period may be extended if we
need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if
this happens.

 

We will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request and the
amount of any such charge as soon as possible.

 

We make the following assumptions that affect the scope of the request.
These are set out below.

 

It is our usual practice:

·         not to disclose the personal information of government employees
or the personal contact details of senior government employees (including
those of the Treasury). The names of senior officers will generally be
released.

·         not to release duplicates of any document captured within the
scope of the request.

·         only the final version of a document will be considered within
scope.

 

Please inform us if you do not agree to the request being processed on the
above assumptions. If we do not hear from you, your request will be
processed on the basis that these documents are outside the scope of your
request.

 

We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

 

If you have any questions in relation to your application, please contact
the FOI Team on 02 6263 2800.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6263 2800

Email: [1][Treasury request email]

[2]www.treasury.gov.au

 

 

OFFICIAL

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FOI, Department of the Treasury

1 Attachment

OFFICIAL

 

Dear BE,

 

Please find attached correspondence in FOI 3149.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6263 2800

Email: [1][Treasury request email]

[2]www.treasury.gov.au

 

OFFICIAL

From: FOI <[3][email address]>
Sent: Friday, 12 August 2022 2:21 PM
To: '[FOI #9223 email]'
<[4][FOI #9223 email]>
Subject: FOI 3149 - Acknowledgement [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

OFFICIAL

 

Dear BE,

 

We write to acknowledge receipt of your request, under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), in the following terms:

 

I seek access under the FOI Act 1982 to Question Time briefs (however
described).  This request is for Question Time briefs for the 47th
Parliament (ie Question Time briefs prepared for 27 – 28 July and 1-4
August). 

 

I also request a copy of the Department’s current index of Question Time
briefs.  

 

Duplicate copies of the same document are not required, although different
or updated versions of a document are.  If a document contains tracked
changes or comments, it is requested that the document be provided in a
form where all tracked changes and comments are visible.

 

Names and contact details for departmental staff below the SES level are
not required and can be treated as irrelevant under s22 of the Act for the
purposes of this request.

 

The Treasury received your request on 4 August 2022. The FOI Act provides
that we have 14 days to acknowledge the request. The FOI Act provides that
we have 30 days to process the request. This period may be extended if we
need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if
this happens.

 

We will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request and the
amount of any such charge as soon as possible.

 

We make the following assumptions that affect the scope of the request.
These are set out below.

 

It is our usual practice:

·         not to disclose the personal information of government employees
or the personal contact details of senior government employees (including
those of the Treasury). The names of senior officers will generally be
released.

·         not to release duplicates of any document captured within the
scope of the request.

·         only the final version of a document will be considered within
scope.

 

Please inform us if you do not agree to the request being processed on the
above assumptions. If we do not hear from you, your request will be
processed on the basis that these documents are outside the scope of your
request.

 

We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

 

If you have any questions in relation to your application, please contact
the FOI Team on 02 6263 2800.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6263 2800

Email: [5][Treasury request email]

[6]www.treasury.gov.au

 

 

OFFICIAL

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Dear FOI,
Thank you for your email. It would assist in reducing the scope of my request if you could provide me a copy of the index of QTBs as at 4 August 2022 (the date of my request). This would then enable me to potentially refine and reduce the scope of the other documents that I am seeking.

I am keen to ensure that there are no delays to the original time frame for this request so can you please let me know as soon as possible today whether this is possible and if not i will look at other methods to reduce (although this would seem to be the most practical and appropriate mechanism to enable me to reduce the scope).

Yours sincerely,

BE

Dear FOI,

I am following up on my last email. Given that you have indicated that you will be delaying processing my request whilst scope is negotiated I would appreciate your prompt attention to my response so that the FOI can be processed within the original timeframe.

Yours sincerely,

BE

Dear FOI,

I note that I have still not received a response to any of my emails seeking to reduce the scope following your letter of 16 August 2022 (received after close of business on that day).

In light of that and my preference for the scope reduction to be finalised as a priority so that the request can be progressed, I confirm that i will reduce the scope as follows:
1. Copy of the QTB index as at the date of the original request
2. The first 30 QTBs listed in the index

I do not require drafts. I note that this represents a further reduction of approximately two-thirds of the QTBs as you indicate there are 86. This reduction would also reduce the volume, based on the information set out in your letter, to an amount where it would not be possible for it to be legitimately considered to be an unreasonable diversion. As you have not responded to my multiple emails this seems like the simplest reduction that can be undertaken in the circumstances.

Given that I responded within less than one business day (morning of 17 August) I request that the clock only be stopped for one day - noting that the remainder of the delay was entirely one sided and controlled by the Department's conduct.

Thank you.
Please acknowledge receipt of this email and that the scope has been varied.

Yours sincerely,

BE

FOI, Department of the Treasury

OFFICIAL

 

Dear BE

 

The Treasury acknowledges the scope revision outlined in your email below.

 

We will continue to process your request in accordance with the FOI Act.

 

This will include assessment whether the practical refusal reason has now
been removed.

 

Sincerely

 

Freedom of Information Officer

The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6263 2800OFFICIAL

 

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FOI, Department of the Treasury

1 Attachment

OFFICIALOFFICIAL

 

OFFICIAL

 

 

Dear BE

 

Please see the attached charges letter for FOI 3149.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information Officer

The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6263 2800

Email: [1][Treasury request email]

[2]www.treasury.gov.au

 

OFFICIAL

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