Rationale for bom.gov.au Cookie Banner
Dear Bureau of Meteorology,
I am seeking documents that contain the rationale, reasoning, or decision-making process for the implementation of the cookie notification banner (the banner that appears at the top of the bom.gov.au website).
I wish to work with you to narrow down the scope as narrow as reasonably possible and reduce any processing needed by you.
I don't know the exact start date of the new bom.gov.au website, however lets start by scoping the timeframe from 01-01-2016 to 24-10-2025.
If there is a better timeframe to narrow this to, I'm happy to narrow it.
I'm looking in particular for:
Documents outlining the legal or policy basis for the banner.
Please exclude:
Duplicates
Drafts
Names of any non-SES employees.
Communications (and the part of documents that contain communications) between BOM as a client and a lawyer where obtaining legal advice was the dominant purpose of the communication and the communication has not been very widely distributed.
Source Code
I only need the information regarding the cookie banner so if, for example, a document contains 400 pages and 1 page is about the cookie banner, please exclude everything else unrelated it. It can be redacted/excluded in full.
If a document is publicly available, I am happy to be linked to it and exclude it from this process.
If there are a large number of documents I can work with you to narrow this further.
Yours faithfully,
Steven Roddis
OFFICIAL
Ref: FOI30/180
Dear Steven Roddis,
1. We refer to and acknowledge receipt of your email dated 24 October
2025, in which you request access under the Freedom of Information
1982 (Cth) ('FOI Act'). You wrote:
"I am seeking documents that contain the rationale, reasoning, or
decision-making process for the implementation of the cookie notification
banner (the banner that appears at the top of the bom.gov.au website).
I wish to work with you to narrow down the scope as narrow as reasonably
possible and reduce any processing needed by you.
I don't know the exact start date of the new bom.gov.au website, however
lets start by scoping the timeframe from 01-01-2016 to 24-10-2025.
If there is a better timeframe to narrow this to, I'm happy to narrow it.
I'm looking in particular for:
Documents outlining the legal or policy basis for the banner.
Please exclude:
Duplicates
Drafts
Names of any non-SES employees.
Communications (and the part of documents that contain communications)
between BOM as a client and a lawyer where obtaining legal advice was the
dominant purpose of the communication and the communication has not been
very widely distributed.
Source Code
I only need the information regarding the cookie banner so if, for
example, a document contains 400 pages and 1 page is about the cookie
banner, please exclude everything else unrelated it. It can be
redacted/excluded in full.
If a document is publicly available, I am happy to be linked to it and
exclude it from this process."
Request for further time:
2. The Bureau received your request on 24 October 2025. Section 15(5) of
the FOI Act provides the Bureau 30 days to provide you a decision on
your request. As the timeframe finally falls on a weekend, the
decision is due the next working day. This means the decision is due
by 24 November 2025.
3. However, having regard to operational demands and resources, we
request your agreement to extend time by further 30 days pursuant to
section 15AA of the FOI Act. This means a decision will be due by 23
December 2025.
Consent to remove materials:
4. We note your request excludes (among others) the '[n]ames of any
non-SES employees'. However, we further write to ask whether you agree
to remove from any documents in scope of your request the following:
a. signatures, initials, position titles and direct contact details
of non-senior officers of the Bureau (being non-SES staff below the
General Manager level);
b. signatures, initials, and direct contact details of senior staff
(we note that where they appear the position titles of senior staff will
be released); and
c. names (including any signatures or initials), position titles and
direct contact details of any third-parties.
5. An agreement to remove the above information from scope of your
request would further minimise privacy concerns.
Your response:
6. We would be grateful for your response by reply email by close of
business Tuesday 11 November 2025 regarding:
o Your agreement to further time of 30 days pursuant to s 15AA (see
paragraph [3] above); and
o Your agreement to exclude specific materials from the scope of your
request (see paragraphs [4]-[5] above.)
Kind regards,
Freedom of Information
[1][BOM request email] | [2]www.bom.gov.au
[3]The Bureau of Meteorology logo. Text reads The Bureau of Meteorology.
Image is a stylised synoptic map of Australia.
[4]Facebook icon. Link to Bureau Facebook page. [5]Twitter icon. Link to
Bureau Twitter account. [6]YouTube icon. Link to Bureau YouTube
channel. [7]Instagram icon. Link to Bureau Instagram
account. [8]LinkedIn icon. Link to Bureau LinkedIn profile. [9]Stylised
synoptic map of Australia. Link to Bureau website,
[10]Aboriginal The Bureau of Meteorology acknowledges the Traditional
flag and Torres Custodians of Australia and their continuing connection to
Strait Islander land, sea and community.
flag
Important: This message may contain confidential or legally privileged
information. If you think it was sent to you by mistake, please delete all
copies and advise the sender.
[11]Banner. Scrolling ticker style with the text The Bureau of severe
weather warning, the harvest and Meteorology.
OFFICIAL
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Roddis <[12][FOI #13921 email]>
Sent: Friday, 24 October 2025 10:18 AM
To: FOI <[13][BOM request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Rationale for bom.gov.au Cookie
Banner
Dear Bureau of Meteorology,
I am seeking documents that contain the rationale, reasoning, or
decision-making process for the implementation of the cookie notification
banner (the banner that appears at the top of the bom.gov.au website).
I wish to work with you to narrow down the scope as narrow as reasonably
possible and reduce any processing needed by you.
I don't know the exact start date of the new bom.gov.au website, however
lets start by scoping the timeframe from 01-01-2016 to 24-10-2025.
If there is a better timeframe to narrow this to, I'm happy to narrow it.
I'm looking in particular for:
Documents outlining the legal or policy basis for the banner.
Please exclude:
Duplicates
Drafts
Names of any non-SES employees.
Communications (and the part of documents that contain communications)
between BOM as a client and a lawyer where obtaining legal advice was the
dominant purpose of the communication and the communication has not been
very widely distributed.
Source Code
I only need the information regarding the cookie banner so if, for
example, a document contains 400 pages and 1 page is about the cookie
banner, please exclude everything else unrelated it. It can be
redacted/excluded in full.
If a document is publicly available, I am happy to be linked to it and
exclude it from this process.
If there are a large number of documents I can work with you to narrow
this further.
Yours faithfully,
Steven Roddis
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[14][FOI #13921 email]
Is [15][BOM request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Bureau of Meteorology? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[16]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[17]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[BOM request email]
2. http://www.bom.gov.au/
4. https://www.facebook.com/bureauofmeteoro...
5. http://www.twitter.com/TheBureau_AU
6. https://www.youtube.com/user/BureauOfMet...
7. https://www.instagram.com/bureauofmeteor...
8. https://www.linkedin.com/company/bureau-...
9. http://www.bom.gov.au/
12. mailto:[FOI #13921 email]
13. mailto:[BOM request email]
14. mailto:[FOI #13921 email]
15. mailto:[BOM request email]
16. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
17. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Dear FOI,
I am writing to decline your request for a 30-day extension to the statutory processing period.
The reason cited, 'regard to operational demands and resources' is a matter of the agency's internal resourcing. The FOI Act provides a statutory timeframe to ensure the public receives timely access to information, which is a cornerstone of government transparency and accountability. In my opinion, routinely seeking extensions due to workload pressures works against the spirit and objects of the Act and can incentivise the under-resourcing of essential functions like FOI processing.
As for the the reduction in scope, I don't agree, however, please remove these details, as follows:
a,b: signatures & direct contact details of all staff.
initials for non-SES employees.
c: signatures & direct contact details of third parties.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Roddis
OFFICIAL
Ref: FOI30/180
Dear Steven Roddis,
1. We refer to our previous correspondences.
2. Please see attached:
• the decision notice in relation to your request; and
• the document as described in the decision.
3. If there are any questions, please let us know by reply.
Kind regards,
Freedom of Information
[1][BOM request email] | [2]www.bom.gov.au
[3]The Bureau of Meteorology logo. Text reads The Bureau of Meteorology.
Image is a stylised synoptic map of Australia.
[4]Facebook icon. Link to Bureau Facebook page. [5]Twitter icon. Link to
Bureau Twitter account. [6]YouTube icon. Link to Bureau YouTube
channel. [7]Instagram icon. Link to Bureau Instagram
account. [8]LinkedIn icon. Link to Bureau LinkedIn profile. [9]Stylised
synoptic map of Australia. Link to Bureau website,
[10]Aboriginal The Bureau of Meteorology acknowledges the Traditional
flag and Torres Custodians of Australia and their continuing connection to
Strait Islander land, sea and community.
flag
Important: This message may contain confidential or legally privileged
information. If you think it was sent to you by mistake, please delete all
copies and advise the sender.
[11]Banner. Scrolling ticker style with the text The Bureau of severe
weather warning, the harvest and Meteorology.
OFFICIAL
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Roddis <[12][FOI #13921 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 6 November 2025 9:15 AM
To: FOI <[13][BOM request email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Rationale for bom.gov.au
Cookie Banner
Dear FOI,
I am writing to decline your request for a 30-day extension to the
statutory processing period.
The reason cited, 'regard to operational demands and resources' is a
matter of the agency's internal resourcing. The FOI Act provides a
statutory timeframe to ensure the public receives timely access to
information, which is a cornerstone of government transparency and
accountability. In my opinion, routinely seeking extensions due to
workload pressures works against the spirit and objects of the Act and can
incentivise the under-resourcing of essential functions like FOI
processing.
As for the the reduction in scope, I don't agree, however, please remove
these details, as follows:
a,b: signatures & direct contact details of all staff.
initials for non-SES employees.
c: signatures & direct contact details of third parties.
Yours sincerely,
Steven Roddis
-----Original Message-----
OFFICIAL
Ref: FOI30/180
Dear Steven Roddis,
1. We refer to and acknowledge receipt of your email dated 24 October
2025, in which you request access under the Freedom of Information
1982 (Cth) ('FOI Act'). You wrote:
"I am seeking documents that contain the rationale, reasoning, or
decision-making process for the implementation of the cookie notification
banner (the banner that appears at the top of the bom.gov.au website).
I wish to work with you to narrow down the scope as narrow as reasonably
possible and reduce any processing needed by you.
I don't know the exact start date of the new bom.gov.au website, however
lets start by scoping the timeframe from 01-01-2016 to 24-10-2025.
If there is a better timeframe to narrow this to, I'm happy to narrow it.
I'm looking in particular for:
Documents outlining the legal or policy basis for the banner.
Please exclude:
Duplicates
Drafts
Names of any non-SES employees.
Communications (and the part of documents that contain communications)
between BOM as a client and a lawyer where obtaining legal advice was the
dominant purpose of the communication and the communication has not been
very widely distributed.
Source Code
I only need the information regarding the cookie banner so if, for
example, a document contains 400 pages and 1 page is about the cookie
banner, please exclude everything else unrelated it. It can be
redacted/excluded in full.
If a document is publicly available, I am happy to be linked to it and
exclude it from this process."
Request for further time:
2. The Bureau received your request on 24 October 2025. Section 15(5) of
the FOI Act provides the Bureau 30 days to provide you a decision on
your request. As the timeframe finally falls on a weekend, the
decision is due the next working day. This means the decision is due
by 24 November 2025.
3. However, having regard to operational demands and resources, we
request your agreement to extend time by further 30 days pursuant to
section 15AA of the FOI Act. This means a decision will be due by 23
December 2025.
Consent to remove materials:
4. We note your request excludes (among others) the '[n]ames of any
non-SES employees'. However, we further write to ask whether you agree
to remove from any documents in scope of your request the following:
a. signatures, initials, position titles and direct contact details
of non-senior officers of the Bureau (being non-SES staff below the
General Manager level);
b. signatures, initials, and direct contact details of senior staff
(we note that where they appear the position titles of senior staff will
be released); and
c. names (including any signatures or initials), position titles and
direct contact details of any third-parties.
5. An agreement to remove the above information from scope of your
request would further minimise privacy concerns.
Your response:
6. We would be grateful for your response by reply email by close of
business Tuesday 11 November 2025 regarding:
o Your agreement to further time of 30 days pursuant to s 15AA (see
paragraph [3] above); and
o Your agreement to exclude specific materials from the scope of your
request (see paragraphs [4]-[5] above.)
Kind regards,
Freedom of Information
[1][BOM request email] | [2][14]www.bom.gov.au
[3]The Bureau of Meteorology logo. Text reads The Bureau of Meteorology.
Image is a stylised synoptic map of Australia.
[4]Facebook icon. Link to Bureau Facebook page. [5]Twitter icon. Link to
Bureau Twitter account. [6]YouTube icon. Link to Bureau YouTube
channel. [7]Instagram icon. Link to Bureau Instagram
account. [8]LinkedIn icon. Link to Bureau LinkedIn profile. [9]Stylised
synoptic map of Australia. Link to Bureau website,
[10]Aboriginal The Bureau of Meteorology acknowledges the Traditional
flag and Torres Custodians of Australia and their continuing connection to
Strait Islander land, sea and community.
flag
Important: This message may contain confidential or legally privileged
information. If you think it was sent to you by mistake, please delete all
copies and advise the sender.
[11]Banner. Scrolling ticker style with the text The Bureau of severe
weather warning, the harvest and Meteorology.
OFFICIAL
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[15][FOI #13921 email]
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[16]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[BOM request email]
2. http://www.bom.gov.au/
4. https://www.facebook.com/bureauofmeteoro...
5. http://www.twitter.com/TheBureau_AU
6. https://www.youtube.com/user/BureauOfMet...
7. https://www.instagram.com/bureauofmeteor...
8. https://www.linkedin.com/company/bureau-...
9. http://www.bom.gov.au/
12. mailto:[FOI #13921 email]
13. mailto:[BOM request email]
14. http://www.bom.gov.au/
15. mailto:[FOI #13921 email]
16. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...