Records regarding how to create and present documents of extracted disclosures by DVA to UniSA
Dear Department of Veterans' Affairs,
A copy of a submission made by DVA to the OAIC regarding delays to responding to the more than 1,657 enquiries about the MATES privacy breaches, seeking access to copies of disclosures made by DVA to UniSA, stated the delays were because of internal communications over how to extract and “best present” that information had to take place first.
It stated that the Department had to seek the approval of both the Secretary and the Minister first as to how to present this information, contributing to these delays.
As these discussions and approvals have now finalised I seek copy of these records of communications and approvals as to how the data of these disclosures of personal information from DVA to UniSA would be extracted and “best present”ed.
Given the reference to internal communications by the Department about this matter it is likely these records are held in the Department’s MS Teams, email, TRIM, PDMS, and group drives in electronic form.
As the Minister and Secretary were mentioned as having to approve how this would happen and in what form it is likely DVA’s Ministerial and Parliamentary Support (MaPS) section, the Information Law section, and Research area are were these records can be found within the Department.
Yours faithfully,
Jenny
Dear Jenny,
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (the department) has received your
request for access to information under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act). I note you have requested access to the following:
''A copy of a submission made by DVA to the OAIC regarding delays to
responding to the more than 1,657 enquiries about the MATES privacy
breaches, seeking access to copies of disclosures made by DVA to UniSA,
stated the delays were because of internal communications over how to
extract and "best present" that information had to take place first.
It stated that the Department had to seek the approval of both the
Secretary and the Minister first as to how to present this information,
contributing to these delays.
As these discussions and approvals have now finalised I seek copy of these
records of communications and approvals as to how the data of these
disclosures of personal information from DVA to UniSA would be extracted
and "best present"ed.
Given the reference to internal communications by the Department about
this matter it is likely these records are held in the Department's MS
Teams, email, TRIM, PDMS, and group drives in electronic form.
As the Minister and Secretary were mentioned as having to approve how this
would happen and in what form it is likely DVA's Ministerial and
Parliamentary Support (MaPS) section, the Information Law section, and
Research area are were these records can be found within the Department.''
Your request was received by the department on 27 January 2024 and the
ordinary 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced
from the day after that date.
If we are in a position to make a decision on your request earlier than
this date, we will endeavour to do so.
The statutory period may also be extended if we need to consult third
parties or for other reasons permitted under the FOI Act. We will advise
you if this happens.
Charges
If the Department considers that a charge will apply to your request, you
will be notified within 14 days of an estimate of the charges that will
apply to your request for non-personal information before we process any
requested documents or impose a final charge.
Your address
The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address that we can send
notices to. You have advised your contact address is
[1][FOI #11051 email] . Unless you tell us
otherwise, we will send all notices and correspondence to this address.
Disclosure log
Information released under the FOI Act may be published on a disclosure
log on our website, subject to certain exceptions. These exceptions
include where publication of personal, business, professional or
commercial information would be unreasonable.
Further assistance
If you have any questions about your request, please email
[2][DVA request email]
Kind Regards
Arthur Information Access Registrations Officer
Position Number – 62341836
Information Access Unit
Ministerial, International & Stakeholder Relations Branch
Ministerial, Communication & Engagement Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[3][DVA request email]
[4]www.dva.gov.au
[5]cid:image001.png@01D8F043.829927E0[6]cid:image002.png@01D8F043.829927E0[7]cid:image003.png@01D8F043.829927E0[8]cid:image004.png@01D8F043.829927E0
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #11051 email]
2. mailto:[DVA request email]
3. mailto:[DVA request email]
4. http://www.dva.gov.au/
5. https://www.facebook.com/DVAAus
6. https://twitter.com/DVAAus
7. https://au.linkedin.com/company/australi...
8. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
I vary my FOI slightly as based on a FOI release today it appears that the research area of the Department is not likely to be an area with those records.
So I change the part of my scope that said:
“it is likely DVA's Ministerial and Parliamentary Support (MaPS) section, the Information Law section, and Research area are where these records can be found within the Department.”
to:
“it is likely DVA's Ministerial and Parliamentary Support (MaPS) section, the Information Law section, and the Pharmacy Programs and Operations Section are where these records can be found within the Department.”
Yours sincerely,
Jenny
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
My FOI of 27 January 2024, which the Department acknowledged on 1 February 2024, was required by section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act to have received a decision today.
Yet again the Department of Veterans’ Affairs has forced another FOI to received a deemed refusal response, as a way of unlawfully preventing access to official documents. I still have not received a decision to my FOI of 17 November 2023, despite your Assistant Director Joshua saying on 19 January that a decision was imminent. This is the third deemed refusal response in as as many weeks.
It is no surprise there is a Royal Commission investigating DVA, with such unethical inappropriate behaviour of the Department that it has displayed here.
Yours sincerely,
Jenny
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
I still have not received any apology or explanation as to why, yet again, DVA has intentionally forced a deemed refusal decision and withheld statement of reasons.
Yours sincerely,
Jenny
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
Another month and still no response or decision.
Is there a reason you have still not responded to the notice of your failure to provide a decision, even though weeks have passed?
Is this just rudeness on your part, or something more sinister?
These multiple failures by DVA to give decisions in the times specified by the FOI Act is a deliberate and intentional strategy it now is demonstrated. Is flouting your statutory obligations just how DVA operates? The Royal Commission was long overdue it seems.
Yours sincerely,
Jenny
Dear Jenny,
Thank you for your Information Access request.
Your request has now been finalised. Please refer to the attached
documentation and contact me back using the details below if I can be of
any further assistance.
Kind regards,
Jesse | a/g Senior Information Access Officer
Position Number : 62373490
Information Access Unit
Ministerial, Parliamentary & Stakeholder Engagement Branch
Engagement, Communications and Ministerial Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 838 372
[1][email address]
[2]www.dva.gov.au
[3]cid:image002.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[4]cid:image003.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[5]cid:image004.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[6]cid:image005.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.dva.gov.au/
3. https://www.facebook.com/DVAAus
4. https://twitter.com/DVAAus
5. https://au.linkedin.com/company/australi...
6. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
Two months overdue and all I get is a poor quality response refusing… disgraceful.
Review underway.
Yours sincerely,
Jenny
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
I request copy of the record of administration of this FOI you registered as LEX 64798, which I can see from other FOIs here you can produce from LEX, to see why such an unreasonable and excessive delay occurred to not give access.
Yours sincerely,
Jenny
Dear Jenny,
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (the Department) has received your
request for access to information under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act). I note you have requested access to the following:
'...I request copy of the record of administration of this FOI you
registered as LEX 64798, which I can see from other FOIs here you can
produce from LEX, to see why such an unreasonable and excessive delay
occurred to not give access...'
Your request was received by the Department on 23 April 2024 and the
ordinary 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced
from the day after that date.
Administrative access
The Department considers that your request is more appropriately processed
under administrative access arrangements. Where requests are made under
the FOI Act, the Department is required to consider whether any exemptions
apply to the material, preventing its release. The Department must also
prepare a formal statement of reasons for the decision.
As your request relates to your own personal information, with your
agreement, the above requirements will not apply. If you agree to the
administrative access arrangements, please reply to this email by 6 May
2024 acknowledging your agreement for the Department to process your
request administratively and withdrawing your request under the FOI Act.
The Department endeavours to make decisions on administrative access
requests within 30 days, however please note the Department is currently
experiencing a high volume of requests and your request may exceed 30
days.
Charges
If the Department considers that a charge will apply to your request, you
will be notified within 14 days of an estimate of the charges that will
apply to your request for non-personal information before we process any
requested documents or impose a final charge.
Disclosure log
Information released under the FOI Act may be published on a disclosure
log on our website, subject to certain exceptions. These exceptions
include where publication of personal, business, professional or
commercial information would be unreasonable.
Your address
The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address that we can send
notices to. You have advised your contact address is
[1][FOI #11051 email] . Unless you tell us
otherwise, we will send all notices and correspondence to this address.
Further assistance
If you have any questions about your request, please email
[2][DVA request email]
We look forward to receiving your response to our request for your
agreement to process your request under administrative access
arrangements.
Yours sincerely
Kevin| Information Access Officer
Position 62373493
Information Access Unit
Ministerial, International & Stakeholder Relations Branch
Ministerial, Communication & Engagement Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[3][DVA request email]
[4]www.dva.gov.au
[5]cid:image008.jpg@01D8EA24.8F7FA8A0
[6]cid:image009.jpg@01D8EA24.8F7FA8A0
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #11051 email]
2. mailto:[DVA request email]
3. mailto:[DVA request email]
4. http://www.dva.gov.au/