Request for denial statistics — opt-out applications from mandatory income management in NT (Dec 2021–Nov 2025)
Dear Services Australia,
Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, I request access to:
Any documents, reports, internal briefings, or summaries held by Services Australia that record or discuss the number of applications denied by individuals seeking to exit mandatory income management in the Northern Territory between 20 December 2021 and 6 November 2025.
This request does not seek raw data or statistical extracts requiring compilation. I am requesting existing documents that Services Australia has already created or used for internal reporting, oversight, or ministerial briefing purposes.
If no such documents exist, I request confirmation of that fact.
Yours faithfully, Peter Pav
Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information (FOI) team of Services
Australia (the Agency).
This email acknowledges your correspondence and provides general FOI
information .
We are currently experiencing a higher than usual volume of requests,
which has resulted in some delays in our review and response process. We
are seeking your agreement to extend the processing time by an additional
30 days. If you agree to this additional time, we would appreciate it if
you could reply to this email with “I agree to a 30 day extension of time”
at your earliest opportunity.
Administrative release of documents
The Agency uses administrative access arrangements ('the arrangements') to
release certain types of documents outside the FOI Act. We will advise you
if the documents you seek are suitable for release to you under the
arrangements. If you consent to receiving documents under the
arrangements, please reply to this email with “I agree to receive
documents via the arrangements where appropriate”.
Personal information of Agency staff
As part of the FOI process, we seek your consent to remove any information
that may identify junior staff. Please reply to this email with “I agree
to exclude staff details”.
Once you consent to remove this information, it will be irrelevant under
Section 22 of the FOI Act.
How we will send documents to you
We will use this email address to send you documents. We will advise you
if we are unable to send documents to you via email due to their size.
How long do I have to wait?
Unless your request has been extended, we are required to notify you
within 30 days.
Requesting a formal external review of a FOI deemed refusal decision
After the due date has past and you did not receive a decision, the
request becomes a ‘deemed refusal decision’. You may request the
Information Commissioner to review the ‘deemed refusal decision’. For
further information, see [1]Apply for an Information Commissioner review |
OAIC (or visit [2]www.oaic.gov.au).
References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
2. http://www.oaic.gov.au/
Dear Services Australia,
Subject: FOI Request – No Consent to Extension or Exclusions
Dear Services Australia FOI Team,
Thank you for your acknowledgment.
I do not agree to a 30-day extension of time. I do not consent to receive documents via administrative access arrangements. I do not agree to exclude staff details from the scope of my request.
This position is based on prior FOI requests that were denied or mishandled. I expect this request to be processed strictly under the FOI Act, within the original statutory timeframe.
Kind regards, Peter Pav
Yours faithfully,
Peter Pav
Dear Peter
I am writing in regards to your Freedom of Information request received by
Services Australia (the Agency) as follows:
Any documents, reports, internal briefings, or summaries held by Services
Australia that record or discuss the number of applications denied by
individuals seeking to exit mandatory income management in the Northern
Territory between 20 December 2021 and 6 November 2025.
This request does not seek raw data or statistical extracts requiring
compilation. I am requesting existing documents that Services Australia
has already created or used for internal reporting, oversight, or
ministerial briefing purposes.
If no such documents exist, I request confirmation of that fact.
Currently your request does not contain enough information to enable the
Agency to identify the documents you are seeking access to. As such, we
would like to consult with you about the scope of your request.
Please confirm the following:
1. Noting there are two Income Management (IM) programs, please advise
which of the two programs you are seeking documents about. Information
on the two IM programs are as follows:
Income Management program
• [1]Income Management and BasicsCard in the Northern Territory -
Services Australia
Enhanced Income Management program
• [2]Enhanced Income Management and SmartCard in the Northern Territory
- Services Australia
• [3]Exemptions for enhanced Income Management and SmartCard in the
Northern Territory - Enhanced Income Management and SmartCard in the
Northern Territory - Services Australia
2. As there is no legislative basis for a customer to apply to
permanently exit the IM or Enhanced IM programs, we wish to clarify if
you are seeking information in relation to exemptions from compulsory
IM? Noting that exemptions apply for a 12 month period.
For action:
Please respond to the above by close of business 20 November 2025, so we
can progress your request.
If we do not hear from you by this date, we intend to formally consult
with you under section 24AB of the FOI Act.
Thank you.
Joanne,
Senior FOI Officer
FOI and Reviews Branch, Legal Services Division
References
Visible links
1. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/inc...
2. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/enh...
3. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/exe...
Dear Services Australia FOI Team,
Thank you for your correspondence dated 17 November 2025.
In response to your consultation:
My request covers both programs — the original Income Management (BasicsCard) and the Enhanced Income Management (SmartCard). Please include any documents, reports, internal briefings, or summaries that record or discuss denial of applications to exit either program in the Northern Territory between 20 December 2021 and 6 November 2025.
I note your advice that there is no legislative basis for permanent exit applications. For clarity, my request seeks documents that record or discuss denials of applications for exemption from compulsory Income Management or Enhanced Income Management, whether temporary (12‑month) or otherwise. If the Agency holds documents that use different terminology (e.g. “exemption requests” rather than “exit applications”), those documents fall within scope.
If no such documents exist, I request confirmation of that fact.
Yours faithfully, Peter G Pav FREEDOMOFINFORMATION,
Yours sincerely,
Peter Pav
Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information (FOI) team of Services
Australia (the Agency).
This email acknowledges your correspondence and provides general FOI
information .
We are currently experiencing a higher than usual volume of requests,
which has resulted in some delays in our review and response process. We
are seeking your agreement to extend the processing time by an additional
30 days. If you agree to this additional time, we would appreciate it if
you could reply to this email with “I agree to a 30 day extension of time”
at your earliest opportunity.
Administrative release of documents
The Agency uses administrative access arrangements ('the arrangements') to
release certain types of documents outside the FOI Act. We will advise you
if the documents you seek are suitable for release to you under the
arrangements. If you consent to receiving documents under the
arrangements, please reply to this email with “I agree to receive
documents via the arrangements where appropriate”.
Personal information of Agency staff
As part of the FOI process, we seek your consent to remove any information
that may identify junior staff. Please reply to this email with “I agree
to exclude staff details”.
Once you consent to remove this information, it will be irrelevant under
Section 22 of the FOI Act.
How we will send documents to you
We will use this email address to send you documents. We will advise you
if we are unable to send documents to you via email due to their size.
How long do I have to wait?
Unless your request has been extended, we are required to notify you
within 30 days.
Requesting a formal external review of a FOI deemed refusal decision
After the due date has past and you did not receive a decision, the
request becomes a ‘deemed refusal decision’. You may request the
Information Commissioner to review the ‘deemed refusal decision’. For
further information, see [1]Apply for an Information Commissioner review |
OAIC (or visit [2]www.oaic.gov.au).
References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
2. http://www.oaic.gov.au/
Subject: Response to FOI Extension Proposal – Request
Dear FOI Officer,
Thank you for your acknowledgement of my Freedom of Information request.
I do not agree to an extension of time under section 15AA of the FOI Act. Please continue to process my request within the original statutory timeframe.
I consent to the removal of any information that may identify junior staff under section 22 of the FOI Act.
I do not consent to receive documents via administrative access arrangements. Please process my request strictly under the FOI Act.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Pav
Dear Peter,
I am writing regarding your Freedom of Information request to Services
Australia (the Agency) as follows:
Any documents, reports, internal briefings, or summaries held by Services
Australia that record or discuss the number of applications denied by
individuals seeking to exit mandatory income management in the Northern
Territory between 20 December 2021 and 6 November 2025.
This request does not seek raw data or statistical extracts requiring
compilation. I am requesting existing documents that Services Australia
has already created or used for internal reporting, oversight, or
ministerial briefing purposes.
If no such documents exist, I request confirmation of that fact.
You clarified your request on 18 November 2025 as follows:
My request covers both programs — the original Income Management
(BasicsCard) and the Enhanced Income Management (SmartCard). Please
include any documents, reports, internal briefings, or summaries that
record or discuss denial of applications to exit either program in the
Northern Territory between 20 December 2021 and 6 November 2025.
I note your advice that there is no legislative basis for permanent exit
applications. For clarity, my request seeks documents that record or
discuss denials of applications for exemption from compulsory Income
Management or Enhanced Income Management, whether temporary (12‑month) or
otherwise. If the Agency holds documents that use different terminology
(e.g. “exemption requests” rather than “exit applications”), those
documents fall within scope.
If no such documents exist, I request confirmation of that fact.
I am currently in the final stages of processing your request and require
additional time to finalise the decision and progress the matter through
the quality assurance process.
If a decision is not notified to you within time, your request will be
deemed to be refused by operation of the FOI Act. The Agency will still
continue to process your request as a Statement of Reasons; however, you
will unfortunately lose your internal review rights. Our objective for
this extension of time request is to ensure the decision and documents
relevant to your request are released on time under the FOI Act, thus
maintaining your internal review rights.
On this basis, I respectfully request an extension of time of 30 days to
process your request. The effect of the extension would mean the new
decision due date would be 7 January 2026. If we can process your request
and provide you with a decision before this date, we will do so.
If you agree to this extension of time, it would be greatly appreciated if
you could please respond to this email stating ‘I agree’ by close of
business 1 December 2025.
Please note, if we do not receive a reply from you by the above date, we
will still continue to process your request.
Please note as stated above, if we do not receive a reply from you by the
above date, we will continue to process your request as a Statement of
Reasons.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Joanne,
Senior FOI Officer
FOI and Reviews Branch, Legal Services Division
Dear Peter
I am following up on the request for an Extension of Time I sent on 27
November 2025 in relation to your Freedom of Information request to
Services Australia (the Agency).
I have not received a response from you regarding the Extension of Time
and am asking if you could respond.
If you agree to this extension of time, it would be greatly appreciated if
you could please respond to this email stating ‘I agree’ by close of
business Thursday 4 December 2025.
Joanne,
Senior FOI Officer
FOI and Reviews Branch, Legal Services Division
From: FREEDOMOFINFORMATION <[Services Australia request email]>
Sent: Thursday, 27 November 2025 3:53 PM
To: '[FOI #13981 email]'
<[FOI #13981 email]>
Cc: FREEDOMOFINFORMATION <[Services Australia request email]>
Subject: LEX 88421 – Communication – Request for extension of time (please
respond by COB 1 December 2025) [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Dear Peter,
I am writing regarding your Freedom of Information request to Services
Australia (the Agency) as follows:
Any documents, reports, internal briefings, or summaries held by Services
Australia that record or discuss the number of applications denied by
individuals seeking to exit mandatory income management in the Northern
Territory between 20 December 2021 and 6 November 2025.
This request does not seek raw data or statistical extracts requiring
compilation. I am requesting existing documents that Services Australia
has already created or used for internal reporting, oversight, or
ministerial briefing purposes.
If no such documents exist, I request confirmation of that fact.
You clarified your request on 18 November 2025 as follows:
My request covers both programs — the original Income Management
(BasicsCard) and the Enhanced Income Management (SmartCard). Please
include any documents, reports, internal briefings, or summaries that
record or discuss denial of applications to exit either program in the
Northern Territory between 20 December 2021 and 6 November 2025.
I note your advice that there is no legislative basis for permanent exit
applications. For clarity, my request seeks documents that record or
discuss denials of applications for exemption from compulsory Income
Management or Enhanced Income Management, whether temporary (12‑month) or
otherwise. If the Agency holds documents that use different terminology
(e.g. “exemption requests” rather than “exit applications”), those
documents fall within scope.
If no such documents exist, I request confirmation of that fact.
I am currently in the final stages of processing your request and require
additional time to finalise the decision and progress the matter through
the quality assurance process.
If a decision is not notified to you within time, your request will be
deemed to be refused by operation of the FOI Act. The Agency will still
continue to process your request as a Statement of Reasons; however, you
will unfortunately lose your internal review rights. Our objective for
this extension of time request is to ensure the decision and documents
relevant to your request are released on time under the FOI Act, thus
maintaining your internal review rights.
On this basis, I respectfully request an extension of time of 30 days to
process your request. The effect of the extension would mean the new
decision due date would be 7 January 2026. If we can process your request
and provide you with a decision before this date, we will do so.
If you agree to this extension of time, it would be greatly appreciated if
you could please respond to this email stating ‘I agree’ by close of
business 1 December 2025.
Please note, if we do not receive a reply from you by the above date, we
will still continue to process your request.
Please note as stated above, if we do not receive a reply from you by the
above date, we will continue to process your request as a Statement of
Reasons.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Joanne,
Senior FOI Officer
FOI and Reviews Branch, Legal Services Division
FREEDOMOFINFORMATION,
Dear Joanne,
Thank you for your follow‑up regarding the extension of time request (LEX 88421).
I confirm that I agree to the requested extension of time until 7 January 2026 for the Agency to finalise its decision on my Freedom of Information request.
Yours sincerely, Peter Pav
Yours sincerely,
Peter Pav
Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information (FOI) team of Services
Australia (the Agency).
This email acknowledges your correspondence and provides general FOI
information .
We are currently experiencing a higher than usual volume of requests,
which has resulted in some delays in our review and response process. We
are seeking your agreement to extend the processing time by an additional
30 days. If you agree to this additional time, we would appreciate it if
you could reply to this email with “I agree to a 30 day extension of time”
at your earliest opportunity.
Administrative release of documents
The Agency uses administrative access arrangements ('the arrangements') to
release certain types of documents outside the FOI Act. We will advise you
if the documents you seek are suitable for release to you under the
arrangements. If you consent to receiving documents under the
arrangements, please reply to this email with “I agree to receive
documents via the arrangements where appropriate”.
Personal information of Agency staff
As part of the FOI process, we seek your consent to remove any information
that may identify junior staff. Please reply to this email with “I agree
to exclude staff details”.
Once you consent to remove this information, it will be irrelevant under
Section 22 of the FOI Act.
How we will send documents to you
We will use this email address to send you documents. We will advise you
if we are unable to send documents to you via email due to their size.
How long do I have to wait?
Unless your request has been extended, we are required to notify you
within 30 days.
Requesting a formal external review of a FOI deemed refusal decision
After the due date has past and you did not receive a decision, the
request becomes a ‘deemed refusal decision’. You may request the
Information Commissioner to review the ‘deemed refusal decision’. For
further information, see [1]Apply for an Information Commissioner review |
OAIC (or visit [2]www.oaic.gov.au).
References
Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
2. http://www.oaic.gov.au/