Dear Mr Ashmore,

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 am seeking the number of full time equivalent, (FTE), staff working in
DVA's FOI Section as at 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2022.
 
I require the numbers to be broken up into the following categories,
namely:
 
:  Number of permanent DVA staff, and
:  Number of contractors.

I further require the number of contractors to be broken up into their
source, e.g. each external recruiting company and each external law firm.’

Your request was received by the department on 15 March 2023 and the
ordinary 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced
from the day after that date.

 

Extension of Time

 

Due to an increase in the number of information access applications
currently being received by the department, we are asking your agreement
to an extension of time for a further 30 days to process this request
under section 15AA of the FOI Act. This would mean that your request is
due on 15 May 2023.

 

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.

 

If you do agree we will notify the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC) of your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act.

 

Charges

 

The Department will notify you 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 email address is
[1][FOI #10067 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.

 

Request to treat certain material as out of scope or irrelevant to the
request

 

To the extent the department has documents in its possession that fall
within the scope of your request, we intend to treat the following
information as out of scope or irrelevant to your request, pursuant to
section 22(1)(b)(ii) of the FOI Act:

1.      The surnames, signatures and direct contact details of non-SES
Commonwealth employees and contractors, including clinical staff working
for Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling; and

2.      The signatures of third party individuals.

If you agree to the department treating these details as irrelevant, and
to our request for an extension of time, please advise by 23 March 2023.

 

Further assistance

 

If you have any questions about your request, please email
[2][DVA request email].

 

Regards

 

Information Access Registrations Officer

Information Access Unit / Client Access and Rehabilitation Branch

Client Engagement and Support Services Division

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)

[3][DVA request email]

[4]www.dva.gov.au 

 

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References

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1. mailto:[FOI #10067 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
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8. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus