If not delivered return to PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
22 July 2024
Our reference: LEX 80283
Ben Fairless
(Right to Know)
Only by email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Ben Fairless
Decision on your Freedom of Information Request
I refer to your request, received by Services Australia (the Agency) on 25 June 2024 for
access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) to the following documents:
Websites have something called a "robots.txt" file that helps search engines work out
what they should be indexing and what they shouldn't be.
The Operational information portal's robots.txt file (located at
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foperational.ser
vicesaustralia.gov.au%2Frobots.txt&data=05%7C02%7Cfreedomofinformation%40se
rvicesaustralia.gov.au%7C78db3ab04e5e458ca2b308dc99afd951%7C627250e63e2
94861a084aad68ccfcccc%7C0%7C0%7C638554227887460280%7CUnknown%7CT
WFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVC
I6Mn0%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=oiOZG5fvRuNFDxwtPNtCxfABUyJuxW
ozu6UUaVnkziE%3D&reserved=0) has the below information at the top:
++++++++++
# robots.txt for
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foperational.hum
anservices.gov.au%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cfreedomofinformation%40servicesaustra
lia.gov.au%7C78db3ab04e5e458ca2b308dc99afd951%7C627250e63e294861a084a
ad68ccfcccc%7C0%7C0%7C638554227887471588%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3
d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D
%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vWpP5jXMs%2Bybd9ev%2BVRHbWImz6hmMA4j
2EVYCWCB3LE%3D&reserved=0 # only allow Funnelback for on-site search # all
other external search engines are blocked ++++++++++
I seek the documents that informed the decision to "block all external search engines"
on the Operational information portal. Please treat this request administratively if
possible. Otherwise consider it a formal FOI request.
PAGE 1 OF 6
My decision
I have decided to refuse your request for access under section 24A of the FOI Act on the
basis that all reasonable steps have been taken to locate the documents you have
requested, and I am satisfied that they cannot be located.
The reasons for my decision, including the relevant sections of the FOI Act, are set out in
Attachment A.
You can ask for a review of our decision
If you disagree with any part of the decision you can ask for a review. There are two ways
you can do this. You can ask for an internal review from within the Agency, or an external
review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. See
Attachment B for
more information about how to request a review.
Further assistance
If you have any questions, please email xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Cherie
Authorised FOI Decision Maker
Freedom of Information Team
FOI and Reviews Branch | Legal Services Division
Services Australia
PAGE 2 OF 6
If not delivered return to PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
Attachment A
REASONS FOR DECISION
What you requested
Websites have something called a "robots.txt" file that helps search engines work out
what they should be indexing and what they shouldn't be.
The Operational information portal's robots.txt file (located at
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foperational.ser
vicesaustralia.gov.au%2Frobots.txt&data=05%7C02%7Cfreedomofinformation%40se
rvicesaustralia.gov.au%7C78db3ab04e5e458ca2b308dc99afd951%7C627250e63e2
94861a084aad68ccfcccc%7C0%7C0%7C638554227887460280%7CUnknown%7CT
WFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVC
I6Mn0%3D%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=oiOZG5fvRuNFDxwtPNtCxfABUyJuxW
ozu6UUaVnkziE%3D&reserved=0) has the below information at the top:
++++++++++
# robots.txt for
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foperational.hum
anservices.gov.au%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cfreedomofinformation%40servicesaustra
lia.gov.au%7C78db3ab04e5e458ca2b308dc99afd951%7C627250e63e294861a084a
ad68ccfcccc%7C0%7C0%7C638554227887471588%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3
d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D
%7C60000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vWpP5jXMs%2Bybd9ev%2BVRHbWImz6hmMA4j
2EVYCWCB3LE%3D&reserved=0 # only allow Funnelback for on-site search # all
other external search engines are blocked ++++++++++
I seek the documents that informed the decision to "block all external search engines"
on the Operational information portal. Please treat this request administratively if
possible. Otherwise consider it a formal FOI request.
On 27 June 2024, the agency acknowledged your FOI request and sought your consent to
for a 30 day extension of time to process your request. You consented to the extension by
return email on 1 July 2024.
What I took into account
In reaching my decision I took into account:
• your request dated 25 June 2024
• searches undertaken to locate the requested documents
• consultations with Agency officers about:
o the nature of the requested documents
o the Agency's operating environment and functions
• guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner under section 93A of
the FOI Act (the Guidelines), and
• the FOI Act.
PAGE 3 OF 6
Reasons for my decisions
I am authorised to make decisions under section 23(1) of the FOI Act.
Section 24A of the FOI Act
Section 24A of the FOI Act provides that:
(1) An agency or Minister may refuse a request for access to a document if:
(a) all reasonable steps have been taken to find the document, and
(b) the agency or Minister is satisfied that the document:
(i) is in the agency's or Minister's possession but cannot be found, or
(ii) does not exist.
The Staff Processing and Enterprise Systems Division and the Service Delivery Optimisation
Division conducted searches of the Agency’s electronic files. These Divisions did not identify
any documents that informed the decision to block all external search engines from
searching the Operational Information Portal.
On the basis of these searches, I am satisfied that in accordance with section 24A of the
FOI Act:
1. all reasonable steps have been taken to find the documents, and
2. the documents cannot be located.
Additional Information
Whilst no documents were located in scope of this request, the relevant business area of the
Agency has provided the following information:
The Operational Information Portal was created in 2015 and outlines how our staff determine
and deliver health, social and welfare payments and services on behalf of the Australian
Government. It is made available to the public in line with Information Publication Scheme
requirements via links on the servicesaustralia.gov.au website.
The Operational Information Portal search functionality provides a targeted search of the
information contained within the portal.
PAGE 4 OF 6
If not delivered return to PO Box 7820 Canberra BC ACT 2610
Attachment B
INFORMATION ON RIGHTS OF REVIEW
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982
Asking for a full explanation of a freedom of information (FOI) decision
Before you ask for a formal review of a FOI decision, you can contact us to discuss your
request. We will explain the decision to you. This gives you a chance to correct
misunderstandings.
Asking for a formal review of a FOI decision
If you still believe a decision is incorrect, the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act)
gives you the right to apply for a review of the decision. Under sections 54 and 54L of the
FOI Act, you can apply for a review of an FOI decision by:
1. an Internal Review Officer in the Agency, and/or
2. the Australian Information Commissioner.
Applying for an internal review by an Internal Review Officer
If you apply for internal review, a different decision maker to the Agency delegate who made
the original decision will carry out the review. The Internal Review Officer will consider all
aspects of the original decision and decide whether it should change. An application for
internal review must be:
• made in writing
• made within 30 days of receiving this letter
• sent to the address at the top of the first page of this letter or by email to
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Note: You do not need to fill in a form. However, it is a good idea to set out any relevant
submissions you would like the Internal Review Officer to further consider, and your reasons
for disagreeing with the decision.
Applying for external review by the Australian Information Commissioner
If you do not agree with the original decision or the internal review decision, you can ask the
Australian Information Commissioner to review the decision.
If you do not receive a decision from an Internal Review Officer in the Agency within 30 days
of applying, you can ask the Australian Information Commissioner for a review of the original
FOI decision.
You will have 60 days to apply in writing for a review by the Australian Information
Commissioner.
PAGE 5 OF 6
You can lodge your application:
Online:
www.oaic.gov.au
Post:
Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5218
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Note: The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner generally prefers FOI
applicants to seek internal review before applying for external review by the Australian
Information Commissioner.
Important:
• If you are applying online, the application form the 'FOI Review Form' is available at
Information Commissioner Review Application form
• If you have one, you should include with your application a copy of the Agency's
decision on your FOI request
• Include your contact details
• Set out your reasons for objecting to the Agency's decision.
Complaints to the Australian Information Commissioner and Commonwealth
Ombudsman
Australian Information Commissioner
You may complain to the Australian Information Commissioner concerning action taken by
an agency in the exercise of powers or the performance of functions under the FOI Act,
There is no fee for making a complaint. A complaint to the Australian Information
Commissioner must be made in writing. The Australian Information Commissioner's contact
details are:
Telephone: 1300 363 992
Website: www.oaic.gov.au
Smart Form: FOI Complaint Form
Commonwealth Ombudsman
You may also complain to the Commonwealth Ombudsman concerning action taken by an
agency in the exercise of powers or the performance of functions under the FOI Act. There is
no fee for making a complaint. A complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman may be
made in person, by telephone or in writing. The Commonwealth Ombudsman's contact
details are:
Phone: 1300 362 072
Website: www.ombudsman.gov.au
The Commonwealth Ombudsman generally prefers applicants to seek review before
complaining about a decision.
PAGE 6 OF 6
