Our reference: FOI 24/25-0152
GPO Box 700
Canberra ACT 2601
1800 800 110
18 September 2024
ndis.gov.au
Angelique
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Angelique
Freedom of Information request — Notification of Decision
Thank you for your correspondence of 5 August 2024, in which you requested access to
documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), under the
Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a decision on your request.
Scope of your request
You have requested access to the following documents:
“- Association between Ehlers-Danlos and ASD
- Functional development from school-age to late teens
- Common home automations
- Play and Climbing Equipment: Evidence of efficacy as an intervention
- Play and Climbing Equipment including Trampolines (Residential and Community):
Types, Safety, Restrictions, Lifespan, Price Range, Maintenance, Purchase
Accessibility, Ownership Statistics and Community Playgrounds”
Extension of time
On 28 August 2024, you agreed to a 7-day extension of time under section 15AA of the FOI
Act, making 18 September 2024 the new date to provide you with a decision on access.
Decision on access to documents
I am authorised to make decisions under section 23(1) of the FOI Act. My decision on your
request and the reasons for my decision are set out below.
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Search Efforts
Searches for documents were conducted by the Technical Advisory Branch (TAB) and 3
documents responsive to your application were located. One requested document was
included on the original list in error (Association between Ehlers-Danlos and ASD).
Therefore, this document does not exist.
A copy of the Research Document - Common home automations was administratively
released to you via email on 27 August 2024 as referenced via the Agency Disclosure Log.
The purpose of these documents was to provide information to assist advisors in the
provision of advice to delegates. Please be advised that the documents in their current form
may not reflect current processes or understanding of subject matter within TAPIB.
TAPIB research officers conduct literature reviews of publicly available academic research
and allied health information – they are employed as APS employees.
I have decided to grant partial access to 3 documents.
In reaching my decision, I took the following into account:
• your correspondence outlining the scope of your request
• the nature and content of the documents falling within the scope of your request
• the FOI Act
• the FOI Guidelines published under section 93A of the FOI Act
• consultation with relevant NDIA staff
• factors relevant to my assessment of whether or not disclosure would be in the public
interest
Reasons for decision
Personal privacy (section 47F)
Section 47F of the FOI Act conditionally exempts documents if its disclosure would involve
the unreasonable disclosure of personal information about any person (including a deceased
person).
I have identified material in the documents falling within scope of your request which
contains personal information that relates to the names and contact details of NDIA staff
members.
2
Under section 47F(2) of the FOI Act, in determining whether the disclosure of documents
would involve unreasonable disclosure of personal information, regard must be had to:
a. the extent to which the information is well known;
b. whether the person to whom the information relates is known to be (or to have been)
associated with the matters dealt with in the document;
c. the availability of the information from publicly accessible sources; and
d. any other matters that the agency considers relevant.
Against these criteria, I take the view that:
a. it is apparent from the information that an individual is identifiable; and
b. the information referred to above is not readily available from publicly accessible
sources.
With reference to the assessment above, it would be unreasonable to disclose publicly this
personal information and is therefore conditionally exempt under section 47F(1) of the FOI
Act.
Public interest considerations – section 47F
Section 11A(5) of the FOI Act provides that access to a document covered by a conditional
exemption must be provided unless disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.
I have not considered any of the irrelevant factors as set out under section 11B(4) of the FOI
Act in making this decision.
In favour of disclosure, I have considered the factors outlined in section 11B(3) of the FOI
Act, and I have determined that disclosure of the relevant information in Documents 1-3
would promote the objects of the FOI Act by providing access to documents held by the
government.
Against disclosure, I consider that disclosure of the relevant information in Documents 1-3:
• would not contribute to the publication of information of sufficient public interest to justify
the likely harm caused by release
• would not enhance Australia’s representative democracy in the ways described in
section 11B(3) of the FOI Act
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• would not inform any debate on a matter of public importance, or promote oversight of
public expenditure.
While there is limited public interest in the disclosure of information conditionally exempt
under section 47F of the FOI Act, the harm that would result from disclosure is that it could
reasonably be expected to affect an individual’s right to privacy by having their personal
information in the public domain.
In summary, I am satisfied that the factors against disclosure of the information outweigh the
factors in favour of disclosure and that, on balance, it would be contrary to the public interest
to release this information to you. Accordingly, I have decided that the relevant information in
Documents 1, 2, and 3 is exempt under section 47F of the FOI Act.
Release of documents
The documents for release, as referred to in the Schedule of Documents at
Attachment A,
are enclosed.
Rights of review
Your rights to seek a review of my decision, or lodge a complaint, are set out at
Attachment B.
Should you have any enquiries concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me
by email at
xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Billie (BLN494) Senior Freedom of Information Officer Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
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Attachment A
Schedule of Documents for FOI 24/25-0152
Document
Page number
Description
Access Decision
number
Research Paper -- Functional development
PARTIAL ACCESS
1
1-28
from school-age to late teens
Exemption claimed:
s47F – personal privacy
PARTIAL ACCESS
2
1-13
Research Paper -- Play and Climbing
Equipment: Evidence of efficacy as an
Exemption claimed:
intervention
s47F – personal privacy
PARTIAL ACCESS
3
1-20
Research Paper -- Play and Climbing
Equipment including Trampolines (Residential
Exemption claimed:
and Community): Types, Safety, Restrictions,
s47F – personal privacy
Lifespan, Price Range, Maintenance,
Purchase Accessibility, Ownership Statistics
and Community Playgrounds”
.
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Attachment B
Your review rights
Internal Review
The FOI Act gives you the right to apply for an internal review of this decision. The review
will be conducted by a different person to the person who made the original decision.
If you wish to seek an internal review of the decision, you must apply for the review, in
writing, within 30 days of receipt of this letter.
No particular form is required for an application for internal review, but to assist the review
process, you should clearly outline your grounds for review (that is, the reasons why you
disagree with the decision). Applications for internal review can be lodged by email to
xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx or sent by post to:
Freedom of Information Section
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
GPO Box 700
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
The FOI Act also gives you the right to apply to the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC) to seek a review of this decision.
If you wish to have the decision reviewed by the OAIC, you may apply for the review, in
writing, or by using the online merits review form available on the OAIC’s website at
www.oaic.gov.au, within 60 days of receipt of this letter.
Applications for review can be lodged with the OAIC in the following ways:
Online:
www.oaic.gov.au
Post:
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Phone:
1300 363 992 (local call charge)
Complaints to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner or the
Commonwealth Ombudsman
You may complain to either the Commonwealth Ombudsman or the OAIC about actions
taken by the NDIA in relation to your request. The Ombudsman will consult with the OAIC
before investigating a complaint about the handling of an FOI request.
Your complaint to the OAIC can be directed to the contact details identified above. Your
complaint to the Ombudsman can be directed to:
Phone:
1300 362 072 (local call charge)
Email:
xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Your complaint should be in writing and should set out the grounds on which it is considered
that the actions taken in relation to the request should be investigated.
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