12 September 2024
Keith (Right to Know)
BY EMAIL: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
In reply please quote:
FOI Request:
FA 24/08/00694
File Number:
FA24/08/00694
Dear Keith (Right to Know)
Freedom of Information (FOI) request – Decision
On 9 August 2024, the Department of Home Af airs (the Department) received a request for
access to documents under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a decision on your request for access under the
FOI Act.
1
Scope of request
You have requested access to the following documents:
I wish to have access to the documents in relation to VACCU's operation. Specifically, how
many staff they are hiring and how many cases they complete per person, for the previous
financial year (2023-2024).
2
Authority to make decision
I am an officer authorised under section 23 of the FOI Act to make decisions in respect of
requests to access documents or to amend or annotate records.
3
Relevant material
In reaching my decision I referred to the following:
• the terms of your request
• the documents relevant to the request
• the FOI Act
• Guidelines published by the Office of the Information Commissioner under section 93A
of the FOI Act (the FOI Guidelines)
• advice from Departmental officers with responsibility for matters relating to the
documents to which you sought access
Level 3 - 299 Adelaide Street • www.homeaffairs.gov.au
4
Documents in scope of request
The Department has undertaken reasonable searches for documents within the scope of your
request. The Immigration Compliance Group have advised that they do not hold any documents
or reports that is relevant to the scope of your request. However, they have provided the following
information:
• In the 2023-2024 financial year, the Visa Applicant Character Consideration Unit
(VACCU) were funded for 29.5 Full Time Employee’s (FTE). The FTE includes staff at
the APS4, APS5, APS6, EL1 and EL2 levels.
• In the 2023-2024 financial year VACCU finalised 1649 assessments.
• VACCU are unable to provide a further breakdown of finalisations per case officer.
Having regard to your request and the types of documents that may fall within the scope of your
request I am satisfied that the searches conducted were extremely thorough and all reasonable
steps have been taken to locate any document/s relevant to your request.
I am therefore satisfied that all reasonable steps have been taken to locate any documents
relevant to your request, and that the Department does not hold existing discrete documents that
contain the information you are seeking.
5
Decision
Section 24A of the FOI Act provides that the Department may refuse a request for access to a
document if all reasonable steps have been taken to find the document and the Department is
satisfied that the document does not exist.
I am satisfied that the Department has undertaken reasonable searches in relation to your
request and that no documents were in the possession of the Department on 9 August 2024
when your FOI request was received. As such, I am refusing your request based on the
application of section 24A of the FOI Act.
6
Legislation
A copy of the FOI Act is available at https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A02562. If you
are unable to access the legislation through this website, please contact our office for a copy.
7
Your Review Rights
If you disagree with this decision, you have the right to apply for either an internal review or an
Information Commissioner review of the decision.
Internal Review
If you want the Department to review this decision, you must make your internal review request
within 30 days of being notified of this decision.
When making your internal review request, please provide the Department with the reasons why
you consider this decision should be changed.
You can send your internal review request to:
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Email: xxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Or
Postal mail:
Freedom of Information
Department of Home Affairs
GPO Box 241 MELBOURNE VIC 3001
The internal review wil be carried out by an officer who is more senior than the original decision
maker. The Department must make its decision on the review within 30 days of receiving your
request for internal review.
Information Commissioner Review
If you want the Australian Information Commissioner to review this decision, you must make your
request to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) within 60 days of being
notified of this decision.
You can apply for an Information Commissioner review using the Information Commissioner
review application form on the OAIC website.
You can find more information about Information Commissioner reviews on the OAIC website.
8
Making a complaint
You may make a complaint to the Australian Information Commissioner if you have concerns
about how the Department has handled your request under the FOI Act. This is a separate
process to the process of requesting a review of the decision as indicated above.
You can make an FOI complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
(OAIC) at: FOI Complaint Form on the OAIC website.
9
Contacting the FOI Section
Should you wish to discuss this decision, please do not hesitate to contact the FOI Section at
xxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
T Malone
Acting Assistant Secretary
Character and Cancellation Branch
Character Cancellation and Case Resolution Division
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