OFFICIAL
ANNEXURE A
STATEMENT OF REASONS RELATING TO AN FOI REQUEST BY
ANDREW
I, Casey, am an officer authorised under section 23 of the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Act) to
make decisions in relation to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). What follows is my decision and
reasons for the decision in relation to your request.
A. BACKGROUND
1. On 3 November 2024, the AFP received your request in the following terms:
“I am seeking access to the 2022 COVID-19 Safety Risk Assessment conducted by the AFP
noted in its submission to the COVID-19 Response Inquiry.
Specifically, I am interested in the accessing the external advice/briefings received by the AFP
to make the determination in this risk assessment of COVID-19 vaccination's role in protecting
the community against COVID-19.”
2. On 2 December 2024, you were notified that information requested is available on the AFP
Disclosure Log. The AFP therefore requested your consent to withdraw your request as the
information is publicly available.
3. On 3 December 2024, the statutory time period in which to provide you with a decision expired,
and your request was therefore deemed refused by the agency.
B. SEARCHES
1. Searches for documents were undertaken by the following areas with responsibility for the
documents you request:
a. Office of Chief Medical Officer;
b. Office of CNON; and
c. The relevant AFP members.
2. Searches conducted of the AFP Disclosure Log identified that the information you have requested
is available within the documents released in response to a previous Freedom of Information
request made to the AFP, LEX 1541.
C. DECISION
1. Documents have been released in part in response to a previous Freedom of Information request
that contains the information you are seeking.
2. Access to this document can be obtained from the AFP Disclosure Log at
https://www.afp.gov.au/about-us/governance-and-accountability/disclosure-log.
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***YOU SHOULD READ THIS GENERAL ADVICE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LEGISLATIVE
REQUIREMENTS IN THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982***
REVIEW AND COMPLAINT RIGHTS If you are dissatisfied with a Freedom of Information decision made by the AFP, you can apply for a
review of the decision by the Information Commissioner (IC).
As this decision has been made outside
the statutory time period, the option of internal review by the AFP is not available as per Section 54E
of the FOI Act. For complaints about the AFP’s actions in processing your request, you do not need to seek review by
the IC in making your complaint.
REVIEW RIGHTS under Part VII of the Act Review by the Information Commissioner Section 54L of the FOI Act gives you the right to apply directly to the IC for review of this decision. In
making your application you will need to provide an address for notices to be sent (this can be an
email address) and a copy of the AFP decision.
Section 54S of the FOI Act provides the timeframes for an IC review submission. For an
access
refusal decision covered by section 54L(2), the application must be made within 60 days. For an
access grant decision covered by section 54M(2), the application must be made within 30 days.
Applications for IC review may be lodged by email (xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx), using the OAIC’s online
application form (available at www.oaic.gov.au) or addressed to:
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
GPO Box 5128
Sydney NSW 2001
The IC encourages parties to an IC review to resolve their dispute informally, and to consider possible
compromises or alternative solutions to the dispute in this matter. The AFP would be pleased to
assist you in this regard.
Complaint If you are unhappy with the way we have handled your FOI request, please let us know what we could
have done better. We may be able to rectify the problem. If you are not satisfied with our response,
you can make a complaint to the IC. A complaint may be lodged using the same methods identified
above. It would assist if you set out the action you consider should be investigation and your reasons
or grounds.
More information about IC reviews and complaints is available on the OAIC’s website at
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews-and-complaints/.
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