28 January 2025
Oliver Smith
BY EMAIL: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
In reply please quote:
FOI Request:
FA 24/12/00563
File Number:
FA24/12/00563
Dear Oliver Smith
Freedom of Information (FOI) request – Decision
On 10 December 2024, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) received a request for
access to document 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 document:
Under the FOI Act, I seek a copy of the Ministerial Brief provided to the office of Home
Affairs Minister Tony Burke on 4/9/24 with the Brief PDR No. MS24-001284.
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 document or to amend or annotate records.
3
Relevant material
In reaching my decision I referred to the following:
• the terms of your request
• the FOI Act
• Guidelines published by the Office of the Information Commissioner under section 93A
of the FOI Act (the FOI Guidelines)
• consultation responses from third parties consulted in accordance with the FOI Act
• advice from Departmental officers with responsibility for matters relating to the
document to which you sought access
PO Box 25 Belconnen ACT 2616
• www.homeaffairs.gov.au
4
Document in scope of request
The Department has identified one document as falling within the scope of your request. This
document was in the possession of the Department on 10 December 2024 when your request
was received.
5
Decision
The decision in relation to the document in the possession of the Department which fall within
the scope of your request is as follows:
• Release one document in part with deletions
6
Reasons for Decision
My findings of fact and reasons for deciding that the exemption provision applies to that
information are set out below.
6.1 Section 22 of the FOI Act – irrelevant to request
Section 22 of the FOI Act provides that if giving access to a document would disclose information
that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the request, it is possible for the Department
to prepare an edited copy of the document, modified by deletions, ensuring that the edited copy
would not disclose any information that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the
request.
On 11 December 2024, the Department advised you that its policy is to exclude the personal
details of officers not in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as well as the mobile and work
telephone numbers of SES staff, contained in documents that fall within scope of an FOI request.
I have decided that parts of document marked ‘s22(1)(a)(i )’ would disclose information that could
reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to your request. I have prepared an edited copy of the
document, with the irrelevant material deleted pursuant to section 22(1)(a)(i ) of the FOI Act.
The remainder of the document has been considered for release to you as it is relevant to your
request.
6.2 Section 33 of the FOI Act – Documents affecting National Security, Defence or
International Relations
Section 33(a)(i i) of the FOI Act permits exemption of a document if disclosure of the document
would, or could reasonably be expected to cause damage to the international relations of the
Commonwealth.
The phrase 'international relations' has been interpreted as meaning the ability of the Australian
Government to maintain good working relations with other governments and international
organisations and to protect the flow of confidential information between them. The expectation
of damage to international relations must be reasonable in all the circumstances, having regard
to the nature of the information; the circumstances in which it was communicated; and the nature
and extent of the relationship. There must be real and substantial grounds for the conclusion
that are supported by evidence.
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The information contained in the document relates to the Nauru Regional Processing Centre.
The Republic of Nauru is a sovereign nation and the Government of Nauru is responsible for
regional processing in Nauru.
I consider releasing the information marked ‘
s33(a)(iii)’ would adversely impact the ability of the
Department to maintain good working relations with the Government of Nauru. This assessment
is made considering the nature of the information contained within the document and the current
nature and extent of the Australia Government’s relationship with the Government of Nauru.
As such I have decided that the information redacted and marked '
s33(a)(iii)" is exempt from
disclosure under section 33(a)(i i) of the FOI Act.
6.3 Section 42 of the FOI Act – Legal Professional Privilege
Section 42 of the FOI Act provides that a document is an exempt document if it is of such a nature
that it would be privileged from production in legal proceedings on the ground of legal professional
privilege.
I am satisfied that parts of the document comprise confidential communications passing between
the Department and its legal advisers, for the dominant purpose of giving or receiving legal
advice.
In determining that the communication is privileged, I have taken into the consideration the
following:
• there is a legal adviser-client relationship
• the communication was for the purpose of giving and/or receiving legal advice;
• the advice given was independent and
• the advice was given on a legal-in-confidence basis and was therefore confidential.
The content of this document is not part of the rules, guidelines, practices or precedents relating
to the decisions and recommendations of the Department. The document does not fall within the
definition of operational information and remains subject to legal professional privilege.
I have decided parts of the document are exempt from disclosure under section 42 of the FOI
Act.
7
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.
8
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.
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You can send your internal review request to:
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 t
he Information Commissioner
review application form on the OAIC website.
You can find more information about Information Commissioner reviews
on the OAIC website.
9
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.
10 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
Shan
Position number 60028140
Authorised Decision Maker
Department of Home Affairs
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