Nosey Rosey
By email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
24 January 2025
Dear Nosey,
Freedom of Information Request No. FOI 009 2024
Thank you for our earlier correspondence about your request for access to documents under
the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act).
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (the Institute) has undertaken preliminary
searches that have uncovered a broad range of documents.
I believe that the work involved in processing your request in its current form would
substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the Institute from its other operations,
due to the size and scope of your request. This is a ‘practical refusal reason’ (section 24AA
of the Act).
As previously mentioned in the email dated 13 January 2025, I would need you to revise the
scope of your request in order for the Institute to be able to process your request.
We have found documents that are likely within the scope of your request that we have
grouped under the following headings:
• ethics applications
• project proposals
• technical papers
• documents about technical data supply
• memorandums of understanding
• other agreements.
With the exception of the category for ethics, it is likely that I would be able to process
documents in one of these categories noting that the timeframes that have been used for a
sample search appear to be relevant from 2020 onwards. I note that as these are sample
searches, it would be worth agreeing to a refinement of scope for the request together to
ensure that the request is indeed able to be processed.
Going back to your original request, you could also narrow your scope by limiting your
request to a category of documents that is specific to a category noting that information
about what data is held by the Institute is further detailed on our website here:
https:/ www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/population-groups/veterans/aihw-dva-strategic-
partnership.
If you provide me with some information about a refinement of scope, I can liaise with the
relevant experts to suggest a revised scope that can likely be processed with the relevant
timeframe.
If we cannot reach an agreement on a scope within the 14-day timeframe, I intend to refuse
this request.
On this basis, I am providing you with the opportunity to revise your request. This is a
‘request consultation process’ in accordance with section 24AB of the Act. You have
14 days to respond to this notice in one of the ways set out below.
Why I intend to refuse the request
I have decided that a practical refusal reason exists because:
• Searches conducted to date of your request have identified at least 250 documents
that may be within the scope of your request.
• Key word searches of the Institute’s mail system and record storage data bases for
the other parts of your request have not yet been completed. I consider the search
results for those matters would also significantly increase the number of documents
captured by the scope of your request. I would need to examine each of these
records individually to determine the documents within the scope of your request,
potentially consult with another person or body in relation to the request, make a copy
or an edited copy of the document, and redact exempt material from the documents;
and
• Searching, reviewing and indexing these documents would substantially and
unreasonably divert the resources of the Institute from its other operations.
Consultation period
This consultation period is for 14 days, commencing the day after you receive this notice.
You have an opportunity to revise your request to enable it to proceed. Before the end of the
consultation period, you must do one of the following by writ en notice:
• withdraw the request; or
• make a revised request; or
• indicate that you do not wish to revise the request.
Potential revision of request
Reducing the scope of your access request may involving limiting your access request for a
specific document or documents. This suggestion is offered as guidance only. Should you
decide to revise your request, this does not guarantee that the practical refusal reason wil no
longer apply. If it does no longer apply, there is no guarantee that documents wil be released
without exemptions applied. These decisions are made when any documents that are subject
of the revised request are assessed.
During the consultation period, you may contact me by email at xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx. If you
revise the request in a way that adequately addresses the practical refusal grounds, I wil
recommence processing it. Please be aware that the time taken to consult you regarding the
scope of your request is not taken into account for the purposes of the 30-day time limit for
processing the request.
If you do not respond in one of the 3 ways indicated above during the consultation period,
your request wil be taken to have been withdrawn.
Yours sincerely
Clare
FOI Officer
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
