13 January 2025
Nosey Rosey
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Nosey,
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST NO. 2024-25/10 - NOTICE OF DECISION
The purpose of this letter is to give you a decision about access to documents that you requested
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
Screen Australia has completed processing the request and this letter is written notice to you of
Screen Australia’s decision in accordance with section 26 of the FOI Act.
SCOPE OF REQUEST
On 14 December 2024, you requested access to documents personal information received by Screen
Australia originating from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Specifically, you sought access to:
• All records of data sharing arrangements between DVA and Screen Australia, including but
not limited to memoranda of understanding, service-level agreements, emails, letters,
meeting minutes, file transfer logs, internal reports, and instructions that outline what data
was shared, when it was shared, and the format or system used for the transfer between
December 2014 and December 2024;
• Any internal Screen Australia policies, procedures, guidelines, or frameworks that govern
how Screen Australia requests, obtains, stores, handles, or uses DVA client information. This
includes documents that detail the criteria for approving access to such data, any consent
or authorization processes, security controls, and retention or destruction policies between
December 2014 and December 2024;
• Any internal Screen Australia copies of any ethics committee approvals, privacy impact
assessments, internal review board decisions, or other documents that reflect deliberations
or authorizations from Screen Australia for obtaining DVA client information. This includes
records that show the agency considered the ethical, legal, or privacy implications of
receiving or using DVA client data between December 2014 and December 2024;
• Screen Australia documents that outline the intended uses or practical applications of the
DVA client data, such as project proposals, business cases, internal strategy papers, or
briefings that explain why Screen Australia sought access to this information, how it was
intended to be integrated into the agency’s operations, and any expected outcomes or
benefits between December 2014 and December 2024.
On 20 December 2024, I sent you an ‘Acknowledgement of Access Request Received’ letter.
Material taken into account
I have taken the following material into account in making my decision:
(a)
the terms of your request;
(b)
consultation with officers at Screen Australia who have oversight of the relevant
areas to which the request relates;
(c)
the FOI Act; and
(d)
the guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner under section 93A
of the FOI Act.
DECISION AND REASONS FOR DECISION
I am an officer authorised under section 23(1) of the FOI Act to make decisions in relation to FOI
requests.
I have decided to refuse access under section 24A(1)(b)(ii) of the FOI Act on the basis that the
documents you requested do not exist.
Section 24A(1)(b)(ii) of the FOI Act provides that an agency may refuse a request if it has taken all
reasonable steps to find the documents requested, and it is satisfied that the documents do not
exist.
The steps taken to identify documents within the scope of your request included conducting
searches of Screen Australia’s electronic document and records management system (
EDRMS),
Screen Australia’s funding management system (
SmartyGrants), and emails. Search terms used
included “DVA OR Veteran* Affair* (note: this will find all derivations of Department of Veterans
Affairs) created/updated since 2013. Search terms “data” and “client information” were also
conducted within the context of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Myself and staff within our
information support team conducted the searches.
Accordingly, I am satisfied that the documents you requested do not exist at Screen Australia.
YOUR REVIEW RIGHTS
If you are dissatisfied with my decision, you may apply for internal review or Information
Commissioner review of the decision. We encourage you to seek internal review as a first step as it
may provide a more rapid resolution of your concerns.
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER REVIEW Under section 54L of the FOI Act, you may apply to the Australian Information Commissioner to
review my decision. An application for review by the Information Commissioner must be made in
writing within 60 days of the date of this letter, and be lodged in one of the following ways:
onlin
e: https://forms.business.gov.au/smartforms/servlet/SmartForm.html?formCode=ICR_10
email
: xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
post: GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001
More information about Information Commissioner review is available on the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner website. Go to
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-
information/reviews-and-complaints/information-commissioner-review/.
FOI COMPLAINTS
If you are not satisfied with our response, you can make a complaint to the Australian Information
Commissioner. A complaint to the Information Commissioner must be made in writing. Complaints
can be lodged in one of the following ways:
onlin
e: https://forms.business.gov.au/smartforms/servlet/SmartForm.html?formCode=ICCA_1
email
: xxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
post: GPO Box 5218 Sydney 2001
More information about complaints is available on the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner at
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews-and-complaints/make-
an-foi-complaint/.
If you are not sure whether to lodge an Information Commissioner review or an Information
Commissioner complaint, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has more
information at:
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews-and-complaints/.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DECISION
If you wish to discuss this decision, please contact me using the details below:
Kirsten Delaney
FOI Contact Officer
xxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Yours sincerely
Kirsten Delaney
FOI Contact Officer
