2018 Premium Rate Increase
Ben Fairless made this Freedom of Information request to Minister for Health
This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.
Dear Minister for Health,
I understand that each Health Fund makes a submission to the Department or the Minister in order for the Minister to approve an increase in the cost of Private Health Insurance.
I would like a copy of documents related to the 2018 Private health insurance premium round process. These include:
1. Submissions or requests to the Minister by Private Health Insurers to increase the cost of Private Health Insurance
2. Correspondence between the Minister, his office, the Department of Health and the relevant health funds
3. Approval or rejection notices provided by the Minister.
I am happy to exclude from this request as irrelevant under s.22 of the Freedom of Information Act:
1. Duplicates of Documents, including email chains. I am happy for the department to provide a single email chain that contains all relevant replies instead of processing each reply as a seperate document.
2. Direct contact details, including email addresses, direct telephone numbers and mobile telephone numbers. These can be redacted
3. Personally identifiable information or sensitive information of individuals who are not employed by either the Health Insurance company, the Department or the Ministers office.
I want to make it clea that I do not consider information other than the exempt information above to be irrelevant to my request. I note that the FOI Guidelines state that "Where public servants’ personal information is included in a document because of their usual duties or responsibilities, it would not be unreasonable to disclose unless special circumstances existed."
Please process this request administratively (or informally) if possible in order to reduce the taxpayer funds spent on this request. If it cannot be processed administratively, please consider it a Formal request under the Freedom of Information Act.
Yours faithfully,
Ben Fairless
Attention: Ben Fairless
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST – NOTIFICATION OF TRANSFER FROM ANOTHER AGENCY
I am writing to notify you that the Department of Health (Department) has accepted transfer of your request to the Minister for Health (in your below email) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
The Department will take all reasonable steps to notify you of a decision no later than 30 calendar days after the date your request was received. You will be contacted where a charge is applied for processing your request or if we need to consult a third party.
Unless you advise otherwise, duplicate documents and Commonwealth employee names and contact details below Senior Executive Service level and mobile telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the scope of your request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.
You can contact the FOI Unit on (02) 6289 1666, or via email at [email address], should you have any enquiries.
Regards
FOI Unit
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Legal & Assurance Division
Australian Government Department of Health
T: (02) 6289 1666 | E: [Minister for Health request email]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders both past and present.
Katrina Carbone
FOI Officer
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Legal & Assurance Division
Australian Government Department of Health
T: (02) 6289 1718 | E: [email address]
Location: 3.S.503 workstation number
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders both past and present.
Dear FOI,
I’ve already set my s22 exemptions. Don’t add any more.
Yours sincerely,
Ben Fairless
Dear Mr Fairless.
Please find enclosed a Notice pursuant to s24AB of the Freedom of
Information Act 1982.
Regards
François Murat
Senior FOI Adviser
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Legal & Assurance Division
Australian Government Department of Health
T: (02) 6289 1666 | E: [1][Minister for Health request email]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the traditional owners of country
throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and
community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders
both past and present.