Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2021 01:24:46 +0000
Subject: Freedom of Information request - AGSVA
From: ClearPseudonym <[FOI #7639 email]>
To: FOI requests at Defence <[Defence request email]>

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Dear Department of Defence,



My request relates to the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA). Please forward if required.



1.I am seeking documents given to/used by vetting coordination officers that direct how they do their day-to-day work.



The title or front page of the documents could use works like “workbook” or “work instruction”. The contents of the documents should contain rules/instructions on how to handle different scenarios relating to the information given to them by clearance subjects. For example, the documents should have rules for when a country does not issue birth certificates, or what to do when a subject does not have a surname.



These rules may also be in a knowledge management system (I’d be surprised if it wasn’t to be honest)



Note that I am requesting documents for the coordination officers (these are people that ensure that information provided is accurate and complete), NOT the decision makers of clearances.



2.I am also seeking the policy/legal direction documents that would inform the work instruction documents above.



These documents may come from either the legal team within Defence; or may be given AGSVA from the Attorney General’s Department, I’m unsure. Please advise and I may cut the scope of my request.



As these documents (policy and work instructions) only relate to mundane normal day-to-day operation of the Agency (no critical decisions are being made with the work instruction documents, they are purely clerical in nature), it should not fall foul of any s33 exemption.



Let me know how you go!



Stay COVID safe,

ClearPseudonym



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