Date: Sun, 05 Sep 2021 07:38:01 +0000
Subject: Re: Freedom of information request 2922 – notification of receipt and request for an extension of time [SEC=OFFICIAL]
From: verifysp <xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx>
To: FOI <xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx>

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Dear FOI,
Hi Judy, I am happy for you to treat multiple foi requests as one, my clarification is below to assist you.

To clarify my request, and if you see an assumption below that is answerable in the public domain do advise me the link, the docs I seek is any related to evidence supporting government requirements for staff of your dept/org to wear masks at work.
My assumption is that employees were told to wear masks, so were they told why and what evidence supporting the order was shown to them? Docs as email, memos, staffnotices, group mail communications, or similar.

Or alternatively, since by federal law BiosecuritiesAct2015/61 no citizen may be compelled or asked to wear a mask unless a judge has issued a biosecurity control order in the name of that person.

Alternate request under FoI Act
I request a list of all the biosecurity control orders issued to staff (how many issued exactly) with PIN, names etc redacted as I respect individual privacy. If these control orders do not exist the Mask Mandate must be recinded as it is illegal.

Yours sincerely,

verifysp

-----Original Message-----

Good afternoon

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST – NOTIFICATION OF RECEIPT AND REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME

I am writing to notify you that the Department of Health (department) received four separate requests on 28 August 2021 for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) held by the department, Medical Services Advisory Committee, Advisory Committee on the Safety of Medical Devices and Advisory Committee on Medical Devices, being:


instructions, notices, evidence to support, in regards to the wearing of face masks by your internal staff and public that was sent to you from either the State or Federal Authorities in 2021

As all the above listed committees are contained within the department, the four requests have been combined and will be treated as one request to the department for the purposes of the FOI Act.

The statutory timeframe for processing your request is 30 calendar days within which a decision on access to the requested documents is to be notified. The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge you will be notified in writing.

Unless you advise otherwise, draft and duplicate documents, along with 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.

Request for extension of time
As a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the department is dealing with a very high volume of FOI requests. To ensure the department can process your request in accordance with the requirements of the FOI Act, including locating and providing access to all relevant documents, the department would be grateful if you would agree to an extension of 30 calendar days for processing your request. If you agree, the department will endeavour to provide a decision to you by 27 October 2021.

Please contact the department by 4 September 2021 with your decision to the 30 day extension of processing time.

You can contact the FOI Unit via email at [email address], should you have any questions.
Kind regards
Judy

Team Leader - Freedom of Information
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch

Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
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