A complete list of Technical Advisory Branch (TAB) "Research" document titles – Part 2
Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,
I am requesting access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), to the following information:
[ START SCOPE OF REQUEST ]
1. A complete list of all "research" documents held by the NDIA Technical Advisory and Practice Improvement Branch, created between 5 May 2024 and 26 March 2025 (inclusive). Please include the follow details for each item:
- Document title.
- File name.
- Date published/created.
- Version number.
- Whether it is "APPROVED" or "DRAFT".
[ END SCOPE OF REQUEST ]
This request follows on from FOI 23/24-1189 (made 4 May 2024 and completed 27 June 2024) where I was provided the titles of TAB research documents available at that time. I'm effectively seeking an updated list – Thank you for your help.
Kind regards,
Emily Lacey
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Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [11][NDIA request email]
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Dear Emily Lacey
Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement
Thank you for your request of 26 March 2025, made under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Scope of your Request
You have requested access to:
"1. A complete list of all "research" documents held by the NDIA Technical Advisory and Practice Improvement Branch, created between 5 May 2024 and 26 March 2025 (inclusive). Please include the follow details for each item:
- Document title.
- File name.
- Date published/created.
- Version number.
- Whether it is "APPROVED" or "DRAFT"."
Processing Timeframes
In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory period for processing your request commenced from 26 March 2025. This 30-day period expires on 25 April 2025
The 30-day period can be extended in a number of ways, including with your agreement.
Extension of Time Request:
Unfortunately, it is currently taking us a little longer than 30 days to process FOI requests due to a very high volume of incoming matters. I am therefore seeking your agreement to a 30-day extension of time under section 15AA of the FOI Act. If you agree to this extension, the new due date for us to decide on your request will be 25 May 2025
Please let us know if you agree by 3 April 2024
Explanation of Extension of Time Request:
The reason I am seeking an extension of time is to ensure I preserve your review rights under the FOI Act.
FOI applicants are normally entitled to exercise a right of internal review if they are unsatisfied with the outcome of an FOI decision. However, this right of review lapses if a FOI decision is not made within the statutory timeframe. This is because if an agency doesn’t issue their decision within the statutory timeframe, they are deemed to have refused the request for documents. If this situation happens, it will limit your options for formal review to only contacting the OAIC.
You are not obligated to agree to this request, you would still retain your review rights with our regulatory body OAIC (Office of the Australian Information Commission).
Irrelevant Information
Section 22 of the FOI Act allows an Agency to redact information from documents if that information would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to a request for access.
Given the nature of your request, it does not seem that NDIA staff members’ surnames and contact details would be relevant to you. Can you please send me a reply email confirming that such details are irrelevant to your request for access?
Action Required
1. Can I please request a response regarding our request for a 30 day extension of time, by 3 April 2025
Next steps
I have completed some preliminary work on your request, however your matter will be allocated to an authorised FOI decision-maker for any further action. The decision-maker may need to contact you to discuss a range of matters, including refining the scope of your request.
We will contact you using the email address you have provided. Please advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or need help, please contact us at [NDIA request email].
Regards
Alana AFW410
Senior Freedom of Information Officer
Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch
Reviews and Information Release Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
T 1800 800 110 E [NDIA request email]
The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians 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 past, present and emerging.
Dear Alana,
I actually think it's quite disingenuous of the agency to be be framing an extension request as though it's generously being offered to "ensure" my review rights are preserved. You've failed to include clearly in your explanation that if the agency don't complete the request within their new 60 day limit, which is likely, I will still lose my internal review rights even if I've agreed to the extension.
68% of FOI requests for non-personal documents that the NDIA finalised last quarter were returned past their statutory deadline (52/76 requests). In the same quarter, the agency only received a total of 4 eligible internal review requests. The only party in this process who is consistently benefiting from applicants agreeing to an extension is the agency, because their OAIC reporting on decision timeframes then look slightly less appalling.
Respectfully, I don't consent to the extension.
I can confirm that staff surnames and contact details aren't relevant to my request and can be excluded.
Kind regards,
Emily Lacey