Dear Mathew M,

I am writing to notify you that the Department of Health (department) has
received your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) as follows:

‘1. The minutes of this meeting

2. Any documentation relied upon, or otherwise referenced in this meeting,
to support the Committee's position with respect to the efficacy of
pre-emptively closing schools.’

Request for extension of time

The department is actively processing your request and is aiming to
finalise it as quickly as possible. However, the department is currently
experiencing an increased workload to manage and respond to the
coronavirus pandemic, with a large amount of resources being diverted to
do so. The content of your request means that any documents that exist
would sit with the line area who has responsibility for the department’s
continued response to the coronavirus.

On this basis, the department is seeking an extension of 30 calendar days,
with a decision to be provided to you no later than COB Wednesday, 22
April 2020.

Next Steps

Could you please advise the department by COB Thursday, 26 March 2020 if
you agree to the request for extension of time?

Kind regards

FOI Team

[1]cid:image003.png@01D51610.1D98D220

Legal & Assurance Division |  Corporate Operations Group

Legal Advice & Legislation Branch

Australian Government Department of Health

T: 02 6289 1666  | E: [2][email address] 

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. 

If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.

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Dear Mathew,

Sorry for the confusion. The department is seeking an extension until 22
May 2020. Could you please confirm if you agree to this extension.

Kind regards

FOI Team

[1]cid:image003.png@01D51610.1D98D220

Legal & Assurance Division |  Corporate Operations Group

Legal Advice & Legislation Branch

Australian Government Department of Health

T: 02 6289 1666  | E: [2][email address] 

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. 

If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.

show quoted sections

Dear Mathew M.

I refer to your request of 22 March 2020 to the Department of Health
(department) seeking access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(Cth) (FOI Act) to the following documents:

‘1. The minutes of [the 17 March 2020 AHPPC] meeting.

2. Any documentation relied upon, or otherwise referenced in this meeting,
to support the Committee's position with respect to the efficacy of
pre-emptively closing schools.’

Notice of Third Party Consultation

It appears, from the documents to which you seek access, a third party may
reasonably wish to make a contention concerning possible exemption of some
of the documents. Accordingly, Rhonda Owen, Assistant Secretary, Health
Emergency Management Branch, an officer authorised under section 23(1) of
the FOI Act to make decisions in relation to freedom of information
requests, has determined the requirements of section 27
consultation-business documents, of the FOI Act make it appropriate to
extend the time frame for dealing with your request.

Pursuant to section 15(6) of the FOI Act, the period for providing you
with a decision has been extended by a further period of 30 days. This
means the department must, not later than 60 calendar days after the day
on which your request was received, take all reasonable steps to notify
you of a decision on your request.

If you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this email
you should contact the department’s FOI Unit on (02) 6289 1666, or by
email at [1][email address].

Kind regards

FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section

[2]cid:image003.png@01D51610.1D98D220

Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group

Legal Advice & Legislation Branch

Australian Government Department of Health

T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][email address]

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.

If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Mathew M

I refer to your request of 22 March 2020 to the Department of Health
(department) seeking access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(Cth) (FOI Act) to the following documents:

“I refer to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC)
coronavirus (COVID-19) statement on 17 March 2020:

[1]https://www.health.gov.au/news/australia...

"The AHPPC met on Tuesday 17 March to consider the issue of school
closures in relation to the community transmission of COVID‑19. The
Committee’s advice is that pre-emptive closures are not proportionate or
effective as a public health intervention to prevent community
transmission of COVID-19 at this time."

I wish to request the following documents, under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982:

1. The minutes of this meeting

2. Any documentation relied upon, or otherwise referenced in this meeting,
to support the Committee's position with respect to the efficacy of
pre-emptively closing schools.”

Notice of Liability to Pay a Charge

Ms Bishop, Director – Freedom of Information, an officer authorised under
section 23(1) of the FOI Act to make decisions in relation to freedom of
information charges, has decided you are liable to pay a charge in respect
of the processing of your request.

Preliminary Assessment

In accordance with section 29 of the FOI Act and the Freedom of
Information (Charges) Regulations 2019, my preliminary assessment of the
charge you are liable to pay is $37.70.

This has been calculated as follows:

search and 2.5133 $37.70
retrieval hours
time @
(including $15.00
time spent per
locating hour
relevant
files and
collating
relevant
documents
contained on
those files)
decision 4.4467 $88.93
making time hours
(including @ ($100.00)
time spent $20.00
examining the per
documents, hour
considering
exemptions, Less
undertaking first
consultation, 5
writing the hours
decision and free
preparing any
documents for
release)
TOTAL $37.70

Deposit

Ms Bishop has also decided you are required to pay a deposit of $20.00.
Payment of a deposit is taken as your authority to proceed with processing
of your request and your agreement to pay the full charge in which case
you will become liable to the Commonwealth for the full cost of processing
the charge.

Payment

The department can accept credit card, money order or cheque payments.

If you choose to pay by cheque (personal or bank) or money order it should
be sent to the following:

FOI Unit (MDP 516)

Department of Health

GPO Box 9848

CANBERRA ACT 2601

If you wish to pay by credit card, please contact the department’s FOI
unit on (02) 6289 1666 to be further advised.

Response

Under the FOI Act, you have 30 days to respond in writing to this notice.
You must, within 30 days after this notice is given, do one of the
following things: (i) agree with the department’s estimate and pay the
deposit or whole charge if no deposit is listed, or (ii) advise the
department in writing you contend the charge has been wrongly assessed, or
should be reduced or not imposed, giving reasons for your contention, or
(iii) advise the department in writing you withdraw the request for access
to the documents concerned. Please send your response to the above postal
address or [2]this email address. If you do not provide a response within
30 days, your freedom of information request will be taken to have been
withdrawn.

If you choose to make a contention the charge should be reduced or not
imposed, the department must, in making a decision on your contention,
take into account the matters set out in section 29(5) of the FOI Act or
any relevant matter.

Processing time

Processing of your request and counting the 30 calendar days are suspended
from the date you receive this notice and resume either when you pay the
deposit or when any contention you make about the charge has been
resolved.

Relevant provisions

The FOI Act, including the provisions referred to in this email, can be
accessed from the Federal Register of Legislation website.

If you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this email
you should contact the department’s FOI Unit on (02) 6289 1666, or by
email at [3][email address].

Kind regards

FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section

[4]cid:image003.png@01D51610.1D98D220

Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group

Legal Advice & Legislation Branch

Australian Government Department of Health

T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [5][email address]

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.

If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.

show quoted sections