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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Your email has been received by the Department of Home Affairs Freedom of
Information (FOI) Section.

The FOI section only responds to valid FOI requests and other matters
relating to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).  Visit the
FOI Information on our Website for more information on what [1]information
can be accessed under the FOI Act 1982.

What is a valid FOI request?

A valid FOI request may be for:

- documents you previously provided to the Department as part of a visa
application

- a copy of a decision record made by the Department

- statistical information held by the Department

- papers or briefings the Department prepared.

If your email is a valid FOI request, the Department will contact you
shortly to acknowledge your request.

A valid FOI request must:

o Be in writing and state the request is for consideration under the FOI
Act.
o Have enough information for us to be able to identify the documents
you are seeking.
o Provide a physical or electronic address where we can send our
decision.

Do not send duplicate emails as this may cause longer delays in processing
times.

What is an invalid FOI request?

Invalid FOI requests may include:

- Making a visa application

- Seeking evidence of your Australian Citizenship

- Seeking information about traveling to or departing Australia.

If your email is not specific an FOI request or FOI related matter, the
FOI section will not respond.

What happens next?

Once we receive and have registered your FOI request, we will send you an
acknowledgment letter by email. Read the acknowledgment letter carefully
for further instructions.

FOI requests are generally processed in the order they are received.

We will contact you as soon as the Department has assessed your request
under the FOI Act.

We’re responding to a large volume of requests

Due to the current high volume of requests, we will not provide progress
up-dates on current FOI requests.  This is to ensure we are able to
process as many requests as possible, including yours.

If processing your request is going to take us a lot of time and because
it is large or unspecific, it may be refused.  

Still have a question or request?

If you still have a question, which has not been answered above, and which
is about the work of the Department, use our general enquiries web page

[2]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...

You may be able to resolve your enquiry faster using these other resources

We only action and respond to FOI requests that are valid under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982. You may be able to resolve your enquiry
faster by using these resources:

General information about travelling to Australia:

The Department of Home Affairs, “Entering Australia” site
[3]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...

·       For visa and our requirements for entry to Australia
[4]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...

For a copy of your visa refusal or visa grant letter you should contact
the office where you lodged your visa application. 

·       To check your current visa details and conditions use the
Department’s Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) portal which can
be accessed [5]here

·       If you are experiencing technical difficulties in lodging your
visa application through ImmiAccount, submit your concerns through the
ImmiAccount Technical Support Form, which is accessible [6]here.

·       For evidence of your Australian Citizenship please refer [7]here.
The FOI Section does not process these requests.

·       For movement records or travel history complete the online
International Movement Records form [8]here. The FOI Section does not
process these requests.

·       To update your details, including your Passport details, you can
notify the Department [9]here. The FOI Section does not process these
requests.

We appreciate your feedback         

We appreciate your feedback to help improve our services.

If you would like to provide feedback to us please use our Compliments,
complaints and suggestions form.
[10]https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...

Thank you

Information updated 11 January 2022

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
2. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
3. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
4. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...
5. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/al...
6. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
7. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
8. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
9. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
10. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 23/04/01265
File Number: FA23/04/01265

Dear Fidel Fernando,

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

This letter acknowledges that on 24 April 2023 the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) received your request to access documents held by the Department under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). This letter also provides important information about your request.

Scope of request
You have requested access to the following:
I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information act.

- The Australian government's ad expenditure in Sri Lanka for the purpose of deterring illegal emigration towards Australia, in 2022.

- The Australian government's ad expenditure in Sri Lanka for the purpose of deterring illegal emigration towards Australia, in 2019.

Your request has been allocated FOI request number FA 23/04/01265. Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.
Timeframe

The timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the day we receive your request, as set out in the FOI Act.

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Fees and Charges
Charges do not apply to requests from individuals seeking access to documents about themselves. However, a charge may apply to all other requests for access to documents.
Charges are based on the amount of time the Department spends on your request. Charges can range from $10 to over $1,000 depending on the complexity and scope of your request. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner reported that across the public service, the average charge notified was $335.50 in 2020-21.
If a charge applies, you will be issued with a Notice of Charge that explains the charge and your options.
Detailed information about FOI charges that may apply to your FOI request is available on the Department’s website.

We do not provide personal details of staff
The Department’s practice is to exclude the personal details of staff not in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as well as the direct contact details of SES staff, contained in documents that fall within scope of an FOI request. If you require personal details of non-SES officers, or direct contact details of SES staff, please inform us so the decision maker may consider your request. Otherwise we will take it that you agree to that information being excluded from the scope of your request. However names of staff that have previously been released in departmental correspondence may be disclosed.

We do not provide duplicated documents
If the FOI decision-maker deems a document to be a duplicate, they will not assess those pages as part of your FOI request. This means that if a there is a decision to release the document to you, you will receive only one copy, even if multiple copies of that document exist.

Publication of document
Released documents you request may be published to our website
Where documents are released to you in response to your request, the Department may be required to publish these documents on its website within 10 working days in accordance with section 11C of the FOI Act. Publication will not be required where the documents contain personal or business affairs information.

How to reduce or withdraw your request
Reducing the scope of your request can reduce the time and charges associated with processing your FOI request.
To reduce or withdraw your request, contact the FOI section at [Department of Home Affairs request email] and include your FOI request number.

Contacting the FOI Section
Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at [Department of Home Affairs request email].

Kind regards,

FOI Officer - Geoff
Freedom of Information
Department of Home Affairs

E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

-----Original Message-----
From: Fidel Fernando <[FOI #10194 email]>
Sent: 24 April 2023 3:49 PM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: CM: Freedom of Information request - Australia government's ad expenditure in Sri Lanka, for purpose of deterring illegal emigration to Australa

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information act.

- The Australian government's ad expenditure in Sri Lanka for the purpose of deterring illegal emigration towards Australia, in 2022.

- The Australian government's ad expenditure in Sri Lanka for the purpose of deterring illegal emigration towards Australia, in 2019.

Yours faithfully,

Fidel Fernando

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #10194 email]

Is [Department of Home Affairs request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Department of Home Affairs? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.

hide quoted sections

OFFICIAL

FOI Request: FA 23/04/01265

Good afternoon,

I refer to your request received on 24 April 2023 for access to documents
under the FOI Act.

The current due date for your request is 24 May 2023. 

In order for the Department to complete the decision making process in
relation to the documents that fall within the scope of your request, the
Department will require additional time to process your request.

We seek your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to extend the
timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days.  This would
extend the due date for your request to 23 June 2023. We hope to provide a
decision to you earlier if possible.

It would assist the Department in managing its FOI caseload if you could
please provide a response to this request by close of business, Friday 19
May 2023.

If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to
contact me on the details below.

Kind regards,

Lynette

Position number: 60025562

Authorised FOI Officer

Freedom of Information Section

Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [1][Department of Home Affairs request email]

[2]cid:image001.png@01D8B643.CCD9CEC0

OFFICIAL

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL

Good morning Mr Fernando,

Thank you for your response. Can you please respond with approval to
extend the due by date to Wednesday, 31 May 2023?

We understand your need to receive the information as quickly as possible.
The reasons we occasionally seek extensions under the FOI Act can be for a
variety of reasons. High volume of incoming requests, searching for,
identifying and retrieving documents, complex and voluminous caseloads
requiring clearance through several business areas, and occasionally the
availability of staff. These factors can slow down progress more than we
would wish. The documents you seek are not necessarily held in one place
and the Department has many offices.

However, we are hoping to finalise a decision and have it to you in time
but it may become over due by a short period. This request for an
extension of time, should keep your request within a legislated time frame
if granted. It does not need to be 30 days. That is the maximum we can
request. We would appreciate a short extension if you agree.

Kind regards,

Lynette

Position number: 60025562

Authorised FOI Officer

Freedom of Information Section

Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [1][Department of Home Affairs request email]

[2]cid:image001.png@01D8B643.CCD9CEC0

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: Fidel Fernando <[FOI #10194 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 18 May 2023 8:28 PM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: Re: FOI Request FA 23/04/01265 - Request for Extension of time -
Fernando [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Dear Lynette,

As my deadline is the end of this month, unfortunately that is too long a
time period for me to wait. Could you please provide this information by
May 31?

I don't understand what the delay is, as they are fairly simple and
specific requests. Could they not be found fairly easily by looking
through the Department of Home Affairs budget?

Looking forward to your response, and to getting this information quickly.

Yours sincerely,

Fidel Fernando

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

OFFICIAL

FOI Request: FA 23/04/01265

Good afternoon,

I refer to your request received on 24 April 2023 for access to documents
under the FOI Act. The current due date for your request is 24 May 2023. 

In order for the Department to complete the decision making process in
relation to the documents that fall within the scope of your request, the
Department will require additional time to process your request.

We seek your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to extend the
timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days.  This would
extend the due date for your request to 23 June 2023. We hope to provide a
decision to you earlier if possible.

It would assist the Department in managing its FOI caseload if you could
please provide a response to this request by close of business, Friday 19
May 2023.

If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to
contact me on the details below.

Kind regards,

Lynette

Position number: 60025562

Authorised FOI Officer

Freedom of Information Section

Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [3][Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by

the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received

this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and

attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain

confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information

by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 

The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have

obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this

email.

References

Visible links

1. [4]mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #10194 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
3. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
4. mailto:[department

hide quoted sections

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Fernando,

Thank you for the short extension of time. This should allow us to respond
to your original request within the new due by date of 31 May 2023.

Unfortunately we cannot add new requests to your original scope. Even if
we could it would delay the current request further as we have many
business areas and each request needs to be directed to the exact area
that may be able to respond best.

Kind regards,

Lynette

Position number: 60025562

Authorised FOI Officer

Freedom of Information Section

Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [1][Department of Home Affairs request email]

[2]cid:image001.png@01D8B643.CCD9CEC0

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: Fidel Fernando <[FOI #10194 email]>
Sent: Monday, 22 May 2023 5:24 PM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: Re: Shorter extension of time request - RE: FOI Request FA
23/04/01265 - Request for Extension of time - Fernando [SEC=OFFICIAL]

To Lynette,

Thanks for your response. Yes this is to confirm that the due date may be
extended to May 31. But please, no later.

As you have another week, may I also ask for an additional tidbit of
information? I would like to know the details of the brief which the
Australian Government gives to the advertising agency that runs the "Zero
Chance" campaign in Sri Lanka. The most recent brief is fine.

Yours sincerely,

Fidel Fernando

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

OFFICIAL

Good morning Mr Fernando,

Thank you for your response. Can you please respond with approval to
extend the due by date to Wednesday, 31 May 2023?

We understand your need to receive the information as quickly as possible.

The reasons we occasionally seek extensions under the FOI Act can be for a
variety of reasons. High volume of incoming requests, searching for,

identifying and retrieving documents, complex and voluminous caseloads
requiring clearance through several business areas, and occasionally the

availability of staff. These factors can slow down progress more than we
would wish. The documents you seek are not necessarily held in one place

and the Department has many offices.

However, we are hoping to finalise a decision and have it to you in time
but it may become over due by a short period. This request for an

extension of time, should keep your request within a legislated time frame
if granted. It does not need to be 30 days. That is the maximum we can

request. We would appreciate a short extension if you agree.

Kind regards,  

Lynette

Position number: 60025562

Authorised FOI Officer

Freedom of Information Section

Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [3][Department of Home Affairs request email]

OFFICIAL

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #10194 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
3. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

hide quoted sections

OFFICIAL

FOI Request: FA 23/04/01265

Dear Mr Fernando,

We are endeavouring to finalise and provide a decision to you as soon as
possible.

Please know that we are unable to release documents without careful
examination and approval by various stakeholders under the FOI Act.

We apologise for the unforeseen delay.

Kind regards,

Lynette

Position number: 60025562

Authorised FOI Officer

Freedom of Information Section

Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [1][Department of Home Affairs request email]

[2]cid:image001.png@01D8B643.CCD9CEC0

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: Fidel Fernando <[FOI #10194 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 1 June 2023 4:12 PM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: Re: Expanding current request - RE: FOI Request FA 23/04/01265 -
Request for Extension of time - Fernando [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Dear Dept. of Home Affairs,

Despite this due date having been extended, the Department of Home Affairs
has not made this information available in the agreed-upon timeframe.

Please update as to when this information will be available.

Yours sincerely,

Fidel Fernando

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

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Fernando,

Thank you for the short extension of time. This should allow us to respond
to your original request within the new due by date of 31 May 2023.

Unfortunately we cannot add new requests to your original scope. Even if
we could it would delay the current request further as we have many

business areas and each request needs to be directed to the exact area
that may be able to respond best.

Kind regards,

Lynette

Position number: 60025562

Authorised FOI Officer

Freedom of Information Section

Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group

Department of Home Affairs

OFFICIAL

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:  
[FOI #10194 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

hide quoted sections

OFFICIAL

In reply please quote:

FOI Request: FA 23/04/01265

File Number: FA23/04/01265

Dear Fidel Fernando

On 24 April 2023, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) received
a request for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (the FOI Act).

Please find attached a decision letter in relation to this request.

Kind regards

Rebecca

Assistant Director - Freedom of Information

Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch | Legal Group

Department of Home Affairs | www.homeaffairs.gov.au

Championing government accountability and transparency by enabling access
to information.

OFFICIAL

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.