Good afternoon,

Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request

I refer to your request received by the Department of Health and Aged Care
(the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), I am seeking access
to information about the ending of the Cashless Debit Card program, in the
following areas

Ceduna and surrounding regions, South Australia East Kimberley region,
Western Australia Goldfields region, Western Australia Bundaberg and
Hervey Bay region, Queensland

For the period May 22, 2022 to the present.

I am seeking any reports or data, about:

Changes in the incidence of alcohol related hospitalisations and/or
matters requiring medical attention in areas where the cashless debit card
was trialled.

Changes in the incidence of alcohol consumption in areas where the
cashless debit card was trialled.

The reference number for your request is FOI-4126. Please ensure that you
quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning this
request.

Timeframes

Your request was received on 06 December 2022. The statutory timeframe
for processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to
be notified of a decision from the department on or before 05 January
2022. The period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to
consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this
happens.

Other information

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:

·         any draft and duplicate documents will be excluded from the
scope of your request, and

·         any public service employee names below Senior Executive Service
level and direct telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the
scope of your request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.

Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[1]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)

You can contact the FOI team via email at [2][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.

Kind regards,

Daniel

FOI Officer – Freedom of Information Section

Legal Advice and Legislation

Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group

Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care

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

PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges the traditional owners
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 both past and present

show quoted sections

Dear Mr Smith,

We refer to your FOI request received on 6 December 2022.

Please find attached a decision on access dated 20 December 2022.

If you have any queries in relation to this decision, please contact the
FOI Section.

Kind regards,

Daniel

FOI Officer – Freedom of Information Section

Legal Advice and Legislation

Legal and Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group

Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care

T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]

PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges the traditional owners
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 both past and present

show quoted sections