Change of calculation in the reported cost of Gold Cards.
Dear Department of Veterans' Affairs,
BACKGROUND:
I refer to DVA’s ‘Stats at a Glance’ published on DVA’s website and specifically refer to the March 2022 and September 2022 figures.
I note a change in calculation in the reported cost of Gold Cards.
INFORMATION I AM SEEKING:
Each and every document, email, minutes, correspondence etc. that were behind the decision to change the reporting of gold card costs including the reasons and justification for changing and establishing these new measures.
Please note I am comfortable for the redaction of full email addresses of staff.
Yours faithfully,
Alan ASHMORE
Thank you for your email. Please accept this automatic reply as
confirmation the Information Access Unit has received your email. An IA
Officer will contact you in due course, we appreciate your patience in the
interim.
This email is monitored during business hours Monday to Friday excluding
Public Holidays.
The Open Arms Veterans & Families Counselling service is available to
support members of the veteran and ex-service community and their families
and can be contacted toll free on 1800 011 046 (24/7). This number is for
counselling only. If you require urgent assistance, please call 000. If
you are unwell, please contact your local doctor or go to your nearest
hospital. You can also visit the Open Arms
website [1]https://www.openarms.gov.au/
References
Visible links
1. https://www.openarms.gov.au/%0dThe%20Saf...
Dear Mr Ashmore,
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (the department) has received your
request for access to information under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act). I note you have requested access to the following:
''I refer to DVA's 'Stats at a Glance' published on DVA's website and
specifically refer to the March 2022 and September 2022 figures.
I note a change in calculation in the reported cost of Gold Cards.
INFORMATION I AM SEEKING:
Each and every document, email, minutes, correspondence etc. that were
behind the decision to change the reporting of gold card costs including
the reasons and justification for changing and establishing these new
measures.
Please note I am comfortable for the redaction of full email addresses of
staff.''
Your request was received by the department on 12 April 2023 and the
ordinary 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced
from the day after that date.
Extension of Time
Due to an increase in the number of information access applications
currently being received by the department, we are asking your agreement
to an extension of time for a further 30 days to process this request
under section 15AA of the FOI Act. This would mean that your request is
due on 12 June 2023.
If we are in a position to make a decision on your request earlier than
this date, we will endeavour to do so.
The statutory period may also be extended if we need to consult third
parties or for other reasons permitted under the FOI Act. We will advise
you if this happens.
Please reply by return email if you agree to this extension of time. If
you do agree we will notify the Office of the Australian Information
Commissioner (OAIC) of your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act.
Charges
The Department will notify you within 14 days of an estimate of the
charges that will apply to your request for non-personal information
before we process any requested documents or impose a final charge.
Your address
The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address that we can send
notices to. You have advised your electronic address is
[1][FOI #10153 email] . Unless you tell us
otherwise, we will send all notices and correspondence to this address.
Disclosure log
Information released under the FOI Act may be published on a disclosure
log on our website, subject to certain exceptions. These exceptions
include where publication of personal, business, professional or
commercial information would be unreasonable.
Request to treat certain material as out of scope or irrelevant to the
request
To the extent the department has documents in its possession that fall
within the scope of your request, we intend to treat the following
information as out of scope or irrelevant to your request, pursuant to
section 22(1)(b)(ii) of the FOI Act:
1. The surnames, signatures and direct contact details of non-SES
Commonwealth employees and contractors, including clinical staff working
for Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling; and
2. The signatures of third party individuals.
If you agree to the department treating these details as irrelevant,
please advise by 20 April 2023.
Further assistance
If you have any questions about your request, please email
[2][DVA request email]
Yours sincerely
Kevin Position Number – 62210946
Information Access Officer
Information Access Unit I Client Access and Rehabilitation Branch
Client Engagement and Support Services Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[3][DVA request email]
[4]www.dva.gov.au
[5]cid:image002.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[6]cid:image003.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[7]cid:image004.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[8]cid:image005.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590
[9]cid:image008.jpg@01D8EA24.8F7FA8A0
[10]cid:image009.jpg@01D8EA24.8F7FA8A0
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #10153 email]
2. mailto:[DVA request email]
3. mailto:[DVA request email]
4. http://www.dva.gov.au/
5. https://www.facebook.com/DVAAus
6. https://twitter.com/DVAAus
7. https://au.linkedin.com/company/australi...
8. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
I note your response of 13 April 2023 where you stated, “due to an increase in the number of information access applications being received by the department, we are asking your agreement to an extension of time for a further 30 days to process this request …………”
I note the Information Commissioner’s guideline 3.13 that states, “Agencies should ensure a sufficient number of officers are authorised at appropriatetly senior levels to make both original and internal review decisions.”
Further, the DVA Secretary in FADT evidence post budget 2021 stated that an amount of $28.9M was allocated to DVA legal in order to expedite RC-FOI requests in connection with this Royal Commission.
Accordingly, I do not agree to this extension of time.
Yours sincerely,
Alan ASHMORE
Thank you for your email. Please accept this automatic reply as
confirmation the Information Access Unit has received your email. An IA
Officer will contact you in due course, we appreciate your patience in the
interim.
This email is monitored during business hours Monday to Friday excluding
Public Holidays.
The Open Arms Veterans & Families Counselling service is available to
support members of the veteran and ex-service community and their families
and can be contacted toll free on 1800 011 046 (24/7). This number is for
counselling only. If you require urgent assistance, please call 000. If
you are unwell, please contact your local doctor or go to your nearest
hospital. You can also visit the Open Arms
website [1]https://www.openarms.gov.au/
References
Visible links
1. https://www.openarms.gov.au/%0dThe%20Saf...
Dear Mr Ashmore
Thank you for your information access request LEX 57196
Please find attached my decision letter and document relating to your request.
Kind regards,
Frankie| Information Access Officer
Position 62210799
Information Access Unit I Client Access and Rehabilitation Branch
Client Engagement and Support Services Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
[DVA request email]
www.dva.gov.au