UNOFFICIAL

Dear Lucas,

Acknowledgement of your FOI request – FOI 21-183 – Documents relating to
JobKeeper and airlines

Thank you for your email received on 9 April 2021 requesting access to
documents in the possession of the Department of Infrastructure and
Regional Development (the Department) in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).

I confirm receipt of your request and note the Department may be in
contact with you to discuss your request if clarification is required,
where we may be able to process your request outside of the FOI Act, or
for any other reason.

Otherwise, you will be notified of any charges payable in relation to your
request or of a decision regarding your FOI request as soon as this has
been determined. In accordance with subparagraph 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act
you can expect to hear from the Department regarding this matter within 30
days of your request.

Where documents found to be within the scope of your request contain the
names and contact details of departmental employees below Senior Executive
Service (SES) level, should you agree, it is proposed that those names and
contact details would be considered irrelevant to the scope of your
request. Please confirm via return email whether you agree to this
approach.

Please contact me if you have any questions regarding the processing of
your request.

To assist the Department in responding to your future communications in
relation to this request, please quote the FOI number FOI 21-183.

Kind regards,

FOI Coordinator

Freedom of Information

Governance, Parliamentary and Integrity Branch

Governance, Parliamentary and Communications Division

E: [1][email address] 
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and
Communications
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS  •  ENRICHING COMMUNITIES  •  EMPOWERING REGIONS

  [2]infrastructure.gov.au   [3]cid:image001.png@01D724A5.551E1E80

UNOFFICIAL

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/
3. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/departm...

OFFICIAL

Good morning Lucas,

Your FOI request - FOI 21-183 - Notice of intention to refuse (s24AB) -
Documents relating to JobKeeper and airlines

I refer to your correspondence received on 9 April 2021 seeking access to
documents in the possession of the Department of Infrastructure,
Transport, Regional Development and Communication (the Department) in
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).  I note
your request seeks access to:

“…all communications between department officials or ministerial staff and
major airlines Qantas, Virgin Australia and Regional Express concerning
future assistance for the aviation sector after the end of the JobKeeper
wage subsidy on March 28, 2021.”

I am of the view that your request in its current form is too voluminous
for the Department to process and would constitute an unreasonable
diversion of resources. The FOI Act contains two 'practical refusal
reasons'. The first being, that processing the request 'would
substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the agency from its
other operation' (s24AA(1)(a) of the FOI Act).

The purpose of this notice is to advise you (as required under s24AB of
the FOI Act) that I consider that a 'practical refusal reason' exists
under section 24AA of the FOI Act and that I am considering refusing
access to the documents in the form requested, in accordance with section
24 of the FOI Act.

Your Request

We are of the view that your request in its current form is too voluminous
for the Department to process and would constitute an unreasonable
diversion of resources. The FOI Act contains two 'practical refusal
reasons'. The first being, that processing the request 'would
substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the agency from its
other operation' (s24AA(1)(a) of the FOI Act).

The Department is in regular communication with ministerial staff and the
major airlines like Qantas, Virgin, and Rex, providing advice on a daily
basis and, as a result, the outcome of searches would be significant in
volume. There would be a substantial amount of work involved in reviewing
this correspondence to determine if it were relevant to the request. As
your request is very broad, and based on the estimate of documents that
fall within the current scope, I am of the view that your request would
capture a voluminous amount of possibly relevant documents. The work
involved in processing these documents would be substantial and is unable
to be undertaken with existing resources. Accordingly, a practical refusal
reason exists as set out under s24AA(1)(a) of the FOI Act.

Consultation Period

I encourage you to call me on the number below to discuss this matter so
we can refine your request and continue to process it. Alternatively,
please email [1][email address] with your suggestions for
refining the scope. As noted, we are happy to process a request that is
workable and manageable for both parties.  At this time your matter is
considered to be on hold. You may consult with us on the scope of your
request during the consultation period which is from the date of this
notice until close of business on 18 May 2021. If we do not hear from you
in that period your request will be deemed withdrawn.

Please do not hesitate to contact me on the number below or via return
email if you would like to discuss this matter further.

Kind regards,

Prea

Prea Peter

Assistant Director  •  FOI  •  Governance 

People, Governance, Parliamentary and Communications Division

P +61 2 6274 7409  •  [email address]

GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and
Communications
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS  •  ENRICHING COMMUNITIES  •  EMPOWERING REGIONS

  [2]infrastructure.gov.au   [3]cid:image001.png@01D72AC1.D9095080

I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land on
which we meet, work and live.

I recognise and respect their continuing connection to the land, waters
and communities.

I pay my respects to Elders past and present and to all Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islanders.

OFFICIAL

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References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/
3. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/departm...