Communication and briefings on 16+ social media ban
Dear Minister for Communications,
Under the Freedom of Information Act, I am seeking all communications (including briefing notes) between the public service and you / your office on the proposed age restrictions or under-age access ban to be imposed on social media platforms.
I am seeking the materials that were sent/received between 1 September 2024 and 7 November 2024.
Please exclude personal information of individual staff, documents that are explicitly prepared for submission to Cabinet or National Cabinet, and drafting instructions for legislation.
Yours faithfully,
Ash Roth
OFFICIAL
Dear Applicant
Thank you for your email of 8 November 2024 requesting access to
documents held by Minister Rowland, the Minister for Communications (the
Minister) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
You have requested access to:
All communications (including briefing notes) between the public service
and you / your office on the proposed age restrictions or under-age access
ban to be imposed on social media platforms.
I am seeking the materials that were sent/received between 1 September
2024 and 7 November 2024.
Please exclude personal information of individual staff, documents that
are explicitly prepared for submission to Cabinet or National Cabinet, and
drafting instructions for legislation.
Your request has been allocated the reference number MO 25-175. Could you
please ensure that you quote this reference number in all future
correspondence.
Timeframes
The statutory due date for you to receive a decision on your request is 9
December 2024. This date may be extended in certain circumstances, and in
the event that this occurs, the Minister will notify you. Where the due
date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the timeframe will
expire on the next working day.
Other information
Please note that the Minister considers the following information outside
the scope of your request unless you specifically request it:
o personal information of third-party individuals; including public
servants below the SES level and all email addresses, signatures and
direct telephone numbers
o any duplicates and drafts of final versions of documents captured by
your request
o any correspondence sent directly to or from you.
The Minister may impose a charge for the work involved in providing access
to the documents in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Charges)
Regulations. You will be notified separately if the Minister decides to
impose a charge. There is no charge for documents that contain your own
personal information.
Where documents are released to you under the FOI Act in response to your
request, the Minister must publish those documents on its FOI Disclosure
Log within 10 business days of their release to you, unless they contain
personal information or business affairs information that would be
unreasonable to publish. Further information regarding the FOI Disclosure
Log can be found [1]here.
Please note that the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional
Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department) provides
administrative support to the Minister in relation to the processing of
FOI requests. As such, should you have any questions relating to your
request, please do not hesitate to contact the Department’s FOI Section
via email at [2][email address]
Kind regards
FOI Coordinator
Freedom of Information Section • People, Culture and Change Division
P 02 6274 6294
E [3][email address]
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development,
Communications and the Arts
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS • ENRICHING COMMUNITIES • EMPOWERING REGIONS
[4]infrastructure.gov.au [5][IMG]
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
References
Visible links
1. https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/about-...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/
5. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/departm...
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon
We refer to your request for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
On behalf of the Minister's Office, please find attached a practical refusal request consultation notice for your review and consideration.
With kind regards
FOI Coordinator
Freedom of Information Section
People, Culture and Change Division
E: [email address]
T: +61 2 6136 8114
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS . ENRICHING COMMUNITIES . EMPOWERING REGIONS
infrastructure.gov.au
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.
Dear FOI Coordinator,
I agree to modify my request, to limit my search solely to briefing notes provided to the Minister.
Yours sincerely,
Ash Roth
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon
Thank you for your email below. The Minister’s Office has indicated that
the revision to your request will result in the practical refusal grounds
falling away, and that they are in a position to continue to process your
request.
The documents now captured by your revised scope contain personal
information of third parties. Under section 27A of the FOI Act, the
Department is required to consult with the affected individuals before
making a decision on access to those documents.
For this reason, the period for processing your request has been extended
by 30 days under section 15(6) of the FOI Act in order to allow the
Department time to consult with the relevant person. As such, the
statutory due date for your request is now 8 January 2025.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me on the
details below.
With kind regards
Alison
Freedom of Information Section
Ministerial, Parliamentary and Cabinet Branch
People, Culture and Change Division
E: [1][email address]
T: +61 2 6136 8114
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development,
Communications and the Arts
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS • ENRICHING COMMUNITIES • EMPOWERING REGIONS
[2]infrastructure.gov.au [3][IMG]
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
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon
I refer to your request for access to documents held by the Minister for
Communications under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
As advised previously, the Department provides administrative assistance
to the Minister’s Office in relation to FOI matters, and as such I am
writing to you on behalf of the Minister’s Office.
On 10 December 2024, we wrote to you advising that the Minister’s Office
had accepted the revision to the scope of your request, and that the
revised statutory due date for your request is now 8 January 2025.
We note that this timeframe includes the holiday shutdown period, and as
such, we are seeking your agreement to a 10-day extension of time to
reflect this period. Section 15AA of the FOI Act enables the Minister to
seek your agreement to an extension of up to 30 days. If you agree to this
10-day extension, the due date for a decision to be provided to you will
become 18 January 2025. As that date falls on a Saturday, the timeframe
will expire on the next working day, being Monday 20 January 2025.
To assist the Minister’s Office with the management of your request, it
would assist if you could indicate by no later than COB Thursday, 19
December 2024 whether you are agreeable to this extension of time.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via
email at [1][email address]
With kind regards
Alison
Freedom of Information Section
Ministerial, Parliamentary and Cabinet Branch
People, Culture and Change Division
E: [2][email address]
T: +61 2 6136 8114
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development,
Communications and the Arts
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS • ENRICHING COMMUNITIES • EMPOWERING REGIONS
[3]infrastructure.gov.au [4][IMG]
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
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/
4. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/departm...
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon
I refer to my email below, and note we do not appear to have received a
response.
Could you please advise if you are agreeable to the requested extension of
time?
With kind regards
Alison
Freedom of Information Section
Ministerial, Parliamentary and Cabinet Branch
People, Culture and Change Division
E: [1][email address]
T: +61 2 6136 8114
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development,
Communications and the Arts
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS • ENRICHING COMMUNITIES • EMPOWERING REGIONS
[2]infrastructure.gov.au [3][IMG]
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
From: FOI <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 17 December 2024 5:23 PM
To: 'Ash Roth' <[FOI #12308 email]>
Subject: FOI request MO 25-175 - request for extension of time for holiday
shutdown [SEC=OFFICIAL]
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon
I refer to your request for access to documents held by the Minister for
Communications under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
As advised previously, the Department provides administrative assistance
to the Minister’s Office in relation to FOI matters, and as such I am
writing to you on behalf of the Minister’s Office.
On 10 December 2024, we wrote to you advising that the Minister’s Office
had accepted the revision to the scope of your request, and that the
revised statutory due date for your request is now 8 January 2025.
We note that this timeframe includes the holiday shutdown period, and as
such, we are seeking your agreement to a 10-day extension of time to
reflect this period. Section 15AA of the FOI Act enables the Minister to
seek your agreement to an extension of up to 30 days. If you agree to this
10-day extension, the due date for a decision to be provided to you will
become 18 January 2025. As that date falls on a Saturday, the timeframe
will expire on the next working day, being Monday 20 January 2025.
To assist the Minister’s Office with the management of your request, it
would assist if you could indicate by no later than COB Thursday, 19
December 2024 whether you are agreeable to this extension of time.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via
email at [4][email address]
With kind regards
Alison
Freedom of Information Section
Ministerial, Parliamentary and Cabinet Branch
People, Culture and Change Division
E: [5][email address]
T: +61 2 6136 8114
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development,
Communications and the Arts
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS • ENRICHING COMMUNITIES • EMPOWERING REGIONS
[6]infrastructure.gov.au
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
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/
3. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/departm...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/
Dear Alison,
Apologies, I missed the previous email. Yes, I agree to the requested 10 day extension.
Yours sincerely,
Ash Roth
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon
Further to our email earlier today seeking an extension of time for your
request made to the Department, FOI 25-176, we are also seeking your
agreement to an extension of time on your request for access to documents
held by the Minister for Communications under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
As advised previously, the Department provides administrative assistance
to the Minister’s Office in relation to FOI matters, and as such I am
writing to you on behalf of the Minister’s Office.
We require additional time to be able to complete the processing of your
FOI request to ensure that it is as fulfilled and well informed as
possible.
I acknowledge you have previously agreed to a 10-day extension of time to
account for the holiday shutdown period. Section 15AA of the FOI Act
enables the Minister to seek your agreement to extensions of up to a total
of 30 days. At this point, we are requesting a further 9-day extension.
If you agree to this extension, the due date for a decision to be provided
to you will become Tuesday, 28 January 2025.
To assist the Minister’s Office with the management of your request, it
would assist if you could indicate by no later than close of business
Monday, 20 January 2025 whether you are agreeable to this extension of
time.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via
email at [1][email address]
Kind regards
Jasper
FOI Coordinator
Freedom of Information and Ministerial Liaison Section • People, Culture
and Change Division
[2][email address]
P +61 2 6136 8114
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development,
Communications and the Arts
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS • ENRICHING COMMUNITIES • EMPOWERING REGIONS
[3]infrastructure.gov.au [4]cid:image001.png@01DAA578.8E656840
I 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 Islander people.
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon
I’m emailing to follow up on the below email seeking your agreement to an
extension of time on your Freedom of Information request to the Minister
for Communications.
To assist in the management of this request, we would greatly appreciate
if could advise whether you agree to this extension of time by close of
business today, 20 January 2025.
Kind regards
Jasper
FOI Coordinator
Freedom of Information and Ministerial Liaison Section • People, Culture
and Change Division
[1][email address]
P +61 2 6136 8114
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development,
Communications and the Arts
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS • ENRICHING COMMUNITIES • EMPOWERING REGIONS
[2]infrastructure.gov.au [3]cid:image001.png@01DAA578.8E656840
I 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 Islander people.
OFFICIAL
From: FOI
Sent: Friday, 17 January 2025 3:25 PM
To: 'Ash Roth' <[4][FOI #12308 email]>
Subject: FOI request MO 25-175 - request for further extension of time
[SEC=OFFICIAL]
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon
Further to our email earlier today seeking an extension of time for your
request made to the Department, FOI 25-176, we are also seeking your
agreement to an extension of time on your request for access to documents
held by the Minister for Communications under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
As advised previously, the Department provides administrative assistance
to the Minister’s Office in relation to FOI matters, and as such I am
writing to you on behalf of the Minister’s Office.
We require additional time to be able to complete the processing of your
FOI request to ensure that it is as fulfilled and well informed as
possible.
I acknowledge you have previously agreed to a 10-day extension of time to
account for the holiday shutdown period. Section 15AA of the FOI Act
enables the Minister to seek your agreement to extensions of up to a total
of 30 days. At this point, we are requesting a further 9-day extension.
If you agree to this extension, the due date for a decision to be provided
to you will become Tuesday, 28 January 2025.
To assist the Minister’s Office with the management of your request, it
would assist if you could indicate by no later than close of business
Monday, 20 January 2025 whether you are agreeable to this extension of
time.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via
email at [5][email address]
Kind regards
Jasper
FOI Coordinator
Freedom of Information and Ministerial Liaison Section • People, Culture
and Change Division
[6][email address]
P +61 2 6136 8114
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development,
Communications and the Arts
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS • ENRICHING COMMUNITIES • EMPOWERING REGIONS
[7]infrastructure.gov.au [8]cid:image001.png@01DAA578.8E656840
I 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 Islander people.
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon
I refer to your request below for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
Please find attached a decision in response to your request, together with the documents referred to in that decision.
Section 11C of the FOI Act requires publication of documents released under the FOI Act on the Department’s FOI disclosure log, subject to certain exceptions, including where publication of personal, business, professional or commercial information would be unreasonable. The documents released to you will be published on the disclosure log within 10 working days.
With kind regards
FOI Coordinator
Freedom of Information and Ministerial Liaison Section
Government Services Branch
People, Culture and Change Division
E: [email address]
T: +61 2 6136 8114
GPO Box 594 Canberra, ACT 2601
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
CONNECTING AUSTRALIANS • ENRICHING COMMUNITIES • EMPOWERING REGIONS
infrastructure.gov.au
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