Conduct of functions of OAIC from 1 january 2015
Dear Attorney-General's Department,
This is an application under the Freedom of Information Act for documents concerning discussions with the Office of Australian Information Commissioner about the conduct of its functions from 1 January 2015 including proposals put to or received from the Office concerning funding and staffing, and any agreement or understanding reached on these and related matters.
In the Senate Estimates hearing on 11 December 2014 FAS Matt Minogue told the Committee the Department was "in discussions" with Professor McMillan as to how best to deal with the consequences arising from the fact that the Freedom of Information Amendment (New Arrangements) Bill had not been considered by the Senate before it adjourned for the year.
Mr Minogue also said "we are in discussion with Professor McMillan" about the best way to deal with external review mechanisms "given that it is not just the interests of the department or the office but the interests of applicants as well. And those conversations are continuing." He later referred to ongoing discussions about the retention of surplus funds held by the Office as at 31 December 2014.
Should dealing with this application involve more than five hours processing time, I seek waiver of charges on the grounds that disclosing the documents would be in the public interest.
The office is a key element in the Freedom of Information framework and in the exercise of citizen rights conferred by the act.The OAIC describes the information commissioner functions as "designed to ensure maximum coordination, efficiency and transparency in government information policy and practice."
Disclosure of documents concerning discussion about the conduct of these functions would advance public debate on this topic of current importance.
My address for service is the website used to lodge this application.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Timmins
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Privacy Collection Notice
When you make a request for documents or an inquiry about privacy matters,
the Attorney-General’s Department will only collect your personal
information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to,
our functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 or the Privacy Act
1988. We may collect your name, email address and telephone number so that
we can contact you about your request under the Freedom of Information Act
for access to documents or access to, or correction of, personal
information; or a complaint you have made or your request for access to,
or correction of, personal information under the Privacy Act. If your
request concerns your personal information, we will collect the minimum
amount of evidence necessary to verify your identity. The handling of your
personal information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and our privacy
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UNCLASSIFIED
FOI15/015; 15/1788
4 February 2015
Peter Timmins
By email only: [1][FOI #891 email]
Dear Mr Timmins
Freedom of Information Request FOI 15/015
I refer to your request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI
Act) for access to documents relating to the functions of the Office of
the Australian Information Commissioner from 1 January 2015. I have taken
your request to be for:
documents concerning discussions with the Office of Australian Information
Commissioner about the conduct of its functions from 1 January 2015,
including:
· proposals put to or received from the Office concerning funding
and staffing, and
· any agreement or understanding reached on these and related
matters
If you disagree with this interpretation of your request, please let me
know as soon as possible.
We received your request on 28 January 2015 and the 30 day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date.
You should therefore expect a decision from us by 27 February 2015. The
period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third parties or
for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
It is the usual practice of the department to not disclose the names and
contact details of junior officers of the department and other government
agencies, where that personal information is contained in documents within
the scope of a request. The names and contact details of senior officers
will generally be disclosed. We will take it that you agree to the
removal of junior officers’ personal information unless you advise that
you would like us to consider releasing that information as part of the
documents you have requested.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[2]http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtection...,
subject to certain exceptions. (For example, personal information will not
be published where this would be unreasonable.)
We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
If you have any questions, please contact the department by telephone on
(02) 6141 6666 or by email at [3][AGD request email].
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Section | Office of Corporate Counsel
Attorney-General's Department | 3 - 5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
(02) 6141 6666 [4][AGD request email]
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Privacy Collection Notice
When you make a request for documents or an inquiry about privacy matters,
the Attorney-General s Department will only collect your personal
information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to,
our functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 or the Privacy Act
1988. We may collect your name, email address and telephone number so that
we can contact you about your request under the Freedom of Information Act
for access to documents or access to, or correction of, personal
information; or a complaint you have made or your request for access to,
or correction of, personal information under the Privacy Act. If your
request concerns your personal information, we will collect the minimum
amount of evidence necessary to verify your identity. The handling of your
personal information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and our privacy
policy is available at http://www.ag.gov.au/Pages/Privacystatem....
If you have an enquiry or complaint about your privacy, please contact the
Privacy Contact Officer on 02 6141 2660 or via e-mail [email address].
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #891 email]
2. http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtection...
3. file:///C:\Users\brownfr\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard\HP%20TRIM\TEMP\HPTRIM.5568\[AGD request email]
4. file:///tmp/[AGD request email]
Thank you for your email. This is an automated response to advise you that
your email has been received by the Attorney-General's Department's FOI
Coordinator.
If you wish to lodge a request for access to documents under the Freedom
of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), please ensure that your request is in
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and provides sufficient detail describing the documents you wish to
access. The FOI Coordinator will acknowledge your request within 14 days.
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If you have received this transmission in error please
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Privacy Collection Notice
When you make a request for documents or an inquiry about privacy matters,
the Attorney-General’s Department will only collect your personal
information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to,
our functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 or the Privacy Act
1988. We may collect your name, email address and telephone number so that
we can contact you about your request under the Freedom of Information Act
for access to documents or access to, or correction of, personal
information; or a complaint you have made or your request for access to,
or correction of, personal information under the Privacy Act. If your
request concerns your personal information, we will collect the minimum
amount of evidence necessary to verify your identity. The handling of your
personal information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and our privacy
policy is available at http://www.ag.gov.au/Pages/Privacystatem....
If you have an enquiry or complaint about your privacy, please contact the
Privacy Contact Officer on 02 6141 2660 or via e-mail [email address].
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UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Mr Timmins
I refer to your FOI request for access to documents relating to the functions of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner from 1 January 2015.
The department has so far conducted searches of our records back to 1 October 2014. The Branch with carriage of your matter advises it is unlikely records within the scope of your request would predate 1 October 2014.
Do you consent to refining the scope of your request to documents created after 30 September 2014?
Happy to discuss if you would like.
Yours sincerely,
Briony
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Section | Office of Corporate Counsel Attorney-General's Department | 3 - 5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
A: (02) 6141 6666Â Â (: [AGD request email]
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Timmins [mailto:[FOI #891 email]]
Sent: Wednesday, 4 February 2015 10:29 AM
Subject: Re: Your FOI request - FOI15/015 [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Dear FOI Requests,
Yes, please proceed on that basis.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Timmins
-----Original Message-----
UNCLASSIFIED
FOI15/015; 15/1788
4 February 2015
Peter Timmins
By email only: [1][FOI #891 email]
Dear Mr Timmins
Freedom of Information Request FOI 15/015
I refer to your request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI
Act) for access to documents relating to the functions of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner from 1 January 2015. I have taken your request to be for:
documents concerning discussions with the Office of Australian Information Commissioner about the conduct of its functions from 1 January 2015,
including:
· proposals put to or received from the Office concerning funding
and staffing, and
· any agreement or understanding reached on these and related
matters
If you disagree with this interpretation of your request, please let me know as soon as possible.
We received your request on 28 January 2015 and the 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date.
You should therefore expect a decision from us by 27 February 2015. The period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
It is the usual practice of the department to not disclose the names and contact details of junior officers of the department and other government agencies, where that personal information is contained in documents within the scope of a request. The names and contact details of senior officers will generally be disclosed. We will take it that you agree to the removal of junior officers’ personal information unless you advise that you would like us to consider releasing that information as part of the documents you have requested.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be published online on our disclosure log [2]http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtection...,
subject to certain exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where this would be unreasonable.)
We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
If you have any questions, please contact the department by telephone on
(02) 6141 6666 or by email at [3][AGD request email].
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Section | Office of Corporate Counsel
Attorney-General's Department | 3 - 5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
(02) 6141 6666 [4][AGD request email]
Privacy Collection Notice
When you make a request for documents or an inquiry about privacy matters, the Attorney-General s Department will only collect your personal information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to, our functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 or the Privacy Act 1988. We may collect your name, email address and telephone number so that we can contact you about your request under the Freedom of Information Act for access to documents or access to, or correction of, personal information; or a complaint you have made or your request for access to, or correction of, personal information under the Privacy Act. If your request concerns your personal information, we will collect the minimum amount of evidence necessary to verify your identity. The handling of your personal information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and our privacy policy is available at http://www.ag.gov.au/Pages/Privacystatem....
If you have an enquiry or complaint about your privacy, please contact the Privacy Contact Officer on 02 6141 2660 or via e-mail [email address].
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #891 email]
2. http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtection...
3. file:///C:\Users\brownfr\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard\HP%20TRIM\TEMP\HPTRIM.5568\[AGD request email] 4. file:///tmp/[AGD request email]
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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #891 email]
Write your response as plain text. Only send PDF documents as a last resort. Government guidelines make it clear that PDF is not an acceptable format for you to use in the delivery of government information.
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
The Freedom of Information Commissioner has recommended that agencies accept requests from Right to Know as valid for the purpose of s.15(2)(c) of the Freedom of Information Act. See https://www.righttoknow.org.au/assets/OA... for details of the OAIC decision.
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be automatically published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
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If you have received this transmission in error please
notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete all
copies. If this e-mail or any attachments have been sent
to you in error, that error does not constitute waiver
of any confidentiality, privilege or copyright in respect
of information in the e-mail or attachments.
When you make a request for documents or an inquiry about privacy matters, the Attorney-General’s Department will only collect your personal information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to, our functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 or the Privacy Act 1988.
We may collect your name, email address and telephone number so that we can contact you about your request under the Freedom of Information Act for access to documents or access to, or correction of, personal information; or a complaint you have made or your request for access to, or correction of, personal information under the Privacy Act.
If your request concerns your personal information, we will collect the minimum amount of evidence necessary to verify your identity. The handling of your personal information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and our privacy policy is available at http://www.ag.gov.au/Pages/Privacystatem....
If you have an enquiry or complaint about your privacy, please contact the Privacy Contact Officer on 02 6141 2660 or via e-mail [email address].
UNCLASSIFIED
FOI15/015; 15/1788
4 February 2015
Peter Timmins
By email only: [1][FOI #891 email]
Dear Mr Timmins
Freedom of Information Request FOI 15/015
I refer to your request for access to documents relating to the functions
of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner from 1 January
2015 under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
I would like to request your consent to an extension of time to enable us
to complete processing your request. Under section 15AA of the FOI, I am
empowered to seek your written agreement for an extension of up to 30
days.
The reason I am seeking this extension is the Branch contact officer best
placed to assess the documents identified as falling within the scope of
your request has been on sick leave for several days.
At present, the due date for completion of your request is Friday 27
February 2015. Should you be amenable to a seven (7) day extension your
request would fall due on Friday 6 March 2015. Would you please advise us
in writing whether you agree to this extension.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this request at all
please contact the department by phone on (02) 6141 6666 or by email at
[2][AGD request email].
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Section | Office of Corporate Counsel
Attorney-General's Department | 3 - 5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
(: (02) 6141 6666 *: [3][AGD request email]
[4]2586 Indigenous signature block NEW
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If you have received this transmission in error please
notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete all
copies. If this e-mail or any attachments have been sent
to you in error, that error does not constitute waiver
of any confidentiality, privilege or copyright in respect
of information in the e-mail or attachments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Privacy Collection Notice
When you make a request for documents or an inquiry about privacy matters,
the Attorney-General s Department will only collect your personal
information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to,
our functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 or the Privacy Act
1988. We may collect your name, email address and telephone number so that
we can contact you about your request under the Freedom of Information Act
for access to documents or access to, or correction of, personal
information; or a complaint you have made or your request for access to,
or correction of, personal information under the Privacy Act. If your
request concerns your personal information, we will collect the minimum
amount of evidence necessary to verify your identity. The handling of your
personal information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and our privacy
policy is available at http://www.ag.gov.au/Pages/Privacystatem....
If you have an enquiry or complaint about your privacy, please contact the
Privacy Contact Officer on 02 6141 2660 or via e-mail [email address].
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #891 email]
2. mailto:[AGD request email]
3. file:///tmp/[AGD request email]
Dear FOI Officer,
Sorry to hear that-there's a lot of it around at the moment.In the spirit of things, and I'm sure you'll reciprocate, agree to seven day extension.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Timmins
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Mr Timmins
Please find attached a decision in relation to your request for documents
under the FOI Act, as well as a schedule of documents and copies of the
documents released.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Section | Office of Corporate Counsel
Attorney-General's Department | 3 - 5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
(: (02) 6141 6666 *: [1][AGD request email]
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If you have received this transmission in error please
notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete all
copies. If this e-mail or any attachments have been sent
to you in error, that error does not constitute waiver
of any confidentiality, privilege or copyright in respect
of information in the e-mail or attachments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Privacy Collection Notice
When you make a request for documents or an inquiry about privacy matters,
the Attorney-General’s Department will only collect your personal
information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to,
our functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 or the Privacy Act
1988. We may collect your name, email address and telephone number so that
we can contact you about your request under the Freedom of Information Act
for access to documents or access to, or correction of, personal
information; or a complaint you have made or your request for access to,
or correction of, personal information under the Privacy Act. If your
request concerns your personal information, we will collect the minimum
amount of evidence necessary to verify your identity. The handling of your
personal information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and our privacy
policy is available at http://www.ag.gov.au/Pages/Privacystatem....
If you have an enquiry or complaint about your privacy, please contact the
Privacy Contact Officer on 02 6141 2660 or via e-mail [email address].
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References
Visible links
1. file:///tmp/[AGD request email]