OFFICIAL

Dear Concerns Citizen

We have conducted a preliminary search of our system and have identified a
possible 12,000 emails relating to your request. This result was achieved
by our Records Management unit conducting a word search of our entire
system.

This request, in its current form, is too large for DTA to process.
However, we would like to assist you to revise the scope of your request
and would be grateful if you could contact me directly.

Thanks

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OFFICIAL

Dear Concerned Citizen

We have conducted another search based on your revised scope and have identified approximately 300 emails.

Looking at a sample of these emails, I have identified that these emails all related to the business affairs of Atlassian and other third parties. Under the FOI Act, I am required to consult with all third parties, including Atlassian, which would also increase the cost of processing this request.

To reduce the cost of processes your request would you consider, revising your scope to a particular document that you are seeking or reducing the date range to a particular moment in time?

If you could please let me know by 5 October 2021. If I do not hear back by this date, I will proceed based on your instructions dated 27 September 2021.

Happy to discuss

Suzie Sazdanovic
Privacy and FOI Manager
PH: 02 6120 8595

OFFICIAL

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OFFICIAL

Dear Concerned Citizen

I acknowledge receipt of your request dated 24 September 2021 in which you requested under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) access to:

'- any emails sent from the department to Atlassian or from Atlassian to the department containing any of the terms: COVIDSafe, Trace Together, Bluetooth, Contact Tracing, covidcare, coronavirus,
- any emails in reply,
- any attachments.'

On 27 September you revised your request to:

'Only include emails sent or received between the 1st of March 2020 and the 30th of April 2020 from Altassian about COVIDSafe.'

On 30 September you revised your scope further to:

'All emails with Atlassian about COVIDSafe from 20 March 2020 to 10 April 2020.'

Notice of Consultation

Your request covers a document relating to the business, commercial or financial affairs of an organization. Accordingly, DTA is required to consult with the organisation concerned before making a decision on the release of this document.

Section 27 of the FOI Act provides that if a request is made to an agency for access to a document containing business information organisation, and it appears to the agency that the organization might reasonably wish to make a contention that the document is exempt under section 47 (trade secrets etc), or section 47G (business information) of the FOI Act, then the agency must not decide to give access to the document unless the organisation concerned is given a reasonable opportunity to make submissions in support of their contention, if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The DTA will take into account any comments we receive from the organisation. However, the final decision on whether to grant access to the document requested rests with DTA.

Extension of time to process the request In accordance with section 15(6) of the FOI Act, the period for processing your request has been extended by an additional 30 days in order to allow DTA time to consult with the organisation. The processing period for this request will now end on 24 November 2021.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly

Regards
Suzie Sazdanovic
Privacy and FOI Manager
PH: 02 6120 8595

OFFICIAL

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OFFICIAL

Good morning Concern Citizen

In preparing the document for consultation, I have identified that while the documents mention COVID and meet the rest of your criteria , none of the document found are directly related to the COVIDSafe App.

As a result, my investigations have found that DTA do not hold documents relating to, and I quote 'All emails with Atlassian about COVIDSafe from 20 March 2020 to 10 April 2020'.

I apologies for this oversight.

Moving forward we have three options
1. I can issue a formal decision on the basis that DTA do not hold documents relating to your request.
2. You can withdraw your request
3. You could amend the scope of your request to 'All emails with Atlassian about COVID from 20 March 2020 to 10 April 2020', as we have already captured these documents.

If you could please let me know how you wish to proceed by 15 October 2021. If I do not hear back by this date, I will prepare a formal decision that the DTA do not hold documents relating to this request.

Happy to discuss any concerns
Suzie Sazdanovic
Privacy and FOI Manager
PH: 02 6120 8595

OFFICIAL

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OFFICIAL

Dear Concern Citizen

Please find attached the decision and related documents in response to your FOI request.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me directly

Thanks
Suzie Sazdanovic
FOI and Privacy Manager
Phone: 02 6120 8595

OFFICIAL

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