UNCLASSIFIED

In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 20/04/00962
File Number: OBJ2020/14056

Dear Mr Baumann,

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request
I refer to your correspondence received on 20 April 2020 seeking access to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation. As the Department focuses its efforts on managing the impact of COVID-19 on its critical services and employees, other non-critical services may not be delivered within expected timeframes. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience during this period.

Scope of request
You have requested access to the following:

The cost so far to taxpayers of detaining the Biloela Family on Christmas Island

Your request was received by the Department on 20 April 2020 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 20/04/00962. Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.

Timeframe for receiving your decision

The statutory timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the date upon which your application was received by the Department.

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner here.

Duplicate documents

If the FOI decision-maker deems a document to be a duplicate, they will not assess those pages as part of your FOI request. This means that if a there is a decision to release the document to you, you will receive only one copy, even if multiple copies of that document exists.
Contacting the FOI Section

Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at [DIBP request email].

Yours sincerely,

FOI Officer
Freedom of Information
FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division
Corporate and Enabling Group
Department of Home Affairs | Email: [DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

show quoted sections

UNCLASSIFIED

Good morning Mr Baumann,

I refer to your request received on 20 April 2020 for access to documents
under the FOI Act. 

The current due date for your request is 20 May 2020.  Due to the number
of requests currently being processed by our office, we will not be able
to finalise your request by the original due date.

The department is continuing to work through its FOI case load as quickly
as possible.  COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has been declared a pandemic by the
World Health Organisation. As the Department focuses its efforts on
managing the impact of COVID-19 on its critical services and employees,
other non-critical services may not be delivered within expected
timeframes. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your
patience during this period.

In order for the Department to complete the process of retrieving all the
documents that fall within the scope of your request the Department will
require additional time to process your request.

The Department seeks your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to
extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days.  This
would extend the due date for your request to 19 June 2020. 

It would assist the Department in managing its FOI caseload if you could
provide a response to this request by close of business, Friday 15 May
2020.

If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to
contact the FOI section on the details below.

Yours Sincerely,

FOI Officer

Freedom of Information

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs | Email: [1][DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

Good morning Mr Baumann

Further to our email below, would you mind confirming whether you agree to
the extension of time requested in this matter?

Thank you very much.

With kind regards

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [1][DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

From: FOI
Sent: Wednesday, 13 May 2020 9:34 AM
To: [FOI #6297 email]
Subject: Extension of Time Request - FA 20/04/00962 [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED

Good morning Mr Baumann,

I refer to your request received on 20 April 2020 for access to documents
under the FOI Act. 

The current due date for your request is 20 May 2020.  Due to the number
of requests currently being processed by our office, we will not be able
to finalise your request by the original due date.

The department is continuing to work through its FOI case load as quickly
as possible.  COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has been declared a pandemic by the
World Health Organisation. As the Department focuses its efforts on
managing the impact of COVID-19 on its critical services and employees,
other non-critical services may not be delivered within expected
timeframes. We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your
patience during this period.

In order for the Department to complete the process of retrieving all the
documents that fall within the scope of your request the Department will
require additional time to process your request.

The Department seeks your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to
extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days.  This
would extend the due date for your request to 19 June 2020. 

It would assist the Department in managing its FOI caseload if you could
provide a response to this request by close of business, Friday 15 May
2020.

If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to
contact the FOI section on the details below.

Yours Sincerely,

FOI Officer

Freedom of Information

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Corporate and Enabling Group

Department of Home Affairs | Email: [2][DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[DIBP request email]
2. mailto:[DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Mr Baumann

FOI request FA 20/04/00962

I refer to your FOI request received on 20 April 2020, seeking access to the following:

The cost so far to taxpayers of detaining the Biloela Family on Christmas Island..

The Department has made a decision on this request. Please find attached the decision record.

This request has now been closed.

With kind regards
Freedom of Information Section
FOI and Records Management Branch
Data Division | Corporate and Enabling Group
Department of Home Affairs
E: [DIBP request email]

UNCLASSIFIED

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.