Attention: Jackson Smith

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST – NOTIFICATION OF RECEIPT AND REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME

I am writing to notify you that the Department of Health (department) received your request on 6 September 2021 for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) being:

1) What is the total number of unique users of the COVIDSafe app in Sydney in August 2021 compared to August 2020?
2) How many exposures have been traced by the COVIDSafe app in Sydney since 16th June 2021?

The statutory timeframe for processing your request is 30 calendar days within which a decision on access to the requested documents is to be notified. The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge you will be notified in writing.

Unless you advise otherwise, draft and duplicate documents, along with Commonwealth employee names and contact details below Senior Executive Service level and mobile telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the scope of your request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.

Request for extension of time

As a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the department is dealing with a very high volume of FOI requests. To ensure the department can process your request in accordance with the requirements of the FOI Act, including locating and providing access to all relevant documents, the department would be grateful if you would agree to an extension of 30 calendar days for processing your request. If you agree, the department will endeavour to provide a decision to you by 5 November 2021.

Please contact the department by 10 September 2021 with your decision to the 30 day extension of processing time.

You can contact the FOI Unit on via email at [email address], should you have any questions.

Kind regards
FOI Officer

FOI and Legislation Support Section
Legal & Assurance Division |  Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
E: [Health request email] 
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to all Elders past and present. 

If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the sender immediately.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jackson Smith <[FOI #7828 email]>
Sent: Monday, 6 September 2021 11:30 AM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - COVIDSafe app contact tracing statistics

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Dear Department of Health,

Please provide the following information in relation to the Commonwealth COVIDSafe application:

1) What is the total number of unique users of the COVIDSafe app in Sydney in August 2021 compared to August 2020?
2) How many exposures have been traced by the COVIDSafe app in Sydney since 16th June 2021?

For clarity, please treat 'Sydney' as referring to the following postcodes: 2000-2249, 2555-2574, 2740-2786. I do not require a breakdown by postcode, a total number for Sydney will be suitable.

Yours faithfully,
Jackson Smith

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Dear Mr. Smith

I refer to your request of 6 September 2021 to the Department of Health
(department) seeking access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(Cth) (FOI Act) to the following documents:

‘1) What is the total number of unique users of the COVIDSafe app in
Sydney in August 2021 compared to August 2020?

2) How many exposures have been traced by the COVIDSafe app in Sydney
since 16th June 2021?

For clarity, please treat 'Sydney' as referring to the following
postcodes: 2000-2249, 2555-2574, 2740-2786. I do not require a breakdown
by postcode, a total number for Sydney will be suitable.’

Notice of Liability to Pay a Charge

The Director of the Department’s Freedom of Information Unit (the
Director), an officer authorised under subsection 23(1) of the FOI Act to
make decisions in relation to freedom of information requests, has decided
you are liable to pay a charge in respect of the processing of your
request.

Preliminary Assessment

In accordance with section 29 of the FOI Act and the Freedom of
Information (Charges) Regulations 2019, the Director’s preliminary
assessment of the charge you are liable to pay is $67.50.

This has been calculated as follows:

search and retrieval time (including 4.5 hours @ $15.00 per hour $67.50
time spent locating relevant files
and collating relevant documents
contained on those files)
decision making time (including time 1 hours @ $20.00 per hour $20.00
spent examining the documents,
considering exemptions, undertaking    
consultation, writing the decision
and preparing any documents for first 5 hours free ($100.00)
release)
TOTAL $67.50

Deposit

The Director has also decided you are required to pay a deposit of $20.00.
Payment of a deposit is taken as your authority to proceed with processing
of your request and your agreement to pay the full charge in which case
you will become liable to the Commonwealth for the full cost of processing
the charge.

Payment

The department can accept credit card, money order or cheque payments.

If you choose to pay by cheque (personal or bank) or money order it should
be sent to the following:

FOI Unit (MDP 516)

Department of Health

GPO Box 9848

CANBERRA ACT 2601

If you wish to pay by credit card, please contact the department’s FOI
unit on (02) 6289 1666 to be further advised.

Response

Under the FOI Act, you have 30 days to respond in writing to this notice.
You must, within 30 days after this notice is given, do one of the
following things:

(i)         agree with the department’s estimate and pay the deposit or
whole charge if no deposit is listed, or

(ii)        advise the department in writing you contend the charge has
been wrongly assessed, or should be reduced or not imposed, giving reasons
for your contention, or

(iii)       advise the department in writing you withdraw the request for
access to the documents concerned.

Please send your response to the above postal address or this email
address. If you do not provide a response within 30 days, your freedom of
information request will be taken to have been withdrawn.

If you choose to make a contention the charge should be reduced or not
imposed, the department must, in making a decision on your contention,
take into account the matters set out in section 29(5) of the FOI Act or
any relevant matter.

Processing time

The processing of your request is suspended from the date you receive this
notice and resume either when you pay the deposit or when any contention
you make about the charge has been resolved.

Relevant provisions

The FOI Act, including the provisions referred to in this email, can be
accessed from the Federal Register of Legislation website.

If you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this email
you should contact the department’s FOI Unit by email at
[1][email address].

Kind regards

FOI Officer

FOI and Legislation Support Section

Legal & Assurance Division |  Corporate Operations Group

Legal Advice & Legislation Branch

Australian Government Department of Health

T: 02 6289 1666  | E: [2][Health request email] 

GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

"Important: This transmission is intended only for the use of the
addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged information. 
If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or
dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited.  If you
receive this transmission in error please notify the author immediately
and delete all copies of this transmission."

References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[Health request email]