Thank you for your email.

You have contacted the Freedom of Information (FOI) team of the Department
of Social Services (the Department).

If your email relates to a Freedom of Information application made under
the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), the Department
will respond to you as soon as practicable.

Further information about FOI is available on our website at:
[1]https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...

This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only. The
Department is unable to respond to non-FOI related enquiries sent to this
email address. Any correspondence received that is not an information
access request will not be responded to or forwarded. Should you have a
query unrelated to FOI, please complete our [2]online feedback, enquiry or
compliment form on our website or direct your email to
[3][email address].  Alternatively you can contact the Department by
calling 1800 634 035.

With regards

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Freedom of Information

Legal Services Branch

Department of Social Services
E: [4][Department of Social Services request email]

The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.

We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present.

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References

Visible links
1. https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
2. https://www.dss.gov.au/contact/feedback-...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]

Dear Mr Smith,

Thank you for your email.

The Department is unable to determine the precise scope of your request
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act).

Paragraph 15(2)(b) of the FOI Act requires a FOI request to “provide such
information concerning the document as is reasonably necessary to enable a
responsible officer of the agency, or the Minister, to identify it.”

The term “Senior Manager of Housing and Homelessness Policy” may relate to
two or more people in the Department. As such, we are not able to
sufficiently identify the documents you seek. On this basis we consider
that it is not a valid FOI request. As it is not a valid FOI request, the
time for processing your request has not yet commenced.

Next steps

In accordance with paragraph 15(3)(b) of the FOI Act, we are required to
take reasonable steps to assist you to make a valid FOI request that,
amongst other things, allows us to identify the nature of the information
you are seeking, and we are happy to do so.

Accordingly, we would be grateful if you could provide further information
about what documents you are seeking from the Department. To assist,
please see a link to the Department’s [1]Organisational chart. We would be
grateful if you could identify the senior manager so we may commence
processing your request.

If we do not hear from you, we will not make a decision or provide
documents in relation to your request as the request you have submitted is
not valid for the reasons outlined above.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss the
matter further.

Kind Regards,

DSS FOI Team

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Freedom of Information section

Legal Services Group

Department of Social Services
E: [2][Department of Social Services request email]

The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and
to Elders both past and present. 

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-----Original Message-----
From: John Smith <[3][FOI #9893 email]>
Sent: Friday, 3 February 2023 4:34 PM
To: FOI <[4][Department of Social Services request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Declaration of interest -
personal real estate holdings and housing

Dear Department of Social Services,

This is a request for the declaration of interest form submitted by the
current Senior Manager of Housing and Homelessness Policy. Personal
information including their name should be redacted.

Yours faithfully,

John Smith

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[5][FOI #9893 email]

Is [6][Department of Social Services request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Department of Social Services? If so, please contact us using this
form:

[7]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[8]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/fil...
2. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
3. mailto:[FOI #9893 email]
4. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
5. mailto:[FOI #9893 email]
6. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
7. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
8. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

Thank you for your email.

You have contacted the Freedom of Information (FOI) team of the Department
of Social Services (the Department).

If your email relates to a Freedom of Information application made under
the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), the Department
will respond to you as soon as practicable.

Further information about FOI is available on our website at:
[1]https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...

This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only. The
Department is unable to respond to non-FOI related enquiries sent to this
email address. Any correspondence received that is not an information
access request will not be responded to or forwarded. Should you have a
query unrelated to FOI, please complete our [2]online feedback, enquiry or
compliment form on our website or direct your email to
[3][email address].  Alternatively you can contact the Department by
calling 1800 634 035.

With regards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Freedom of Information

Legal Services Branch

Department of Social Services
E: [4][Department of Social Services request email]

The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.

We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
2. https://www.dss.gov.au/contact/feedback-...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]

Dear Mr Smith,

I refer to your correspondence received by the Department of Social
Services (the Department) on 3 February 2023, in which you made a request
under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) for:

‘… the declaration of interest form submitted by the current Senior
Manager of Housing and Homelessness Policy. Personal information including
their name should be redacted.’

On 20 February 2023, you clarified who the ‘current Senior Manager of
Housing and Homelessness Policy’ was. On that date, your request became a
valid FOI request.

Decision due

The statutory period for processing your request is 30 days commencing the
day after your valid request was received. In accordance with paragraph
15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a decision on your request is currently due on
Wednesday, 22 March 2023.

When the processing period may be extended or suspended

The current due date may be extended by:

·       up to 30 days if agreed by you (section 15AA of the FOI Act);

·       an additional 30 days in each instance, if your request is
considered voluminous or complex (section 15AB of the FOI Act); or

·       if the Department is required to undertake a third party
consultation (sections 26A, 27 or 27A of the FOI Act).

If any of these extensions apply, the Department will notify you.  

Additionally, there are occasions where the time to process your request
may be suspended. This will usually take place if a practical refusal
consultation process takes place (section 24AB of the FOI Act) or if a
charges notice is issued to process your request (section 29 of the FOI
Act). If the Department decides that either of these apply to your
request, the Department will notify you.

The Department will correspond with you by email in relation to your FOI
request. 

Should you have any queries about this matter, please do not hesitate to
contact the FOI team via email at [1][Department of Social Services request email].

Yours sincerely,

Freedom of Information section

Legal Services Branch

Department of Social Services
E: [2][Department of Social Services request email]

The Department of Social Services acknowledges the Traditional Owners of
Country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.

We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders past,
present and emerging.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
2. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]

Dear Mr Smith,

FOI LEX 46543 – Decision

Please find attached the decision in response to your valid Freedom of
Information request submitted to the Department of Social Services on 20
February 2023.

For your reference, we also attach a document providing information in
relation to your review rights.

Kind regards,

DSS FOI Team

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Freedom of Information section

Legal Services Group

Department of Social Services
E: [1][Department of Social Services request email]

The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.

We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]