Dear Mr Renwick

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 31 August 2021 for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) being:

"documents show the virus has been isolated from a sample of an asymptomatic patient of COVID 19"

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 30 October 2021.

Please contact the department by 2 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: David Renwick <[FOI #7788 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 31 August 2021 3:59 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Documentary Evidence

REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Department of Health,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 I am making a request for documentation (from the Minister/s) the Isolation of the SARS-COV-2 virus, certifiable evidence that this sample was isolated uncombined, free from other genetic material, in its purest form, identified and validated.

I ask that these documents show the virus has been isolated from a sample of an asymptomatic patient of COVID 19.

Please note that I am using "isolation" meaning the complete separation of the viral specimen and not simply a PCR test or cultured sample from a lab.

Yours faithfully,

David Renwick

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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #7788 email]

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"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."

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Dear Mr Renwick,

Please find attached correspondence in relation to your Freedom of
Information request to the Department of Health.

Kind regards

FOI

FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section

Legal & Assurance Division |  Corporate Operations Group

Legal Advice & Legislation Branch

Australian Government Department of Health

E: [1][email address] 

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.

"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."

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