Dear Ms Lovich

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST – NOTIFICATION OF RECEIPT

I am writing to notify you that the Department of Health (department) has
received your request in your below email for access to documents under
the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act).

The department will take all reasonable steps to notify you of a decision
no later than 30 calendar days after the date your request was received.
You will be contacted where a charge is applied for processing your
request or if we need to consult a third party.

Unless you advise otherwise, duplicate documents and 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.

You can contact the FOI Unit on (02) 6289 1666, or via email at
[1][email address], should you have any enquiries.

Kind regards

FOI Officer

FOI and Legislation Section

[2]cid:image003.png@01D51610.1D98D220

Legal Advice & Legislation Branch

Legal & Assurance Division |  Corporate Operations Group

Australian Government Department of Health

T: 02 6289 1666  | E: [3][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: Lucy Lovich <[FOI #7387 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 6 June 2021 8:37 AM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Documents relating to meeting
with Pfizer in July 2020 regarding the procurement of the Pfizer Vaccine
for Australia.

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

I request under FOI Documents prepared for meeting with Pfizer in July
2020 regarding the procurement of the Pfizer Vaccine for Australia.

This includes:

- documents prepared for representatives of the Australian government
regarding scope of negotiations/procurement authority and limits to
authority to make an agreement between the Australian government and
Pfizer.

- any notes taken at the meeting of 10 July 2020 between Australian
government and Pfizer (including the names of Australian Government
attendees)

- any reports on the outcome of that meeting of 10 July 2020 between
Australian government and Pfizer

- any notes taken at any meeting during the period 1 June 2020 - 30 July
2020 between Australian government and Pfizer

- any reports on the outcome of any meeting during the period 1 June 2020
- 30 July 2020 between Australian government and Pfizer.

Yours faithfully,

Lucy

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

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

[4][FOI #7387 email]

Is [5][Health request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Department of Health? If so, please contact us using this
form:

[6]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:

[7]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.

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

"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

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[Health request email]
4. mailto:[FOI #7387 email]
5. mailto:[Health request email]
6. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
7. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

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Dear Ms Lovich

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

‘I request under FOI Documents prepared for meeting with Pfizer in July
2020 regarding the procurement of the Pfizer Vaccine for Australia.

This includes:

- documents prepared for representatives of the Australian government
regarding scope of negotiations/procurement authority and limits to
authority to make an agreement between the Australian government and
Pfizer.

- any notes taken at the meeting of 10 July 2020 between Australian
government and Pfizer (including the names of Australian Government
attendees)

- any reports on the outcome of that meeting of 10 July 2020 between
Australian government and Pfizer

- any notes taken at any meeting during the period 1 June 2020 - 30 July
2020 between Australian government and Pfizer

- any reports on the outcome of any meeting during the period 1 June 2020
- 30 July 2020 between Australian government and Pfizer.’

The department is currently processing this request, and has received
identical requests you submitted which have been transferred to us from
the Department of Finance and the Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet. As these requests are identical, we advise that these have been
combined and will be processed as ‘FOI 2431’.

If you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this email
you should contact the department’s FOI Unit on (02) 6289 1666, or by
email at [1][email address].

Kind regards,

FOI Case Officer

FOI Unit – 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][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."

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]

Dear Ms Lovich

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

‘I request under FOI Documents prepared for meeting with Pfizer in July
2020 regarding the procurement of the Pfizer Vaccine for Australia.

This includes:

- documents prepared for representatives of the Australian government
regarding scope of negotiations/procurement authority and limits to
authority to make an agreement between the Australian government and
Pfizer.

- any notes taken at the meeting of 10 July 2020 between Australian
government and Pfizer (including the names of Australian Government
attendees)

- any reports on the outcome of that meeting of 10 July 2020 between
Australian government and Pfizer

- any notes taken at any meeting during the period 1 June 2020 - 30 July
2020 between Australian government and Pfizer

- any reports on the outcome of any meeting during the period 1 June 2020
- 30 July 2020 between Australian government and Pfizer.’

Notice of Third Party Consultation

It appears, from the documents to which you seek access, a third party may
reasonably wish to make a contention concerning possible exemption of some
of the documents. Accordingly, Allison Jones, Assistant Secretary, Science
and Investment Branch, an officer authorised under section 23(1) of the
FOI Act to make decisions in relation to freedom of information requests,
has determined the requirements of section 27 consultation-business
documents, of the FOI Act make it appropriate to extend the time frame for
dealing with your request.

Pursuant to section 15(6) of the FOI Act, the period for providing you
with a decision has been extended by a further period of 30 days. This
means the department must, not later than 60 calendar days after the day
on which your request was received, take all reasonable steps to notify
you of a decision on your request.

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 on (02) 6289 1666, or by
email at [1][email address].

Kind regards

FOI Case Officer

FOI and Legislation Section

Legal Advice & Legislation Branch

Legal & Assurance Division |  Corporate Operations Group

Australian Government Department of Health

T: 02 6289 1666  | E: [2][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.

"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

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

Dear Ms Lovich

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

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 $90.00

This has been calculated as follows:

search and retrieval time (including 6 hours @ $15.00 per hour $90.00
time spent locating relevant files and
collating relevant documents contained
on those files)
decision making time (including time 4 hours @ $20.00 per hour $80
spent examining the documents,
considering exemptions, undertaking    
consultation, writing the decision and
preparing any documents for release) Less first 5 hours free ($100.00)
TOTAL $90.00

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 [1]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

Processing of your request and counting the 60 calendar days are 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 on (02) 6289 1666, or by
email at [2][email address].

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

T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][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."

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Health request email]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]

Dear Ms Lovich

Thank you for your email on 27 July 2021 requesting an internal review of
charges for Freedom of Information request 2431.

You will be notified of the review decision within 30 days.

If you require clarification of any of the matters discussed in this
email, you should contact the department’s FOI Unit on (02) 6289 1666, or
by email at [email address]

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

T: 02 6289 1666 | 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."

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]

Dear Ms Lovich

Please find attached correspondence from the Department of Health in
response to your request for an internal review of charges.

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."

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]