OFFICIAL

 

Thank you for your FOI request.

 

The Auditor-General and by extension the Australian National Audit Office
(ANAO) are exempt under the Schedule 2, Part 1, Division 1 of the Freedom
of Information Act 1982.  No information requested will accordingly be
provided to you.

 

Kind regards,

 

External Relations

Corporate Management Group | CMG

Australian National Audit Office

[1]www.anao.gov.au

 

-----Original Message-----
From: noseyrosey <[FOI #12586 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 14 December 2024 2:51 PM
To: ag1 <[ANAO request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Documents Relating to the
Sharing of DVA Client Information

 

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Dear FOI Officer,

 

 

 

I am making this request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (Cth).

 

 

 

I seek access to any and all documents, records, data, and supporting
material held by [Name of Agency] concerning the sharing of personal
information originating from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
over the last ten years. This includes any data transfers from or to the
DVA, whether they were one-off exchanges or ongoing, systematic transfers
of DVA client information, including personal, medical, financial, or
service-related details concerning veterans or their dependents.

 

 

 

I am interested in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of what DVA
client information [Authority name] has received or accessed and for what
purposes. Specifically, I request:

 

 

 

All records of data sharing arrangements between DVA and [Authority name],
including but not limited to memoranda of understanding, service-level
agreements, emails, letters, meeting minutes, file transfer logs, internal
reports, and instructions that outline what data was shared, when it was
shared, and the format or system used for the transfer.

 

 

 

Any policies, procedures, guidelines, or frameworks that govern how
[Authority name] requests, obtains, stores, handles, or uses DVA client
information. This includes documents that detail the criteria for
approving access to such data, any consent or authorization processes,
security controls, and retention or destruction policies.

 

 

 

Copies of any ethics committee approvals, privacy impact assessments,
internal review board decisions, or other documents that reflect
deliberations or authorizations for obtaining DVA client information. This
includes records that show the agency considered the ethical, legal, or
privacy implications of receiving or using DVA client data.

 

 

 

Documents that outline the intended uses or practical applications of the
DVA client data, such as project proposals, business cases, internal
strategy papers, or briefings that explain why [Authority name] sought
access to this information, how it was intended to be integrated into the
agency’s operations, and any expected outcomes or benefits.

 

 

 

A representative sample (in a suitably de-identified or redacted form) of
the data or data fields received, so long as providing this sample does
not breach any exemption under the FOI Act. The purpose is to understand
the nature and granularity of the information shared, without disclosing
identifiable personal details.

 

 

 

If the only data [Authority name] received pertains solely to data linked
to the Centrelink Confirmation eServices (CCeS) arrangements as described
at
[4]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...,
and there were no other forms of DVA data shared, then no CCeS-related
data needs to be provided under this request.

 

 

 

I emphasize that I am not authorizing the transfer of this FOI request to
the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or any other agency. If [Authority
name] holds the requested information, it should provide it directly. If
there are parts of this request that [Name of Agency] does not understand
or believes are not held, I invite you to contact me to clarify or refine
the scope under section 24AB of the FOI Act, rather than initiating a
transfer. However, I do not consent to the transfer of this request to
another entity. The FOI Act places the onus on agencies to process
requests for documents they hold, and I expect [Authority name] to meet
its responsibilities in this regard.

 

 

 

I note that the statutory timeframe for processing FOI requests is 30 days
from the date of receipt. I do not consent to any extension of time due to
internal reduced activity periods, holiday stand-down periods, or other
internal operational issues. If [Authority name] considers that it cannot
meet the 30-day timeframe, it may seek an extension from the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner as provided under section 15AB of the
FOI Act. I request to be notified if such an application is made.

 

 

 

If you consider any part of this request too broad or complex, please
contact me promptly to discuss refining its scope. I remain willing to
consider adjustments that will assist efficient processing, provided that
they occur within the statutory timeframe and do not undermine the
substance of what I am seeking.

 

 

 

I believe that disclosure of these documents is in the public interest, as
it promotes transparency and accountability in how government agencies
access and use sensitive personal information about veterans. Should you
consider charges applicable, I request that you exercise your discretion
to reduce or waive them, given the importance of the matter and its
alignment with the principles of open government and public
accountability.

 

 

 

I look forward to receiving your acknowledgment and decision within the
statutory timeframe. Please contact me at the details below if you require
further clarification.

 

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Nosey

 

 

 

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

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Classification: OFFICIAL

Classified on: 6/01/2025 9:05:48 AM

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