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 https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/cen..., 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

Dear Shoumia Nithiananthan,

Thank you for your correspondence dated 18 December 2024 regarding my Freedom of Information (FOI) request. I acknowledge your concerns about the scope of the request and your suggestion that it does not meet the requirements of section 15(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act). I would like to clarify my request to address your concerns while maintaining its substantive focus.

Clarification of Scope
I am specifically requesting documents held by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) concerning systematic or broad data-sharing arrangements with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) over the past ten years. This includes:

Formal Agreements

Memoranda of understanding (MOUs), service-level agreements (SLAs), or other documents formalising the sharing of personal information originating from DVA.
Governance Documents

Policies, procedures, or guidelines detailing how ASIC accesses, stores, handles, or uses personal information from DVA.
Privacy and Ethical Deliberations

Any privacy impact assessments, internal reviews, or ethical considerations recorded regarding the receipt, use, or sharing of DVA data.
Purpose and Use

Documents such as project proposals, internal reports, or briefings explaining why DVA client information was accessed or shared, how it was intended to be used, and the expected outcomes.
Exclusions

I do not seek individual complaint files or personal information unless necessary to illustrate the nature of systematic or broad data-sharing arrangements.
Clarification of Terms
[Name of Agency] and [Authority Name]: These terms were placeholders in my original request and should be interpreted as referring to ASIC, the agency to which this request is directed.
This request is not intended for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). I expect ASIC to address this request independently as it pertains to ASIC’s handling of data received from DVA.
Additional Notes
I believe the request as clarified provides sufficient detail to allow ASIC to identify relevant documents and address my concerns about how DVA client information is handled. Should further issues arise, I encourage ASIC to contact me promptly so we can collaboratively refine the request, avoiding unnecessary delays.

Please resume processing my FOI request within the statutory timeframe, as adjusted by the time taken for this consultation period.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please confirm receipt of this clarification, and let me know if further input is required.

Yours sincerely,
Nosey

Dear Shoumia Nithiananthan,

As previously advised Holliday shutdowns and office schedules are no an issue that I need to be concerned with and your department should have planned accordingly.

I do not concur with the request and as such this will be a deamed decision if the documents are not provided in time.

Yours sincerely,

noseyrosey

Dear Ms. Nithiananthan,

I am writing regarding my Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) on 14 December 2024. As the statutory timeframe for providing a decision expired on 15 January 2025, and no decision has been provided, this matter is now deemed refused under section 15AC of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).

I have referred this matter to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), and the submission reference number is WEB-MR-25-00846. I have requested that the OAIC direct ASIC to process and finalize my request promptly and assess the handling of this matter to ensure compliance with the FOI Act.

I trust that ASIC will cooperate fully with the OAIC to resolve this matter and uphold my right to timely access to government-held information. Should you require further information or clarification, please feel free to contact me via email at [Your Email Address].

Yours sincerely,
Nosey Rosey