Emails mentioning 'moderate autism' since June 2023
Dear Department of Social Services,
Please provide, in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information ACT, a .csv or .xlsx (not PDF) file with columns/fields of from, to, cc, subject, date, and a column with the text of the paragraph from the body of the email that mentions “moderate autism” and where the date field is since June 2023. Please provide separate rows if there are multiple paragraphs that meet this criteria in an email.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like any further explanation or clarification of this request.
Yours faithfully,
Bob Buckley
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 Buckley
I refer to your correspondence received by the Department of Social
Services (Department) on 30 January 2025, in which you requested access
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) to:
A file (.csv or .xlsx (not PDF)) with columns/fields of from, to, cc,
subject, date, and a column with the text of the paragraph from the body
of the email that mentions “moderate autism” and where the date field is
since June 2023.
The decision for this request is currently due on 3 March 2025. This
timeframe may be extended, for example, where the Department decides to
consult with third parties. We will inform you if this occurs.
Removal of certain information from the scope of your request
The Department is seeking your agreement to remove the following
information from the scope of your request where it is not available from
public sources:
o group email addresses used for internal departmental purposes;
o all personal information of members of the public;
o all personal information of non-Senior Executive Service (SES)
government staff; and
o all personal information of SES level government staff with the
exception of the names of the Department’s SES staff.
If you agree to the above amendment the names of the Department’s SES
staff will be released where they are present in the documents and do not
attract an exemption.
Could you please respond to this email by 5 February to confirm your
agreement to this change.
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].
Regards
DSS FOI team
Freedom of Information | Information Law
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.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
2. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
Dear FOI,
you asked for my agreement to remove the following information from the scope of [my] request where it is not available from public sources:
o group email addresses used for internal departmental purposes;
o all personal information of members of the public;
o all personal information of non-Senior Executive Service (SES) government staff; and
o all personal information of SES level government staff with the exception of the names of the Department’s SES staff.
I know of no justification for removing "group email addresses used for internal departmental purposes". Please explain why this might be appropriate.
Yes, please remove "all personal information of members of the public" unless the member of the public has a clear public role in relation to autism (such as myself and my role as A4 Co-convenor).
Yes, please remove "all personal information of non-Senior Executive Service (SES) government staff" but note that the person's role is not personal information in this context.
Yes, please remove "all personal information of SES level government staff with the exception of the names of the Department’s SES staff" also noting that their role/title is not personal information in this context.
Yours sincerely,
Bob Buckley
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 Buckley
Please find attached correspondence in relation to your FOI request of 30
January 2025.
Should you have any queries regarding this matter, please contact the FOI
team.
Regards
DSS FOI team
Freedom of Information | Information Law
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]
Dear Department of Social Services,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Social Services's handling of my FOI request 'Emails mentioning 'moderate autism' since June 2023'.
In your response previously to Freedom of Information Request LEX 52542 - see https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/1... - you stated
To identify documents in scope, we asked the IT team to conduct a search for all correspondence from 1 July to 31 December 2023 that contains the phrase ‘mild autism’. The IT team has identified 6,142 emails that meet this description.
My request asks that you simply conduct a search for all correspondence from 1 July 2023 that contains the phrase ‘moderate autism’ to get a list of emails for this request. If you cannot also include the paragraphs requested from the email bodies, please can you provide the other information that I requested.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/e...
Yours faithfully,
Bob Buckley
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 Buckley
It appears you are seeking an internal review of your FOI request dated 30 January 2025 (LEX 52806) that sought access to:
'A file (.csv or .xlsx (not PDF)) with columns/fields of from, to, cc, subject, date, and a column with the text of the paragraph from the body of the email that mentions “moderate autism” and where the date field is since June 2023.'
Can you please confirm that this is the FOI request in which you are seeking an internal review.
Kind regards
DSS FOI team
Freedom of Information | Information Law
Legal Services Group
Department of Social Services
E: [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.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Buckley <[FOI #12785 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 February 2025 2:41 PM
To: FOI <[Department of Social Services request email]>
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Emails mentioning 'moderate autism' since June 2023
Dear Department of Social Services,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Social Services's handling of my FOI request 'Emails mentioning 'moderate autism' since June 2023'.
In your response previously to Freedom of Information Request LEX 52542 - see https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/1... - you stated
To identify documents in scope, we asked the IT team to conduct a search for all correspondence from 1 July to 31 December 2023 that contains the phrase ‘mild autism’. The IT team has identified 6,142 emails that meet this description.
My request asks that you simply conduct a search for all correspondence from 1 July 2023 that contains the phrase ‘moderate autism’ to get a list of emails for this request. If you cannot also include the paragraphs requested from the email bodies, please can you provide the other information that I requested.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/e...
Yours faithfully,
Bob Buckley
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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #12785 email]
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:
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Buckley
I refer to your correspondence received by the Department of Social
Services (Department) on 13 February 2025, in which you requested an
internal review of FOI decision LEX 52806, which sought access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) to:
‘A file (.csv or .xlsx (not PDF)) with columns/fields of from, to, cc,
subject, date, and a column with the text of the paragraph from the body
of the email that mentions “moderate autism” and where the date field is
since June 2023.’
A different decision maker will be appointed for your FOI matter. Your
reference for your internal review is LEX 52943.
The decision for this internal review application is currently due on 17
March 2025.
If you would like to provide additional reasons why you are seeking an
internal review, could you please respond to this email by Thursday 20
February.
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].
Kind regards
DSS FOI team
Freedom of Information | Information Law
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.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
2. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]