Exemptions from COVID vaccination for politicians and elites 2020-2023
Dear Department of Health,
I would ask for the number of exemptions given to Australian politicians of every level, from local government all the way up to federal government, and elites who received exemptions from having to have any COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.
Yours faithfully,
Cynthia Albert
Dear Cynthia,
Transfer of freedom of information request to another agency
I refer to your request received by the Department of Health and Aged Care
(the department) for access to documents under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (FOI Act). You have requested access to:
The number of exemptions given to Australian politicians of every level,
from local government all the way up to federal government, and elites who
received exemptions from having to have any COVID-19 vaccinations and
boosters.
I am writing to tell you that the department has transferred your request
to Services Australia.
Under section 16(1) of the FOI Act, the department is able to transfer a
request if the subject matter of the document is more closely connected
with the functions of another agency.
On 8 December 2023 the department transferred your request which relates
to COVID-19 exemptions to Services Australia.
We received your request on 7 December 2023 and the 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from that date. Services
Australia will treat your request as though it received it the same day
that this department did. You should expect a decision from Services
Australia by 6 January 2024. The period of 30 days may be extended
if Services Australia needs to consult third parties or for other reasons.
They will advise you if this happens.
An FOI officer at Services Australia will be in contact with your
shortly.
Kind regards,
Riley
FOI Support Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal and Assurance Division
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges First Nations peoples
as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, and their
continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to
them and their cultures, and to all Elders both past and present.
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From: Cynthia Albert [1][FOI #10950 email]
Sent: Thursday, 7 December 2023 11:02 AM
To: FOI [2][email address]
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Exemptions from COVID
vaccination for politicians and elites 2020-2023
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Dear Department of Health,
I would ask for the number of exemptions given to Australian politicians
of every level, from local government all the way up to federal
government, and elites who received exemptions from having to have any
COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.
Yours faithfully,
Cynthia Albert
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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[3][FOI #10950 email]
Is [4][Health request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Department of Health? If so, please contact us using this
form:
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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:
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be delayed.
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manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
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Our reference: LEX 77559
Dear Ms Cynthia
Acknowledgement of your Freedom of Information Request
I refer to your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). You requested access to:
I would ask for the number of exemptions given to Australian politicians
of every level, from local government all the way up to federal
government, and elites who received exemptions from having to have any
COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.
Your request was received by the Department of Health and Aged Care (DHAC)
on 7 December 2023, and transferred under section 16 of the FOI Act to
Services Australia (the Agency) on 8 December 2023. The 30 day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from the day after your
request was received by DHAC. You should therefore expect a decision from
us by 8 January 2024. The period of 30 days may be extended if we need to
consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this
happens.
Your Address
The FOI Act requires you provide us with an address which we can send
notices to. You have advised your electronic address is
[1][FOI #10950 email]. We will send all notices
and correspondence to this address. Please advise us as soon as possible
if you wish correspondence to be sent to another address or if your
address changes. If you do not advise us of changes to your address,
correspondence and notices will continue to be sent to the address
specified above.
Administrative Release of Documents
The Agency has administrative access arrangements (arrangements) for the
release of certain documents without the need for a formal FOI request.
Unless you advise us otherwise, in processing your request we may provide
you with documents under these arrangements where appropriate. The
arrangements do not extend to information or materials of third parties.
You will be notified when documents are released to you under the
arrangements.
Disclosure Log
Please note information released under the FOI Act may be published in a
disclosure log on the Agency's website. Section 11C of the FOI Act
requires this publication, however it is subject to certain exceptions,
including where publication of personal, business, professional or
commercial information would be unreasonable.
Exclusion of junior staff details
The Agency is working towards ensuring all staff have a choice about
whether they provide their full name, personal logon identifiers and
direct contact details in response to public enquiries. Where such details
are included in the scope of a request, this may add to processing time
and applicable charges as it may be necessary to consider whether the
details are exempt under the FOI Act. On this basis, unless you tell us
otherwise, we will assume these details are out of scope of your request
and they will be redacted under section 22 of the FOI Act.
Further assistance
If you have any questions please email
[2][email address].
Kind regards,
Aleen, FOI Practitioner
FOI and Reviews Branch | Legal Services Division
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agency’s progress story for First Nations people.
Services Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands we
live on. We pay our respects to all Elders, past and present, of all
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations.
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Dear Ms Albert
Please find attached the decision letter relating to your request for
access to documents held by Services Australia, under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982.
If you are unable to open the attachment please contact me by replying to
this email.
Kind Regards,
Kylie, Senior FOI Officer
FOI and Reviews Branch, Legal Services Division
[1]Visual brand element showing Services Australia progress symbol to left
with Services Australia wording to the right of the symbol. Underneath is
servicesaustralia.gov.au and icons representing our social media accounts.
To follow us on social media go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/socialmedia
Aligning the bottom of the signature block is the Services Australia
indigenous artwork strip consisting of cultural elements depicting our
agency’s progress story for First Nations people.
Services Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands we
live on. We pay our respects to all Elders, past and present, of all
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations.
This email and any attachments may contain information subject to legal
professional privilege or information that is otherwise sensitive or
confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are
prohibited from using or disseminating this communication. If you have
received this communication in error please notify the sender immediately
and permanently delete this email.
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IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for the use of the intended recipient only and
may contain information that is confidential, commercially valuable and/or
subject to legal or parliamentary privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient you are notified that any review, re-transmission, disclosure,
dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon,
this information is prohibited and may result in severe penalties. If you
have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately
and delete all electronic and hard copies of this transmission together
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