FOI charges from FY22 to 5/11/24
Dear Department of Health,
Please find my request below. In addition, please consider my Request for Administrative Arrangements below.
I request access to the following documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982:
1. All notices of a charge issued to FOI applicants between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024.
For the purposes of my request, a “notice of a charge” refers to a “written notice outlining the preliminary assessment of the charge”, as defined by FOI Guidelines [4.9]. Other terms synonymous with this definition include “charge notice” and “charge letter.”
Specifically, I request the following items from charge notices:
1.i - That the applicant is liable to pay a charge, the preliminary assessment of the charge and the basis for the calculation (FOI Guidelines [4.54a-b]),
1.ii - (if applicable) Any written explanation or justification as to whether the cost of calculating and collecting the charge might exceed the cost to the agency or the Commonwealth (FOI Guidelines [4.114(1)] and [4.4]), and
1.iii - The FOI reference number and date of the letter.
To assist with processing, you may omit the rest of the charge notice. I expect details such as applicant information, the scope of their request, and employee names, signatures, and details to be excluded (s 22).
If multiple charge notices were issued for a single request (e.g., following further review or scope reduction), all charge notices are in scope. Final charge notices (issued after a decision is provided (FOI Guidelines [4.78])) that differ from the previous charge are also in scope.
If your agency administers FOI requests on behalf of another entity (e.g., a minister or departmental sub-branch), such requests are included.
2. All notices of a charge decision issued to FOI applicants between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024.
For the purposes of my request, a “notice of a charge decision” refers to a “written notice of decision to the applicant as to whether the charge will be imposed, reduced or waived” as defined by FOI Guidelines [4.14]. Other terms that can be used synonymously include “charge decision notice” and “charge decision letter.”
Specifically, I request the following items from charge decision letters:
2.i - The decision to impose, reduce or waive a charge, as well as the charge amount,
2.ii - (if applicable) Any written explanation or justification as to whether the cost of calculating and collecting the charge might exceed the cost to the agency or the Commonwealth (FOI Guidelines [4.114(1)] and [4.4]), and
2.iii - The FOI reference number and date of the letter.
To assist with processing, you may omit the rest of the charge decision notice. I expect details such as applicant information, the scope of their request, contention reasons, decision-maker explanation of reasons (except part 2.ii), employee names, signatures, and details, or any information derived from the above (such as details about third parties or supporting evidence of a financial hardship contention) are to be excluded (s 22).
Some agencies, when deciding to waive a charge following an applicant’s contention, may simply state that they have “decided not to impose charges for this request”. Other agencies, in similar circumstances, provide a formal decision notice, including a statement of reasons and review rights. For the purposes of my request, both informal and formal decision notices are within scope.
Additionally, if multiple charge decision letters have been issued for a single request (e.g., following further review or scope changes), all such letters are included in the scope of this request. Charge decisions made under section 55G of the FOI Act are also included.
3. Any internal review decision letters regarding a charge notice or charge decision between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024
Specifically, I request the following items from internal review decision letters:
3.i - The decision to impose, reduce or waive a charge, as well as the charge amount,
3.ii - (if applicable) Any written explanation or justification as to whether the cost of calculating and collecting the charge might exceed the cost to the agency or the Commonwealth (FOI Guidelines [4.114(1)] and [4.4]), and
3.iii - The FOI reference number and date of the letter.
To assist with processing, you may omit the rest of the internal review decision letter, including any background information unrelated to the charge decision. I expect details such as applicant information, the scope of their request, review reasons, decision-maker explanation of reasons (except part 3.ii), employee names, signatures and details, or any information derived from the above, are to be excluded (s 22).
4. Any external review decisions regarding a charge notice or charge decision between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024. This includes decisions not to undertake an IC Review.
I expect details such as applicant information, the scope of their request, review reasons, employee names or details, or any information derived from the above, are to be excluded (s 22) from the scope of my request.
5. All confirmations of payment and refunds between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024.
Any document confirming receipt of payment or refund of payment is included in the scope of my request.
To assist with processing, you may omit the rest of the document. Details of the applicant and their payment details are to be excluded (s 22).
If you are willing, I would prefer this information to be provided administratively, such as in an appendix to the statement of reasons or as a note in a schedule of documents. I would like the following information: whether any payment was made, the amount paid, whether any amount was refunded, and the amount refunded for each request. Please let me know if you are willing to pursue this administratively, and I will confirm withdrawing this part (5) of my request.
In addition to the document-specific exclusions listed above, please exclude the following:
i) Any details about FOI applicants, including, but not limited to personal information and supporting evidence of personal circumstances in a financial hardship contention.
ii) Any details about a third party, business, or organisation, including but not limited to their personal information, business information, and commercial affairs.
iii) Any information that may require third-party consultation under the FOI Act.
iv) Any details about any individual, including but not limited to APS staff and signatures.
v) Emails that merely attach charges notices or decision letters.
In many cases, agencies send charge notices and charge decision notices as formal documents (such as PDFs or Word files) attached to an email. The emails themselves typically contain little more than a message like "see attached," and these are not relevant to my request and may be excluded.
However, if a charge notice or charge decision is provided directly in the body of an email (without a formal attachment), the email itself would be in scope. In such cases, the content of the email, as it serves the function of the notice, should be included in my request.
vi) Duplicate documents.
vii) Background information unrelated to charges.
Request for Administrative Arrangements
In lieu of providing all documents requested in parts 1-3 and part 5, I propose an administrative arrangement. I request a table summarising charge estimates, decisions, internal review decisions#, and payment information between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024. The table should contain the following columns:
FOI Reference | Charge Notice Date | Notice Estimate ($) | Charge Decision Date | Charge Decision* | Internal Review Decision Date | Internal Review Decision* | Request Status^ | Notes&
# Internal Review decisions that are unrelated to a charge are irrelevant and must not be included.
* Charge Decision & Internal Review Decision - These should be categorised as:
(1) Waive
(2) Reduce – $(new charge total)
(3) Affirm
(4) Deemed Affirm
(5) Cannot Impose (e.g., when a decision on the request is not made in time)
(6) Other (for complex cases, with notes).
^ Request Status - Enter as follows:
(1) Ongoing (still processing or within the 60-day IC Review timeframe)
(2) Finalised (request is no longer being processed and is outside the 60-day IC Review timeframe)
(3) External Review (provide OAIC/AATA/FCA/FCAFC reference number)
(4) Withdrawn
(5) Deemed Withdrawn
(6) Other (for complex cases, with notes).
& Notes - Include whether any payment was made, the amount paid, whether any amount was refunded, and the amount refunded. Additionally, if you would like to add any submissions regarding a request you are free to add it here.
If multiple charge notices were issued for a single request (e.g., due to scope reduction), each notice should be a new entry in the table. Please include the reason for additional notices in the Notes section. A ‘final charge’ notice (the actual cost of processing) that differs from the previous charge should also be included as a new entry, with an “actual cost” note.
If you agree to this administrative arrangement, I will confirm withdrawing parts 1-3 (except parts 1.ii, 2.ii, 3.ii) and part 5 of my request. The remaining parts of my FOI request would be:
(Parts 1.ii, 2.ii, 3.ii): Any written explanation or justification as to whether the cost of calculating and collecting the charge might exceed the cost to the agency or the Commonwealth (FOI Guidelines [4.114(1)] and [4.4]), and
(Part 4): Any external review decisions regarding a charge notice or charge decision.
Public Interest Factor
I anticipate that some agencies may impose a charge for this request. To pre-empt this, I will provide the following public interest considerations. I allege that some government agencies are incorrectly imposing charges as a means to delay or discourage access to documents, while doing so at a net cost to the Commonwealth. I intend to raise these concerns in a complaint to the OAIC. Your assistance in providing this information will help determine whether your agency is meeting its statutory obligations under the FOI Act.
In CropLife Australia and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Freedom of information) [2024] AICmr 159, the Assistant FOI Commissioner set aside a charge of $701, agreeing that access to documents regarding the Department’s FOI processes was in the public interest, as it would assist in assessing whether the Department was fulfilling its obligations under the FOI Act.
The Assistant Commissioner, Freedom of Information, noted at [24]:
"where there are concerns about whether an agency is carrying out its statutory obligations appropriately with respect to a particular process (such as under the FOI Act), providing access to documents relating to the conduct of those obligations would go beyond merely enhancing transparency by assisting inquiry into whether the agency is adequately fulfilling those obligations. Accordingly, I accept the applicant’s submission that giving access to information that might reveal any deficiencies with respect to the Department’s administration of FOI requests under the FOI Act would be in the general public interest."
Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please let me know if you agree to the administrative arrangement at your earliest convenience.
Yours faithfully,
CR
Good afternoon CR,
Acknowledgement of receipt of Freedom of Information request
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:
1. All notices of a charge issued to FOI applicants between 1 July 2022
and 5 November 2024, specifically:
a. That the applicant is liable to pay a charge, the preliminary
assessment of the charge and the basis for the calculation (FOI Guidelines
[4.54a-b]),
b. (if applicable) Any written explanation or justification as to whether
the cost of calculating and collecting the charge might exceed the cost to
the agency or the Commonwealth (FOI Guidelines [4.114(1)] and [4.4]), and
c. The FOI reference number and date of the letter.
2. All notices of a charge decision issued to FOI applicants between 1
July 2022 and 5 November 2024, specifically:
a. The decision to impose, reduce or waive a charge, as well as the charge
amount,
b. (if applicable) Any written explanation or justification as to whether
the cost of calculating and collecting the charge might exceed the cost to
the agency or the Commonwealth (FOI Guidelines [4.114(1)] and [4.4]), and
c. The FOI reference number and date of the letter.
d. Charge decisions made under section 55G of the FOI Act are also
included.
3. Any internal review decision letters regarding a charge notice or
charge decision between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024, specifically:
a. The decision to impose, reduce or waive a charge, as well as the charge
amount,
b. (if applicable) Any written explanation or justification as to whether
the cost of calculating and collecting the charge might exceed the cost to
the agency or the Commonwealth (FOI Guidelines [4.114(1)] and [4.4]), and
c. The FOI reference number and date of the letter.
4. Any external review decisions regarding a charge notice or charge
decision between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024. This includes decisions
not to undertake an IC Review.
5. All confirmations of payment and refunds between 1 July 2022 and 5
November 2024. Any document confirming receipt of payment or refund of
payment is included in the scope of my request.
If your agency administers FOI requests on behalf of another entity (e.g.,
a minister or departmental sub-branch), such requests are included.
I expect the following to be excluded from the request:
I. The scope of requests
II. Applicant contention reasons
III. Decision-maker explanation of reasons (except part 1.b, 2.b and 3.b)
IV. Applicant review reasons
Please also exclude the following:
I. Any details about FOI applicants, including, but not limited to
personal information and supporting evidence of personal circumstances in
a financial hardship contention.
II. Any details about a third party, business, or organisation, including
but not limited to their personal information, business information, and
commercial affairs.
III. Any information that may require third-party consultation under the
FOI Act.
IV. Any details about any individual, including but not limited to APS
staff and signatures.
V. Emails that merely attach charges notices or decision letters.
VI. Duplicate documents.
VII. Background information unrelated to charges.
The reference number for your request is FOI 25-0092 LD. Please ensure
that you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning
this request.
Background
The department wishes to advise the scope of your request is very similar
to the scope of your recent request FOI 25-0035 LD. The scope of FOI
25-0035 LD was as follows:
1. The most recent 30 notices of charges issued to FOI applicants.
For each of these 30 requests, if applicable, please also provide:
2. Any subsequent decisions regarding charges following applicant
contention.
3. Any subsequent decisions regarding charges following internal or
external review.
If a preliminary charge notice or decision of a charge is sent via the
body of an email (as opposed to an email attachment) I wish to access a
copy of that email, as well as the applicant's contention reasons.
The time period for my request is from 1 July 2022 to 1 October 2024.
Please exclude the following information:
i) Personal information of FOI applicants, including supporting evidence
or details of personal circumstances in a financial hardship contention.
ii) Emails that attached the charges notices/decision letters.
Please exclude the details of third parties.
Noting the above, we are seeking your agreement to exclude documents that
have been provided to you previously. We would be grateful for your
response regarding this by COB 8 November 2024.
Timeframes
Your request was received on 5 November 2024. The statutory timeframe for
processing your request is 30 calendar days and you should expect to be
notified of a decision from the department on or before 5 December 2024.
The period of 30 days may be extended if the department needs to consult
third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
Other Information
The department may impose a charge for the work involved in providing
access to the documents. If this request attracts a charge you will be
notified in writing.
Unless you advise otherwise:
· any draft and duplicate documents will be excluded from the
scope of your request, and
· any public service employee names below Senior Executive Service
level and direct telephone numbers of all staff will be excluded from the
scope of your request under s22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[1]www.health.gov.au/resources/foi-disclosure-log, subject to certain
exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where
this would be unreasonable.)
You can contact the FOI team via email at [2][email address] or by phone
on 02 6289 1666, should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
FOI Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [3][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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Ref: FOI 25-0092 LD
Dear FOI,
I agree to exclude documents that have been provided to me previously. If parts of these documents were not within the scope of the previous request, but are in the scope of this request, then these parts remain included.
Yours sincerely,
CR
Dear FOI Officer,
By way of illustration, please find the table created from the information provided by you for your reference. You can view this image via WeTransfer here: https://we.tl/t-b0JnQGOLUv (please note this link expires in 7 days.) This table represents the exact level of information I am requesting.
The only information I am requesting beyond this table is:
1.ii, 2.ii, 3.ii: Any written explanation or justification regarding whether the cost of calculating and collecting the charge might exceed the cost to the agency or the Commonwealth.
4. Any external review decisions concerning a charge notice or decision.
Yours sincerely,
CR
Good morning CR,
Thank you for confirming you agree to exclude any documents already
provided to you.
The department will proceed with your request as below.
Kind regards,
FOI Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][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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Dear FOI Officer,
I amend my request to add part 6.
6. A document that identifies whether any FOI requests, where a charge notice was issued between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024, were either withdrawn or deemed withdrawn.
To clarify, I am seeking information on whether a request was withdrawn or deemed withdrawn after a charge notice was issued. This may be demonstrated through:
- Correspondence from your agency confirming the withdrawal or deemed withdrawal of a request, or
- The applicant's email confirming their withdrawal of the request.
If no confirmation has been provided by your agency or the applicant, and the request was deemed withdrawn due to non-response to the charge notice, I request that a document be created under section 17 of the FOI Act, which shows that the request was deemed withdrawn. This information is likely to exist in your FOI database or case management systems in electronic form.
To assist with processing, you may omit the rest of the document beyond what is necessary to show whether the request was withdrawn or deemed withdrawn after a charge notice was issued.
If your agency is willing, I would prefer this information to be provided administratively, such as in an appendix to the statement of reasons or as a note in a schedule of documents. Please let me know if you are open to processing this request administratively, and I will confirm the withdrawal of this part (6) of my request.
Yours sincerely,
CR
Good afternoon CR,
Thank you for your email below.
We confirm the department will proceed with your request as follows:
1. All notices of a charge issued to FOI applicants between 1 July 2022
and 5 November 2024, specifically:
a. That the applicant is liable to pay a charge, the preliminary
assessment of the charge and the basis for the calculation (FOI Guidelines
[4.54a-b]),
b. (if applicable) Any written explanation or justification as to whether
the cost of calculating and collecting the charge might exceed the cost to
the agency or the Commonwealth (FOI Guidelines [4.114(1)] and [4.4]), and
c. The FOI reference number and date of the letter.
2. All notices of a charge decision issued to FOI applicants between 1
July 2022 and 5 November 2024, specifically:
a. The decision to impose, reduce or waive a charge, as well as the charge
amount,
b. (if applicable) Any written explanation or justification as to whether
the cost of calculating and collecting the charge might exceed the cost to
the agency or the Commonwealth (FOI Guidelines [4.114(1)] and [4.4]), and
c. The FOI reference number and date of the letter.
d. Charge decisions made under section 55G of the FOI Act are also
included.
3. Any internal review decision letters regarding a charge notice or
charge decision between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024, specifically:
a. The decision to impose, reduce or waive a charge, as well as the charge
amount,
b. (if applicable) Any written explanation or justification as to whether
the cost of calculating and collecting the charge might exceed the cost to
the agency or the Commonwealth (FOI Guidelines [4.114(1)] and [4.4]), and
c. The FOI reference number and date of the letter.
4. Any external review decisions regarding a charge notice or charge
decision between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024. This includes decisions
not to undertake an IC Review.
5. All confirmations of payment and refunds between 1 July 2022 and 5
November 2024. Any document confirming receipt of payment or refund of
payment is included in the scope of my request.
6. A document that identifies whether any FOI requests, where a charge
notice was issued between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024, were either
withdrawn or deemed withdrawn.
If your agency administers FOI requests on behalf of another entity (e.g.,
a minister or departmental sub-branch), such requests are included.
I expect the following to be excluded from the request:
I. The scope of requests
II. Applicant contention reasons
III. Decision-maker explanation of reasons (except part 1.b, 2.b and 3.b)
IV. Applicant review reasons
Please also exclude the following:
I. Any details about FOI applicants, including, but not limited to
personal information and supporting evidence of personal circumstances in
a financial hardship contention.
II. Any details about a third party, business, or organisation, including
but not limited to their personal information, business information, and
commercial affairs.
III. Any information that may require third-party consultation under the
FOI Act.
IV. Any details about any individual, including but not limited to APS
staff and signatures.
V. Emails that merely attach charges notices or decision letters.
VI. Duplicate documents.
VII. Background information unrelated to charges.
I agree to exclude any documents already provided to me.
Kind regards,
FOI Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation Branch
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][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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Dear FOI,
I have contacted you via my personal email for further correspondence.
Yours sincerely,
CR
Dear CR,
Thank you for your email of 15 November 2024 at 4:14pm to the Department
of Health and Aged Care advising you seek to withdraw part four of your
request.
As per your request, we have withdrawn part four which was seeking access
to:
4. Any external review decisions regarding a charge notice or charge
decision between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024. This includes decisions
not to undertake an IC Review.
We will respond to you via the email provided with this confirmation as
well.
Kind regards,
Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges 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
elders both past and present
Dear CR
We refer to your FOI request received on 5 November 2024.
Please find attached a decision on access together with the documents
referred to in that decision.
If you have any queries in relation to this decision, please contact the
FOI Section on the details below.
Kind regards,
Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [1][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges 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
elders both past and present
From: FOI <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 18 November 2024 9:01 AM
To: CR <[FOI #12294 email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information Request 25-0092 LD – Acknowledgement
of Receipt [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Dear CR,
Thank you for your email of 15 November 2024 at 4:14pm to the Department
of Health and Aged Care advising you seek to withdraw part four of your
request.
As per your request, we have withdrawn part four which was seeking access
to:
4. Any external review decisions regarding a charge notice or charge
decision between 1 July 2022 and 5 November 2024. This includes decisions
not to undertake an IC Review.
We will respond to you via the email provided with this confirmation as
well.
Kind regards,
Case Officer – Freedom of Information Section
Legal Advice and Legislation
Legal Division | Corporate Operations Group
Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [2][email address]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges 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
elders both past and present