Incoming ministers briefing documents, and skillselect rounds policy for 2022-23

Tharun Thatikonda made this Freedom of Information request to Department of Home Affairs

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Dear Department of Home Affairs,

1) I request to release incoming ministers briefing documents handed to:

a) The Hon Andrew Giles MP Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.

b) The Hon Clare O'Neil MP Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security.

2) Plans, reports, emails, notes of discussions, or meeting agenda department hold regarding skillselect invitation rounds for 2022-23 financial year.

Yours faithfully,
Tharun Thatikonda

** This is an automated response. Please do not reply to this email **

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Your email has been received by the Department of Home Affairs Freedom of
Information (FOI) Section.

The FOI section only responds to valid FOI requests and other matters
relating to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). Visit the
FOI Information on our Website for more information on what [1]information
can be accessed under the FOI Act 1982.

What is a valid FOI request?

A valid FOI request may be for:

- documents you previously provided to the Department as part of a visa
application

- a copy of a decision record made by the Department

- statistical information held by the Department

- papers or briefings the Department prepared.

If your email is a valid FOI request, the Department will contact you
shortly to acknowledge your request.

A valid FOI request must:

o Be in writing and state the request is for consideration under the FOI
Act.
o Have enough information for us to be able to identify the documents
you are seeking.
o Provide a physical or electronic address where we can send our
decision.

Do not send duplicate emails as this may cause longer delays in processing
times.

What is an invalid FOI request?

Invalid FOI requests may include:

- Making a visa application

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If your email is not specific an FOI request or FOI related matter, the
FOI section will not respond.

What happens next?

Once we receive and have registered your FOI request, we will send you an
acknowledgment letter by email. Read the acknowledgment letter carefully
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FOI requests are generally processed in the order they are received.

We will contact you as soon as the Department has assessed your request
under the FOI Act.

We’re responding to a large volume of requests

Due to the current high volume of requests, we will not provide progress
up-dates on current FOI requests. This is to ensure we are able to
process as many requests as possible, including yours.

If processing your request is going to take us a lot of time and because
it is large or unspecific, it may be refused.

Still have a question or request?

If you still have a question, which has not been answered above, and which
is about the work of the Department, use our general enquiries web page

[2]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...

You may be able to resolve your enquiry faster using these other resources

We only action and respond to FOI requests that are valid under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982. You may be able to resolve your enquiry
faster by using these resources:

General information about travelling to Australia:

The Department of Home Affairs, “Entering Australia” site
[3]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...

· For visa and our requirements for entry to Australia
[4]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...

For a copy of your visa refusal or visa grant letter you should contact
the office where you lodged your visa application.

· To check your current visa details and conditions use the
Department’s Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) portal which can
be accessed [5]here

· If you are experiencing technical difficulties in lodging your
visa application through ImmiAccount, submit your concerns through the
ImmiAccount Technical Support Form, which is accessible [6]here.

· For evidence of your Australian Citizenship please refer [7]here.
The FOI Section does not process these requests.

· For movement records or travel history complete the online
International Movement Records form [8]here. The FOI Section does not
process these requests.

· To update your details, including your Passport details, you can
notify the Department [9]here. The FOI Section does not process these
requests.

We appreciate your feedback

We appreciate your feedback to help improve our services.

If you would like to provide feedback to us please use our Compliments,
complaints and suggestions form.
[10]https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...

Thank you

Information updated 11 January 2022

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
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attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

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3. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
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Dear Department of Home Affairs,

Can anyone from DHA please confirm that whether my request is in process or not. I have made a request two weeks ago, but till date I didn't receive any acknowledgement of my request.

Yours faithfully,
Tharun Thatikonda

** This is an automated response. Please do not reply to this email **

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Your email has been received by the Department of Home Affairs Freedom of
Information (FOI) Section.

What is a valid FOI request?

A valid FOI request may be for:

- documents you previously provided to the Department as part of a visa
application

- a copy of a decision record made by the Department

- statistical information held by the Department

- papers or briefings the Department prepared.

If your email is a valid FOI request, the Department will contact you
shortly to acknowledge your request.

A valid FOI request must:

Do not send duplicate emails as this may cause longer delays in processing
times.

What is an invalid FOI request?

Invalid FOI requests may include:

- Making a visa application

- Seeking evidence of your Australian Citizenship

- Seeking information about traveling to or departing Australia.

If your email is not specific an FOI request or FOI related matter, the
FOI section will not respond.

What happens next?

Once we receive and have registered your FOI request, we will send you an
acknowledgment letter by email. Read the acknowledgment letter carefully
for further instructions.

FOI requests are generally processed in the order they are received.

We will contact you as soon as the Department has assessed your request
under the FOI Act.

We’re responding to a large volume of requests

Due to the current high volume of requests, we will not provide progress
up-dates on current FOI requests. This is to ensure we are able to
process as many requests as possible, including yours.

If processing your request is going to take us a lot of time and because
it is large or unspecific, it may be refused.

Still have a question or request?

If you still have a question, which has not been answered above, and which
is about the work of the Department, use our general enquiries web page

[2]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...

You may be able to resolve your enquiry faster using these other resources

We only action and respond to FOI requests that are valid under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982. You may be able to resolve your enquiry
faster by using these resources:

General information about travelling to Australia:

The Department of Home Affairs, “Entering Australia” site
[3]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...

· For visa and our requirements for entry to Australia
[4]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...

For a copy of your visa refusal or visa grant letter you should contact
the office where you lodged your visa application.

· To check your current visa details and conditions use the
Department’s Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) portal which can
be accessed [5]here

· For evidence of your Australian Citizenship please refer [7]here.
The FOI Section does not process these requests.

· For movement records or travel history complete the online
International Movement Records form [8]here. The FOI Section does not
process these requests.

· To update your details, including your Passport details, you can
notify the Department [9]here. The FOI Section does not process these
requests.

We appreciate your feedback

We appreciate your feedback to help improve our services.

If you would like to provide feedback to us please use our Compliments,
complaints and suggestions form.
[10]https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...

Thank you

Information updated 11 January 2022

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 22/07/00457
File Number: OBJ2022/18617

Dear Tharun Thatikonda,

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request
This letter acknowledges we received your request on 11 July 2022 to access documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). This letter also provides important information about your request.

Scope of request
You have requested access to the following:
1) I request to release incoming ministers briefing documents handed to:

a) The Hon Andrew Giles MP Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.

b) The Hon Clare O'Neil MP Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security.

2) Plans, reports, emails, notes of discussions, or meeting agenda department hold regarding skillselect invitation rounds for 2022-23 financial year.

Your request was received by the Department on 11 July 2022 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 22/07/00457. Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.

Timeframe for receiving your decision
The statutory timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the date upon which your application was received by the Department.

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Fees and Charges
Charges do not apply to requests from individuals seeking access to documents about themselves. However, a charge may apply to all other requests for access to documents.
Charges are based on the amount of time the Department spends on your request. Charges can range from $10 to over $1,000 depending on the complexity and scope of your request. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner reported that across the public service, the average charge notified was $335.50 in 2020-21.
If a charge applies, you will be issued with a Notice of Charge that explains the charge and your options.
Detailed information about FOI charges that may apply to your FOI request is available on the Department’s website.

We do not provide personal details of staff
The Department’s practice is to exclude the personal details of staff not in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as well as the direct contact details of SES staff, contained in documents that fall within scope of an FOI request. If you require personal details of non-SES officers, or direct contact details of SES staff, please inform us so the decision maker may consider your request. Otherwise we will take it that you agree to that information being excluded from the scope of your request. However names of staff that have previously been released in departmental correspondence may be disclosed.

We do not provide duplicated documents
If the FOI decision-maker deems a document to be a duplicate, they will not assess those pages as part of your FOI request. This means that if a there is a decision to release the document to you, you will receive only one copy, even if multiple copies of that document exist.

Released documents you request may be published to our website
Where documents are released to you in response to your request, the Department may be required to publish these documents on its website within 10 working days in accordance with section 11C of the FOI Act. Publication will not be required where the documents contain personal or business affairs information.

How to reduce or withdraw your request
Reducing the scope of your request can reduce the time and charges associated with processing your FOI request.
To reduce or withdraw your request, contact the FOI section at [Department of Home Affairs request email] and include your FOI request number.

Kind regards,

FOI Officer - Geoff
Freedom of Information
Department of Home Affairs

E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

-----Original Message-----
From: Tharun Thatikonda <[FOI #9114 email]>
Sent: 11 July 2022 9:54 AM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: CM: Freedom of Information request - Incoming ministers briefing documents, and skillselect rounds policy for 2022-23

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

1) I request to release incoming ministers briefing documents handed to:

a) The Hon Andrew Giles MP Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.

b) The Hon Clare O'Neil MP Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security.

2) Plans, reports, emails, notes of discussions, or meeting agenda department hold regarding skillselect invitation rounds for 2022-23 financial year.

Yours faithfully,
Tharun Thatikonda

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[FOI #9114 email]

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Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

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Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.

hide quoted sections

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:

FOI Request: FA 22/07/00457

File Number: OBJ2022/18617

Dear Tharun Thatikonda,

I refer to your request received on 11 July 2022 for access to documents
under the FOI Act.

The current due date for your request is 10 August 2022.

In order for the Department to complete the process of retrieving all the
documents that fall within the scope of your request the Department will
require additional time to process your request.

The Department seeks your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to
extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days. This
would extend the due date for your request to Friday 9 September 2022.

It would assist the Department in managing its FOI caseload if you could
provide a response to this request by close of business, Thursday 4 August
2022

If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to
contact me on the details below.

Kind regards,

FOI Officer - Geoff

Freedom of Information

Department of Home Affairs

E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

Dear FOI,
FOI Request: FA 22/07/00457
File Number: OBJ2022/18617

I agree to provide extra time as requested by FOI section of DHA.

Yours sincerely,
Tharun Thatikonda

Dear FOI,

FOI Request: FA 22/07/00457
File Number: OBJ2022/18617

I would like to bring to your notice that I am happy to drop incoming ministers briefing documents as those were made available in disclosure logs today by DHA.

Can I also know that removal of part of request will be helpful to department and can process my request as per original timeframe?.

Yours sincerely,
Tharun Thatikonda

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 22/07/00457
File Number: OBJ2022/18617

Dear Tharun Thatikonda,

Thank you. As per your instructions the Department will no longer consider Question 1.

The Department will still need the extra time to search for documents you requested in Question 2 of your scope.

Please advise by reply email whether you would prefer to continue with, or withdraw this request.

Kind regards,

FOI Officer - Geoff
Freedom of Information
Department of Home Affairs

E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

-----Original Message-----
From: Tharun Thatikonda <[FOI #9114 email]>
Sent: 1 August 2022 12:13 PM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: CM: Re: FOI Request FA 22/07/00457 - Request for Extension of time [SEC=OFFICIAL:Sensitive, ACCESS=Personal-Privacy]

Dear FOI,

FOI Request: FA 22/07/00457

File Number: OBJ2022/18617

I would like to bring to your notice that I am happy to drop incoming ministers briefing documents as those were made available in disclosure logs today by DHA.

Can I also know that removal of part of request will be helpful to department and can process my request as per original timeframe?.

Yours sincerely,

Tharun Thatikonda

-----Original Message-----

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:

FOI Request: FA 22/07/00457

File Number: OBJ2022/18617

Dear Tharun Thatikonda,

I refer to your request received on 11 July 2022 for access to documents

under the FOI Act.

The current due date for your request is 10 August 2022.

In order for the Department to complete the process of retrieving all the

documents that fall within the scope of your request the Department will

require additional time to process your request.

The Department seeks your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to

extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days. This

would extend the due date for your request to Friday 9 September 2022.

It would assist the Department in managing its FOI caseload if you could

provide a response to this request by close of business, Thursday 4 August

2022

If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to

contact me on the details below.

Kind regards,

FOI Officer - Geoff

Freedom of Information

Department of Home Affairs

E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

Personal-Privacy

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by

the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received

this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and

attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain

confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information

by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.

The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have

obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this

email.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #9114 email]

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and attachments immediately. This email, including attachments, may contain confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this email.

hide quoted sections

Dear FOI,

FOI Request: FA 22/07/00457
File Number: OBJ2022/18617

I am happy to provide extension and go head with Question 2 of my request.

Yours sincerely,
Tharun Thatikonda

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OFFICIAL

Dear Tharun Thatikonda

FOI request: FA 22/07/00457

I refer to your FOI request received on 11 July 2022.

Preliminary assessment of charges

This email is to advise you that I have made a preliminary assessment that
you are liable to pay a charge in respect of the processing of your FOI
request in accordance with s.29 of the FOI Act. Please see the attached
notice for further information.

The FOI Act provides you with 30 days to respond, in writing, to this
notice, which is close of business Tuesday, 4 October 2022.

Details on how to make a payment to the Department are included in the
notice. Please ensure that you include your FA reference number with your
payment. If this information is not included with your payment details it
may delay the processing of your request.

Please note if you make the payment by EFT, please advise the FOI section
at [1][Department of Home Affairs request email] immediately to avoid delays in the processing
of your payment.

Regards

Vythees - Position Number: 60141911

Freedom of Information (FOI) Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division

Strategy and National Resilience Group

E:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

Department of Home Affairs | www.homeaffairs.gov.au

OFFICIAL

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.

References

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Dear FOI,
FOI request: FA 22/07/00457

I would like to bring to the notice of FOI authorities that I have paid invoiced issued for the FOI request in full (receipt no; 26722492106), and I request to release the documents as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,
Tharun Thatikonda

Dear FOI,

FOI request: FA 22/07/00457

I request FOI section of DHA to update processing stage of my FOI request (If allowed as per law). Department extension for my request came to end on 9th September 2022, I recieved payment confirmation of the invoice on 8th September 2022.

Yours sincerely,
Tharun Thatikonda

OFFICIAL

Dear Tharun Thatikonda,

Thanks for your enquiry and I am currently processing your request. It appears that your request may not be finalised within the statutory due date 15 September 2022. Hence we have to refund the changes of $75. Please provide your bank details BSB and account number in order to organise the refund.

Regards

Vythees - Position Number: 60141911
Freedom of Information (FOI) Section
FOI and Records Management Branch
Data Division
Strategy and National Resilience Group
E:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
Department of Home Affairs | www.homeaffairs.gov.au

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: Tharun Thatikonda <[FOI #9114 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 13 September 2022 9:22 AM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: Re: FOI request: FA 22/07/00457-Notice requesting charges [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Dear FOI,

FOI request: FA 22/07/00457

Yours sincerely,

Tharun Thatikonda

-----Original Message-----

OFFICIAL

Dear Tharun Thatikonda

FOI request: FA 22/07/00457

I refer to your FOI request received on 11 July 2022.

Preliminary assessment of charges

This email is to advise you that I have made a preliminary assessment that

you are liable to pay a charge in respect of the processing of your FOI

request in accordance with s.29 of the FOI Act. Please see the attached

notice for further information.

The FOI Act provides you with 30 days to respond, in writing, to this

notice, which is close of business Tuesday, 4 October 2022.

Details on how to make a payment to the Department are included in the

notice. Please ensure that you include your FA reference number with your

payment. If this information is not included with your payment details it

may delay the processing of your request.

Please note if you make the payment by EFT, please advise the FOI section

at [1][Department of Home Affairs request email] immediately to avoid delays in the processing

of your payment.