List of AI Project in Internal Use and/or Recent Trials
Dear Department of Industry, Science & Resources,
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. You may give notices by reply email. I am seeking a document or documents with a list of AI projects in internal use or ones recently trialed by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, especially for the R&D tax incentive.
I am not seeking personal information. I am not seeking names of employees/contractors/etc. I do not consent to extensions.
Yours faithfully,
John Smith
OFFICIAL
Dear John,
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (the department) has
received your Freedom of Information request of 15 November 2024
(attached) for access to:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. You may give
notices by reply email. I am seeking a document or documents with a list
of AI projects in internal use or ones recently [sic] trialed by the
Department of Industry, Science and Resources, especially for the R&D tax
incentive.
This email is to acknowledge receipt of your request. Your reference is
76142.
Notice of Consultation
Your request covers documents that contain information about the business
affairs of certain organisations.
Under section 27 of the FOI Act where a request is made for a document
containing information about:
o the business affairs of an organisation (section 27).
and it appears the organisation may reasonably wish to contend that the
information is exempt or conditionally exempt, the department must give
the organisation a reasonable opportunity to make a submission in support
of the contention.
Under section 27of the FOI Act the department must have regard to any
submissions made by the organisation before making a decision to give
access to the document.
Given that consultation with third parties is required, the statutory
timeframe for processing your FOI request is extended by 30 days under
subsection 15(6) of the FOI Act.
As such, a decision is due to you on or before 14 January 2025.
Further advice on processing your request
To assist us to streamline the processing of your request we ask you to
consider the following:
1. Duplicate Documents:
Under section 4(1) of the FOI Act, the definition of a document includes
‘any copy, including an part of any copy, of a reproduction or duplicate’.
In order to process your request as efficiently as possible, the following
will be excluded from your request unless you advise otherwise:
o Duplicate documents;
o early parts of email chains that are captured in later email chains.
2. Publicly available documents:
Under section 4(1) of the FOI Act, the definition of a document does not
include ‘material maintained for reference purposes that is otherwise
publicly available’.
Please confirm if publicly available documents can be excluded from your
request.
We look forward to your response at your earliest convenience but no later
than 5 December 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact the FOI team.
Pete
Freedom of Information
Chief Counsel & Integrity Division | Corporate & information Law Branch |
Information Law
GPO Box 2013 Canberra ACT 2601 | [1][Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]
Dear Freedom of Information,
I am only seeking information about the projects in your organisation (the Department of Industry, Science and Resources). As such, there are no "business affairs" of other organisations to consider, and so your s27 citation is misapplied. Please process the request as I wrote it. Yes, you can exclude publicly available information. I do not need duplicate documents.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon John,
Thank you for your email attached noting concerns regarding our notice for
third party consultations.
We have taken your feedback on board, specifically that you believe "
there are no "business affairs" of other organisations to consider”.
The scope of your FOI request was for access to:
“… a document or documents with a list of AI projects in internal use or
ones recently trailed by the Department of Industry, Science and
Resources, especially for the R&D tax incentive.”
The department has located material which match the scope of your request,
but we note that the documents identified as in scope of your request
include information which has been identified as business affairs, with a
requirement for third party consultation.
We have considered your concerns and wish to propose an alternative path
for you to access the material you have requested, which would avoid the
requirement for third party consultations.
The department is prepared to provide you access to a list of AI projects
in internal use with the department, as of the most recent update of 19
November 2024, administratively and outside of the FOI Act. Providing
access administratively will provide you access in the timeliest way,
avoid the need for third party consultations and any potential charges
that may be incurred.
Administrative release of relevant information
Please see the below list which we believe satisfies the scope of your FOI
request:
AI tools currently in use by the department:
1. Microsoft 365 Copilot
2. Business Intelligence (BI) Dave
3. Grant Purpose
4. GitHub Copilot
AI proofs of concept in the Data Science Platform (DSP) (not yet in
production)
1. RDTI – Risk Assessment Engine (RAE)
2. PROBE
3. Data Capability Services
4. Consultation Summarisation Tool
AI products being piloted/explored
1. RRR.ai
2. Copilot for D365
3. Glass.AI
Next steps
The department believes that considering the scope of your FOI request was
for documents which note the above list, and the fact you are not seeking
additional information or business information, this satisfies the scope
of your FOI request.
As such, the department requests that you withdraw your current FOI
request.
If you are now seeking additional information based on the above, we
request you submit a new FOI request.
We request your reply by no later than Monday 9 December 2024.
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out via
reply email.
Pete
Freedom of Information
Chief Counsel & Integrity Division | Corporate & information Law Branch |
Information Law
GPO Box 2013 Canberra ACT 2601 | [1][Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]
OFFICIAL
Good morning John,
I am reaching out today regarding our email below, providing you access to
the material you have requested administratively.
Can you please get back to us as soon as possible, advising if you agree
to withdraw your FOI request?
Kind regards,
Pete
Freedom of Information
Chief Counsel & Integrity Division | Corporate & information Law Branch |
Information Law
GPO Box 2013 Canberra ACT 2601 | [1][Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]
Department of Industry, Science and Resources | [6]www.industry.gov.au
Supporting economic growth and job creation for all Australians
Legal In Confidence - This transmission is intended only for the use of
the addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged
information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that
any use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If
you have received this transmission in error, please notify me immediately
and delete copies of this transmission together with any attachments.
Acknowledgement of Country
Our department recognises the First Peoples of this Nation
[7]Meeting and their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to the
place icon by lands, waters, seas, skies, and communities.
Amy Huggins
We Acknowledge First Nations Peoples as the
Traditional Custodians and Lore Keepers of the oldest living
culture and pay respects to their Elders past and present.
We extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.
[8]Connection to Country, 2021 by Shaenice Allan
OFFICIAL
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]
2. http://www.industry.gov.au/
5. mailto:[Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]
6. http://www.industry.gov.au/
OFFICIAL
Good morning John,
I am reaching out today regarding our emails below, which we have not
received a response to at this time.
The department has now provided you the available material
administratively.
As such, if we do not receive a response from you by close of business,
17:00 AEDST Friday 13 December 2024, we will consider this matter
finalised, and your FOI request withdrawn.
Please reach out at your earliest convenience if you have any questions or
concerns.
Kind regards,
Pete
Freedom of Information
Chief Counsel & Integrity Division | Corporate & information Law Branch |
Information Law
GPO Box 2013 Canberra ACT 2601 | [1][Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]
Department of Industry, Science and Resources | [6]www.industry.gov.au
Supporting economic growth and job creation for all Australians
Legal In Confidence - This transmission is intended only for the use of
the addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged
information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that
any use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If
you have received this transmission in error, please notify me immediately
and delete copies of this transmission together with any attachments.
Acknowledgement of Country
Our department recognises the First Peoples of this Nation
[7]Meeting and their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to the
place icon by lands, waters, seas, skies, and communities.
Amy Huggins
We Acknowledge First Nations Peoples as the
Traditional Custodians and Lore Keepers of the oldest living
culture and pay respects to their Elders past and present.
We extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.
[8]Connection to Country, 2021 by Shaenice Allan
OFFICIAL
From: Freedom of Information <[Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]>
Sent: Thursday, December 5, 2024 2:53 PM
To: John Smith <[FOI #12328 email]>
Cc: Freedom of Information <[Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]>
Subject: Your FOI Request - Administrative Release of Information and
request to withdraw - FOI 76142 [SEC=OFFICIAL]
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon John,
Thank you for your email attached noting concerns regarding our notice for
third party consultations.
We have taken your feedback on board, specifically that you believe "
there are no "business affairs" of other organisations to consider”.
The scope of your FOI request was for access to:
“… a document or documents with a list of AI projects in internal use or
ones recently trailed by the Department of Industry, Science and
Resources, especially for the R&D tax incentive.”
The department has located material which match the scope of your request,
but we note that the documents identified as in scope of your request
include information which has been identified as business affairs, with a
requirement for third party consultation.
We have considered your concerns and wish to propose an alternative path
for you to access the material you have requested, which would avoid the
requirement for third party consultations.
The department is prepared to provide you access to a list of AI projects
in internal use with the department, as of the most recent update of 19
November 2024, administratively and outside of the FOI Act. Providing
access administratively will provide you access in the timeliest way,
avoid the need for third party consultations and any potential charges
that may be incurred.
Administrative release of relevant information
Please see the below list which we believe satisfies the scope of your FOI
request:
AI tools currently in use by the department:
1. Microsoft 365 Copilot
2. Business Intelligence (BI) Dave
3. Grant Purpose
4. GitHub Copilot
AI proofs of concept in the Data Science Platform (DSP) (not yet in
production)
1. RDTI – Risk Assessment Engine (RAE)
2. PROBE
3. Data Capability Services
4. Consultation Summarisation Tool
AI products being piloted/explored
1. RRR.ai
2. Copilot for D365
3. Glass.AI
Next steps
The department believes that considering the scope of your FOI request was
for documents which note the above list, and the fact you are not seeking
additional information or business information, this satisfies the scope
of your FOI request.
As such, the department requests that you withdraw your current FOI
request.
If you are now seeking additional information based on the above, we
request you submit a new FOI request.
We request your reply by no later than Monday 9 December 2024.
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out via
reply email.
Pete
Freedom of Information
Chief Counsel & Integrity Division | Corporate & information Law Branch |
Information Law
GPO Box 2013 Canberra ACT 2601 | [9][Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]
---------------------------------------------------------
Department of Industry, Science and Resources | [10]www.industry.gov.au
Supporting economic growth and job creation for all Australians
Legal In Confidence - This transmission is intended only for the use of
the addressee and may contain confidential or legally privileged
information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that
any use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If
you have received this transmission in error, please notify me immediately
and delete copies of this transmission together with any attachments.
Acknowledgement of Country
Our department recognises the First Peoples of this Nation
[11]Meeting and their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to the
place icon by lands, waters, seas, skies, and communities.
Amy Huggins
We Acknowledge First Nations Peoples as the
Traditional Custodians and Lore Keepers of the oldest living
culture and pay respects to their Elders past and present.
We extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.
[12]Connection to Country, 2021 by Shaenice Allan
OFFICIAL
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]
2. http://www.industry.gov.au/
5. mailto:[Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]
6. http://www.industry.gov.au/
9. mailto:[Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources request email]
10. http://www.industry.gov.au/
Dear Freedom of Information,
Yes, this list is sufficient. Please close the request.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith