Media emails re statement "it is incorrect to connect the NDIS in any way, shape or form to Robodebt"

Currently waiting for a response from National Disability Insurance Agency, they should respond promptly and normally no later than (details).

Dear National Disability Insurance Agency,

I am requesting the following documents for the purposes of the FOI Act.

SCOPE

A statement provided for an article by Julie Cross (published in the Daily Telegraph on 15 March 2025) included the following:

‘An NDIA spokesman said the NDIS Act expressly requires human decision-making and “it is incorrect to connect the NDIS in
any way, shape or form to Robodebt and doing so is unfounded, irresponsible and may cause unnecessary distress and harm.”...’

Please provide unredacted copies of:
- All email correspondence between the NDIA media team and Daily Telegraph in relation to this article
- All email correspondence between the media team and other NDIA staff relating to development and clearance of the statement provided
- Any associated attachments

Please consider all information in this correspondence relevant, except the following acceptable redactions:
- email addresses and phone numbers
- last names of non-SES staff
- personal information relating to individual participants

Yours faithfully,

Cat

foi, National Disability Insurance Agency

Thank you for your email to the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA) Freedom of Information (FOI) team. 
 
Please note: due to a high volume of requests, our ability to respond to
you in a timely manner may be affected. We will action your request as
soon as possible and will endeavour to process your matter within the
legislative deadlines. We may need to seek your agreement to an extension
of time. We appreciate your understanding if this is required. 
 
Participant Information 
Did you know the NDIA has other ways to access the documents and
information that we hold? 
 
 
Participants, Guardians and Nominees can obtain copies of some participant
information through our National Contact Centre (NCC). For more
information about what’s available through the NCC, please contact 1800
800 110. 
 
 
Please visit our [1]Access to Information webpage to find out more about
accessing information through: 

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* The [3]Information Publication Scheme (IPS) 
 
* The [4]myplace portal for participants    
 
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email at [9][email address] or via webchat at [10]ndis.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can also contact us by phoning 1800 800 110. 
 
 
Kind regards    
 
 
Freedom of Information Team  
Complaints Management & FOI Branch 
General Counsel Division  
National Disability Insurance Agency  
E [11][NDIA request email]   
   
The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians 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 past, present
and emerging.  

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References

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1. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
2. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
3. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
4. https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/usi...
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6. https://data.ndis.gov.au/
7. mailto:[NDIA request email]
8. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
9. mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.ndis.gov.au/
11. mailto:[NDIA request email]

foi, National Disability Insurance Agency

3 Attachments

Dear Cat

 

Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement

 

Thank you for your request of 16 March 2025, made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for copies of documents held by the
National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

 

Scope of your Request

 

You have requested access to:

 

“ ….A statement provided for an article by Julie Cross (published in the
Daily Telegraph on 15 March 2025) included the following:

 

‘An NDIA spokesman said the NDIS Act expressly requires human
decision-making and “it is incorrect to connect the NDIS in

 

any way, shape or form to Robodebt and doing so is unfounded,
irresponsible and may cause unnecessary distress and harm.”...’

 

Please provide unredacted copies of:

 

- All email correspondence between the NDIA media team and Daily Telegraph
in relation to this article

 

- All email correspondence between the media team and other NDIA staff
relating to development and clearance of the statement provided

 

- Any associated attachments

 

Please consider all information in this correspondence relevant, except
the following acceptable redactions:

 

- email addresses and phone numbers

 

- last names of non-SES staff

 

- personal information relating to individual participants..."

 

Processing Timeframes

 

In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from 17 March 2025. This
30-day period expires on 15 April 2025.

 

The 30-day period can be extended in a number of ways, including with your
agreement.

 

Unfortunately, it is currently taking us a little longer than 30 days to
process FOI requests. I am therefore seeking your agreement to a 30-day
extension of time under section 15AA of the FOI Act. If you agree to this
extension, the new due date for us to decide on your request will be 15
May 2025.

 

If you do not agree and we are unable to process your request within the
30-day period expiring on 15 April 2025, we will be deemed to have refused
your request and you will not have a right to seek internal review of that
decision. You will, however, retain your right to external review by the
Australian Information Commissioner.

 

Please let us know if you agree by 27 March 2025.

 

Disclosure Log

 

Subject to certain exceptions, documents released under the FOI Act will
be published on the NDIA’s disclosure log located on our website.

 

If you have any concerns about the publication of the documents you have
requested, please contact me.

 

Next steps

 

Your request will be allocated to an authorised FOI decision-maker. The
decision-maker may need to contact you to discuss a range of matters,
including refining the scope of your request.

 

We will contact you using the email address you have provided. Please
advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

 

In the meantime, if you have any questions or need help, please contact us
at [1][NDIA request email].

 

Regards

 

Mykal

Freedom of Information Officer

Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch

Reviews and Information Release Division

National Disability Insurance Agency

E [2][NDIA request email]

 

[3]NDIA logo

[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic

The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians 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 past, present
and emerging.

[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic

 

 

 

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Dear foi,

Thanks for your acknowledgment. I do not agree to the extension, as the ongoing resourcing issues you are expected to work under need to be addressed, and the media team should be capable of promptly directing you to the relevant information if they are capable of making such a statement, especially when 30 days is already a long time in the media cycle.

That said, if you have valid grounds for an extension, you have 15AC as an option despite my disagreement.

Yours sincerely,

Cat

Dear foi,

Confirming the below response came through, as it isn't updating on the RTK feed: "Thanks for your acknowledgment. I do not agree to the extension, as the ongoing resourcing issues you are expected to work under need to be addressed, and the media team should be capable of promptly directing you to the relevant information if they are capable of making such a statement, especially when 30 days is already a long time in the media cycle.

That said, if you have valid grounds for an extension, you have 15AC as an option despite my disagreement."

Yours sincerely,

Cat

foi, National Disability Insurance Agency

Dear Cat

Just confirming that we received your below response on Monday 24 March 2025.

Mykal (MJG094)
Freedom of Information Officer
Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch
Reviews and Information Release Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E: [NDIA request email]

The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians 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 past, present and emerging.

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