Media emails re statement "it is incorrect to connect the NDIS in any way, shape or form to Robodebt"
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
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:
* The [2]Participant Information Access (PIA) scheme
* The [3]Information Publication Scheme (IPS)
* The [4]myplace portal for participants
* The [5]myplace portal for providers
Access to Data
You can also request data and statistics. Please visit our [6]Data and
insights webpage page for further information.
If you are able to obtain your information from a source listed above, you
can withdraw your FOI request by emailing [7][NDIA request email]
Further Information
Information about how to make an FOI request can be found on our website:
[8]Freedom of Information
Should you have a query unrelated to FOI, please contact the Agency by
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.
**********************************************************************
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
with any attachments. Please consider the environment before printing this
e-mail
**********************************************************************
References
Visible links
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...
5. https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/workin...
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]
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
-----Original Message-----
From: Cat <[FOI #12927 email]>
Sent: Sunday, 16 March 2025 8:46 AM
To: foi <[NDIA request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Media emails re statement "it is
incorrect to connect the NDIS in any way, shape or form to Robodebt"
[You don't often get email from
[6][FOI #12927 email]. Learn why this is
important at [7]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[8][FOI #12927 email]
Is [9][NDIA request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to National Disability Insurance Agency? If so, please contact us
using this form:
[10]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
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:
[11]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
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: 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
with any attachments. Please consider the environment before printing this
e-mail
**********************************************************************
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[NDIA request email]
2. mailto:[NDIA request email]
6. mailto:[FOI #12927 email]
7. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
8. mailto:[FOI #12927 email]
9. mailto:[NDIA request email]
10. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
11. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
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
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.
-----Original Message-----
From: Cat <[FOI #12927 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 27 March 2025 8:53 AM
To: foi <[NDIA request email]>
Subject: Re: FOI 24/25-1528 – Your request for information – Acknowledgement & Extension of Time [SEC=OFFICIAL]
[You don't often get email from [FOI #12927 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
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
-----Original Message-----
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #12927 email]
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This 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:
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: 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 with any attachments. Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail **********************************************************************