Good afternoon Andrew,

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:

 

Information pertaining to the methodology used or relied on by the CDNA,
NNDSS or the AHPPC for COVID-19 surveillance from 2019-present day?
Specifically with regard to how these bodies classify and report on:

- "COVID-19 cases"

- "COVID-19 hospitalisations"

- "COVID-19 ICU admissions"

- "COVID-19 deaths"

Could you please provide historical documents of how this methodology or
guidance may have changed from 2019-present.

The reference number for your request is FOI 25-0032 LD. Please ensure
that you quote this number in future correspondence with us concerning
this request.

Interpretation

 

The department is seeking your confirmation to our below interpretation of
the scope of your request:

 

Historical documents of how the below methodology or guidance used or
relied on by the CDNA, NNDSS or the AHPPC for COVID-19 surveillance may
have changed from 2019-29 September 2024. Specifically with regard to how
these bodies classify and report on:

- "COVID-19 cases"

- "COVID-19 hospitalisations"

- "COVID-19 ICU admissions"

- "COVID-19 deaths"

 

We would appreciate your response by COB 3 October 2024 to confirm either:

o You agree with our interpretation and wish for us to proceed with your
request as above, OR
o You do not agree with our interpretation, and you will provide further
clarity as to what information you are seeking access to.

Timeframes

Your request was received on 29 September 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 29 October
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.

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

From: Andrew [4][FOI #12097 email]
Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2024 10:00 AM
To: FOI [5][email address]
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Methodology for COVID-19
Surveillance (Cases, Hospitalisations, ICU-Admissions and Deaths)

 

REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our
organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the
sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Department of Health,

 

Could I please request access to information pertaining to the methodology
used or relied on by the CDNA, NNDSS or the AHPPC for COVID-19
surveillance from 2019-present day? Specifically with regard to how these
bodies classify and report on:

 

- "COVID-19 cases"

- "COVID-19 hospitalisations"

- "COVID-19 ICU admissions"

- "COVID-19 deaths"

 

Could you please provide historical documents of how this methodology or
guidance may have changed from 2019-present.

 

Kind regards,

 

Andrew

 

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

 

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

[6][FOI #12097 email]

 

Is [7][Health request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Department of Health? If so, please contact us using this
form:

[8]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

 

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:

[9]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.

 

 

show quoted sections

Good morning Andrew,

 

I refer to your request received on 29 September 2024 to 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:

 

Historical documents of how the below methodology or guidance used or
relied on by the CDNA, NNDSS or the AHPPC for COVID-19 surveillance may
have changed from 2019-29 September 2024. Specifically with regard to how
these bodies classify and report on:

- "COVID-19 cases"

- "COVID-19 hospitalisations"

- "COVID-19 ICU admissions"

- "COVID-19 deaths"

 

Power to refuse request

 

I am an officer authorised under subsection 23(1) of the FOI Act
to make decisions in relation to FOI requests.

 

I am writing to notify you that I believe the work involved in
processing your request in its current form would substantially and
unreasonably divert the resources of the department from its other
operations. This constitutes a ‘practical refusal reason’ under section
24AA of the FOI Act.

 

I am currently considering refusing your access request on the basis of
the practical refusal reason. However, before I make a final decision
on your request, you have an opportunity to revise your request to remove
the practical refusal reason. This is called a ‘request consultation
process’ as per section 24AB of the FOI Act.

 

Practical refusal reason

 

Section 24AA(1) of the FOI Act provides that a practical refusal reason
exists in relation to a request for a document or either (or both) of the
following applies:

 

(a)    the work involved in processing the request would substantially and
unreasonably divert the resources of the agency from its other operations;
or

(b)    the request does not satisfy the requirement in paragraph 15(2)(b).

 

My assessment of the section 24AA(1)(a) practical refusal reason is that
the work involved in processing this request would substantially and
unreasonably divert the resources of the agency from its other operations.

 

Request consultation process

 

You now have an opportunity to revise your request to enable it
to proceed.

 

You could revise your request by narrowing the scope of the request and/or
providing greater detail about the documents you wish to access.
Providing more specific information about the format, timeframes, and
substance of the documents you are interested in will enable the
department to conduct targeted searches for documents of interest.

 

The request consultation period runs for 14 days and starts on
the day after you receive this notice.

 

Before the end of the consultation period, you must do one of
the following, in writing:

·       withdraw your request

·       make a revised request, or

·       tell us that you do not wish to revise your request.

 

If you do not do one of the three things listed above during
the consultation period, or you do not consult the contact person
during this period, your request will be taken to have been withdrawn.

 

If you agree to revise your request in a way that removes the practical
refusal reason outlined above, the department will recommence processing
your request. Please note: as per section 24AB(8) of the FOI Act the
time taken to consult you regarding the scope of your request is
not counted in the statutory timeframe provided for processing your
request.

 

Please contact FOI section on the contact details below if you have any
questions or require assistance responding to the practical refusal
notice.

 

Legislative provisions

 

The FOI Act, including the provisions referred to above, are available on
the Federal Register of Legislation website:
[1]www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A02562 

 

Contact officer

 

For the purposes of this consultation, you may contact Rebecca Cowen on
(03) 7041 0152, or you can email her at [2][Health request email].

 

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.

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

From: Andrew [4][FOI #12097 email]
Sent: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 3:08 PM
To: FOI [5][email address]
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information Request 25-0032 LD – Acknowledgement
of Receipt and Interpretation of Scope [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our
organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the
sender and know the content is safe.

Dear FOI,

 

Yes, I can confirm your interpretation is correct.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Andrew

 

show quoted sections

Good morning Andrew,

 

Thank you very much for your quick response.

 

The department will proceed with your FOI request as follows:

 

Information showing the methodology/guidance suggested/given by the CDNA,
NNDSS or the AHPPC for COVID-19 surveillance should be conducted relating
to the classification and reporting of:

- "COVID-19 cases";

- "COVID-19 hospitalisations";

- "COVID-19 ICU admissions"; and

- "COVID-19 deaths".

At the time of the declaration of the pandemic in Australia, on or around
21/01/2020.

 

Kind regards,

 

Riley H (she/her)

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.

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

From: Andrew [2][FOI #12097 email]
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 7:04 PM
To: FOI [3][email address]
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information Request 25-0032 LD - Notice of
Practical Refusal under section 24AB(2) and invitation to engage in a
request consultation process [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

REMINDER: Think before you click! This email originated from outside our
organisation. Only click links or open attachments if you recognise the
sender and know the content is safe.

Dear FOI,

Thank you for your email.

I would like to revise my request so that it is not considered a diversion
of the Department's resources.

To that end, could I please request information showing the
methodology/guidance suggested/given by the CDNA, NNDSS or the AHPPC for
COVID-19 surveillance should be conducted relating to the classification
and reporting of:

- "COVID-19 cases";

- "COVID-19 hospitalisations";

- "COVID-19 ICU admissions"; and

- "COVID-19 deaths".

At the time of the declaration of the pandemic in Australia, on or around
21/01/2020.

This revision narrows the scope to the time on or around the time of the
declaration of the pandemic in Australia.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Andrew

 

show quoted sections