Ministerial Correspondants and Instructions Regarding "Birthing Parent" Trial
Dear Department of Social Services,
This is a Freedom of Information Request for the Purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
The documents I seek access to are in reference to a trial that the current Minister For Governments Services Bill Shorten has cancelled, as referred to here: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
I seek access to the following:
(a) The Ministerial Instructions from the Minister to cease the use of the forms;
(b) Correspondence between the Minister's Office and the following Media Entities regarding the Form:
(i) News Corporation/The Daily Telegraph,
(ii) Sunrise,
(iii) The Guardian,
(iv) SBS,
(v) ABC; and
(c) all documents presented to the Minister on the 20th of June, explaining the form (as referred to here: https://twitter.com/billshortenmp/status...)
Yours faithfully,
Alex Pentland
Thank you for your email.
You have contacted the Freedom of Information (FOI) team of the Department
of Social Services (the Department).
If your email relates to a Freedom of Information application made under
the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), the Department
will respond to you as soon as practicable.
Further information about FOI is available on our website at:
[1]https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only. The
Department is unable to respond to non-FOI related enquiries sent to this
email address. Any correspondence received that is not an information
access request will not be responded to or forwarded. Should you have a
query unrelated to FOI, please complete our [2]online feedback, enquiry or
compliment form on our website or direct your email to
[3][email address]. Alternatively you can contact the Department by
calling 1800 634 035.
With regards
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Freedom of Information
Legal Services Branch
Department of Social Services
E: [4][Department of Social Services request email]
The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.
We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present.
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References
Visible links
1. https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
2. https://www.dss.gov.au/contact/feedback-...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
Dear Department of Social Services,
I would like to apologize for this amendment, but I seek to amend the original request.
I would like to substitute Sunrise for Nine’s Today Show. I had intended to refer to Today at first but slipped and confused the two similar morning shows. I hope this is understandable and reasonable.
Yours faithfully,
Alex Pentland
Thank you for your email.
You have contacted the Freedom of Information (FOI) team of the Department
of Social Services (the Department).
If your email relates to a Freedom of Information application made under
the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), the Department
will respond to you as soon as practicable.
Further information about FOI is available on our website at:
[1]https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
This email address is for applications under the FOI Act only. The
Department is unable to respond to non-FOI related enquiries sent to this
email address. Any correspondence received that is not an information
access request will not be responded to or forwarded. Should you have a
query unrelated to FOI, please complete our [2]online feedback, enquiry or
compliment form on our website or direct your email to
[3][email address]. Alternatively you can contact the Department by
calling 1800 634 035.
With regards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freedom of Information
Legal Services Branch
Department of Social Services
E: [4][Department of Social Services request email]
The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.
We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-departm...
2. https://www.dss.gov.au/contact/feedback-...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
Dear Alex,
I refer to your correspondence received by the Department of Social
Services (the Department) on 21 July 2022, in which you requested access
under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982 to:
“The documents I seek access to are in reference to a trial that the
current Minister For Governments Services Bill Shorten has cancelled, as
referred to here:
[1]https://www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
I seek access to the following:
(a) The Ministerial Instructions from the Minister to cease the use of the
forms;
(b) Correspondence between the Minister's Office and the following Media
Entities regarding the Form:
(i) News Corporation/The Daily Telegraph,
(ii) Sunrise,
(iii) The Guardian,
(iv) SBS,
(v) ABC; and
(c) all documents presented to the Minister on the 20th of June,
explaining the form (as referred to here:
[2]https://twitter.com/billshortenmp/status...
With amendment
I would like to substitute Sunrise for Nine’s Today Show. I had intended
to refer to Today at first but slipped and confused the two similar
morning shows. I hope this is understandable and reasonable”
The subject matter of your request more closely relates to the functions
of Services Australia. Accordingly, the following part of your request has
been partially transferred to Services Australia under the provisions of
section 16 of the FOI Act:
“The documents I seek access to are in reference to a trial that the
current Minister For Governments Services Bill Shorten has cancelled, as
referred to here:
[3]https://www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
I seek access to the following:
(a) The Ministerial Instructions from the Minister to cease the use of the
forms; and
(c) all documents presented to the Minister on the 20th of June,
explaining the form (as referred to here:
[4]https://twitter.com/billshortenmp/status...
With amendment
I would like to substitute Sunrise for Nine’s Today Show. I had intended
to refer to Today at first but slipped and confused the two similar
morning shows. I hope this is understandable and reasonable”
Services Australia has agreed to accept the partial transfer and will
contact you directly in relation to this matter.
In regards to part (b) of your request not transferred to Services
Australia, we respectfully request that you make a separate application to
the Minister's Office. We also ask that you formally withdraw part (b) of
your request from your application to DSS.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the
Freedom of Information team.
Yours sincerely,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annabelle
Freedom of Information Section
Legal Services Branch
Department of Social Services
E: [5][Department of Social Services request email]
The Department of Social Services acknowledges the traditional owners of
country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land,
water and community.
We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past
and present.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
2. https://twitter.com/billshortenmp/status...
3. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
4. https://twitter.com/billshortenmp/status...
5. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
Dear Mr Pentland
I refer to your request to the Department of Social Services dated 21 July
2022, for access to document sunder the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
Services Australia (the agency) has accepted partial transfer of your
request from the Department of Social Services.
Please find attached correspondence acknowledging your request.
Request for Extension of Time
Your request was received by the Department of Social Services on 21 July
2022 and the 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced
from the day after that date. A decision is therefore due by 20 August
2022. However, as this is a Saturday a decision is currently due to be
notified to you by 22 August 2022.
I am writing to request a 15 day extension of time under section 15AA of
the FOI Act.
Unfortunately, due to the delay in transferring your request from the
Department of Social Services, the agency may not be in a position to
provide you with a decision by the current due date of 22 August 2022.
Therefore, I respectfully request an extension of 15 days under section
15AA of the FOI Act.
The effect of this extension of time would mean a decision would be due to
be notified to you by 4 September 2022. However, as this is a Sunday we
would notify you of the decision on
5 September 2022.
We would be grateful if you could respond via email by Tuesday, 9 August
2022 to advise whether you agree to an extension of time.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Information Access Branch
Legal Services Division
[1]cid:image001.jpg@01D6B8DA.3399D830
Services Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land now
called Australia. We pay our respect to all Elders, past and present, of
all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations.
Please note: This email and any attachments may contain information
subject to legal professional privilege or information
References
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Dear Mr Pentland
Please find attached a decision letter in relation to your request made
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Information Access Branch
Legal Services Division
[1]cid:image001.jpg@01D6B8DA.3399D830
Services Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land now
called Australia. We pay our respect to all Elders, past and present, of
all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations.
Please note: This email and any attachments may contain information
subject to legal professional privilege or information that is otherwise
sensitive or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this
email, you are prohibited from using or disseminating this communication.
If you have received this communication in error please notify the sender
immediately and permanently delete this email.
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