Monthly Meetings with Services Australia
Dear Department of Social Services,
In its response to the Second Ombudsman Report on unlawful income apportionment, DSS stated:
'The department has established monthly meetings with the Agency relating to policy and held by the Agency. This meeting provides a platform and a mechanism for both parties to present and share reporting information...'
I seek the agenda, papers and minutes for the last two monthly meetings. You can regard all staff names, meeting locations, meeting platform links (teams, zoom etc) and email addresses as irrelevant to my request.
In terms of public interest, the recent Robodebt Royal Commission stressed the need for an improved communication and accountability in the relationship between DSS and Services Australia. The government ducked a recommendation that the relationship be reviewed in favour of... these monthly meetings. Also the Department is itself citing the quality deliberation in the forum as key to public confidence after generational maladministration. So let's let the public see how it is going.
Yours faithfully,
Frank N Fearless
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 Frank N Fearless,
I refer to your correspondence received by the Department of Social
Services (the Department) on 29 February 2024, in which you requested
access under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act)
to:
'agenda, papers and minutes for the last two monthly meetings’
You advised that the "monthly meetings" are those referred in the
Department and Services Australia's joint response to the second
ombudsman's report on income apportionment.
The decision for this request is currently due on 1 April 2024. This
timeframe may be extended, for example, where the Department decides to
consult with third parties. We will inform you if this occurs.
Removal of certain information from the scope of your request
The Department acknowledges your agreement to remove the following
information from the scope of your request:
- group email addresses used for internal departmental purposes;
- all personal information of members of the public;
- all personal information of non-SES government staff; and
- all personal information of SES level government staff with the
exception of the names of the Department’s SES staff; and
- meeting locations and platform links.
Should you have any queries about this matter, please do not hesitate to
contact the FOI team via email at [1][Department of Social Services request email].
Yours sincerely,
Kim Twist
Freedom of Information
Legal Services Group
Department of Social Services
E: [2][Department of Social Services request email]
P: (02) 6146 8333
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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Good afternoon Frank
We are writing to seek an agreement of extension of time to process this
request. We are currently dealing with an increased amount of requests
made upon the Department and decreased staff available to process FOI
requests due to the Easter break. This is making it hard for us to make a
decision on this request by the current statutory deadline of 2 April
2024.
Would you be agreeable to extending the timeframe to 19 April 2024? We
will otherwise aim to have the decision to you as soon as possible.
If you could indicate whether you agree to the extension by COB tomorrow
27 March 2024 that would be much appreciated.
Regards
FOI Officer
Information Law Section
Department of Social Services
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.
Dear FOI team
This one isn’t all that time sensitive so I’m happy to agree to the extension. Wishing you all a nice break.
Yours sincerely,
Frank N Fearless
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]
Good afternoon Frank
Please find attached the decision on the FOI request LEX 49760.
This is the same package provided to you on 19 April 2024, but with this
covering email amended to not include the personal mobile number of one of
our staff.
Regards
FOI Officer
Information Law Section
Department of Social Services
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.