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. 

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References

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

Dear David Wright 

Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement 

Thank you for your request of 28 August 2024, 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: 

“Please provide the following information about all law firms engaged by
the NDIA in 2023-2024 for matters to which the NDIA was a Respondent at
the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT):

1) A list of all law firms engaged.

2) The number of AAT matters each law firm was engaged for.

3) The total of all payments made by the NDIA to each of these law firms,
giving the total figure paid to each law firm and also a combined total
figure of all payments.”

Processing timeframes 

A 30-day statutory period for processing your request commenced from 29
August 2024, in accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act. You
should, therefore, expect a decision from us by 27 September 2024. 

We are also writing to seek your agreement to a 30-day extension of time
under section 15AA of the FOI Act.  As stated above, you should expect a
decision from us by 27 September 2024, however we will not meet this
deadline due to a backlog of FOI requests being processed. An extension
will allow us to keep your application within statutory time frames, and
should we provide a decision within a new deadline, allow you to preserve
your internal review rights.

If you agree to this extension, the new due date for us to make a decision
on your request will be 27 October 2024.

Please let us know whether you agree by 27 September 2024.

If you don’t agree, we may need to seek an extension of time from the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

This period may be extended if we need to consult with third parties or
for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens. 

Section 22 of the FOI Act permits us to provide FOI applicants with access
to edited copies of documents with irrelevant material deleted. Can you
please contact us at [1][NDIA request email]to advise whether the surnames and
contact details of NDIA staff are irrelevant to your request?

Disclosure Log

Information released under the FOI Act may be published on the NDIA’s
disclosure log located on our website, subject to certain exceptions. 

If you have any concerns about the publication of information you have
requested, please contact us.

Further help 

Please contact us at [2][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or need
help. 

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

Mykal

Complaints Management and FOI Branch

General Counsel Division

National Disability Insurance Agency 

E: [3][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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Dear David Wright

Sincerest apologies to the delay in processing your request.

I note that I have identified documents that contains information
regarding external businesses and that I am required to initiate a
third-party consultation with these businesses under sections 27 and 27A
of the FOI Act to seek any comments or concerns with regards to the
document sensitivities.

I intend to consult on Monday 21 October 2024 and request your consent to
disclose your name to the relevant businesses.

Please be aware that if you choose to not consent, then we will not be
able to identify you as the applicant of your FOI request, which may
affect the responses given by the agency.

Processing Timeframe

As part of the consultation process, I advise that your request has been
extended by 30-days to allow the relevant businesses time to provide
comments on potential sensitivities, and that the processing period for
your request will now end on Friday 29 November 2024.

Next steps

Please advise if you are happy to disclose your name to the relevant
agency by 12pm Monday 21 October 2024. If you require more time, then I am
happy to wait until 12pm Wednesday 23 October 2024 for your response.

Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or need
help.

Warmest regards,

Wendy (WNN633)

Senior Freedom of Information Officer

Complaints Management and FOI Branch

General Counsel Division

National Disability Insurance Agency

E: [2][NDIA request email]

[3]Title: NDIS delivered by the National Disability Insurance Agency

[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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