Number of internal reviews conducted by Commonwealth agencies
faustus made this Freedom of Information request to Attorney-General's Department
This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.
Dear Attorney-General's Department,
I am not too familiar with the internal review process for Commonwealth departments, but my understanding is as follows. First, a member of the public interacts with an agency in some way, and the agency makes a decision or does something that impacts them, and they are unhappy with it:
1. Internal review of decision by the agency.
Then, if they they are unhappy with that decision, they can seek:
2. External review at AAT.
I am looking for any document containing aggregate statistics relating to the number internal reviews that are conducted annually e.g. "there are x agencies, and a total of y internal reviews were conducted in the year 2020-21". Please advise if you need me to be more specific or narrow the scope of my request.
Yours faithfully,
faustus
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OFFICIAL
Good afternoon
Freedom of Information Request: FOI21/144
I refer to your request, received by the Attorney-General's Department
(the department) on 17 August 2021, for access to documents under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
You have requested access to the following:
‘…any document containing aggregate statistics relating to the number
internal reviews that are conducted annually e.g. "there are x agencies,
and a total of y internal reviews were conducted in the year 2020-21".’
To assist the department in processing your request, we seek your
assistance in refining the terms of your request to enable us to identify
the documents that you are seeking.
We ask that you specify whether you are seeking internal review figures of
a particular category of decision, for example internal reviews of
Freedom of Information requests or whether there is a specific subject
matter that is of interest to you.
We seek a response from you as soon as possible but no later than Tuesday,
24 August 2021.
If you would like to discuss this further, please contact me on 6141 6666
or by email at [1][AGD request email].
Yours sincerely
Nicholas
FOI Case Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy
Attorney-General’s Department
3-5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
T: 02 6141 6666
Dear Nicholas,
Thank you for your response. There are 9 divisions at the AAT. If available, I would like statistics that map onto the same divisions e.g. total number internal reviews in relation to FOI, general (citizenship/workers' compensation/…), migration, NDIS, security, etc. See below.
If statistics on those 9 categories don't exist, I would prefer more granular data so I can collapse the data into meaningful categories myself.
Many thanks,
faustus
----
1. Freedom of Information
2. General
Australian citizenship
Visa-related decisions relating to character
Workers' Compensation
Other
3. Migration & Refugee
Migration
Refugee
4. National Disability Insurance Scheme
5. Security
6. Small Business Taxation
7. Social Services & Child Support
Centrelink
Child Support
Paid Parental Leave
8. Taxation & Commercial
Taxation
Other
9. Veterans' Appeals
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon
Freedom of Information Request FOI21/144
I refer to your request received by the Attorney-General's Department on
17 August 2021 under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) for
access to documents.
Thank you for clarifying the terms of your request, the department has
understood your request to be for:
‘…annual statistics on internal review decisions made by any agency that
align with the 9 divisions of the AAT.'
If you disagree with this interpretation of your request, please let me
know in writing as soon as possible.
The department received your request 17 August 2021 of receipt and the 30
day statutory period for processing your request commenced from the day
after that date. You should therefore expect a decision from us by 16
September 2021. However, 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.
Where the documents within the scope of an FOI request include the
personal information of junior officers of the department or other
government authorities, the department’s practice is to not disclose that
information (e.g., names, contact details). The names of senior officers
will generally be disclosed. In addition, duplicates and incomplete email
chains within the scope of the FOI request will be excluded.
Please note that, with some exceptions (such as personal information),
documents released under the FOI Act may later be published online on the
department’s disclosure log
[1]http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtection....
If you have any questions, please contact me by telephone on (02) 6141
6666 or by email to [2][AGD request email].
Yours sincerely
Fiona
FOI Case Officer
OFFICIAL
Dear Faustus
Freedom of Information Request FOI21/144
I refer to your request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI
Act) for access to documents.
The purpose of this email is to provide you with a decision in response to
that request.
Please find attached your decision letter, including your review rights.
If you have any questions, please contact me by telephone on (02) 6141
6666 or by email to [1][AGD request email].
Joanna Baker
Assistant Director
Freedom of Information and Privacy | Strategy and Governance Branch
Attorney-General’s Department
T: 02 6141 6666 | E: [2][AGD request email]
OFFICIAL
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