OFFICIAL

In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 21/06/00705

Good Afternoon

Offer to Withdraw Freedom of Information Access Request

I refer to your correspondence of 11 June 2021 seeking access to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

Your request has been allocated the FOI reference number referred to above. Please include your FOI reference number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.

As you may be aware, earlier this year the Department launched a dashboard on its SkillSelect website to provide visa Expression of Interest (EOI) statistics. The Department has undertaken a review of the SkillSelect Dashboard to ensure that there is no reasonable chance of an individual being re-identified from the EOI statistics.

The dashboard is now available again and can be accessed via the Department’s SkillSelect web page and comprises a comprehensive library of historic and current statistics in relation to Expressions of Interest (EOIs). The dashboard is a one-stop shop for SkillSelect EOI statistics and is freely available on demand, without any need to formally request the statistics and wait for such a request to be processed. Bypassing the FOI process will significantly reduce delays in obtaining the same information as has previously been provided in response to FOI requests.

As this information is now publically available, you may wish to withdraw you FOI request. If you do not advise the Department that you wish to continue with this FOI request within 5 days of this email, your request will be taken to have been withdrawn.

Privacy

The Department’s handling of personal information is regulated by the Privacy Act 1988 (the Privacy Act). Guidance published by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner is that information will be de-identified, and therefore not subject to the protections in the Privacy Act, where the risk of an individual being re-identified is very low. De-identification is not a fixed state. Rather, re-identification risks and their controls require ongoing monitoring and review.

The Department’s view is that the current controls are appropriate to reduce the risk that an individual can be re-identified from the statistics accessible from the Skill Select Dashboard to very low.

Contacting the FOI Section

Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at [Department of Home Affairs request email]

Yours sincerely,

FOI Officer
Freedom of Information Section
FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division
Strategy & Law Enforcement Group

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: RN <[FOI #7415 email]>
Sent: Friday, 11 June 2021 11:20 AM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Onshore and offshore EOI invitations and applications for 491 Skilled Work Regional visa (Family sponsored) for Civil Engineer (233211) occupation based on points from 65 pts to 110 pts

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

1. Number of onshore and offshore EOI invitations issued for 491 Skilled Work Regional visa (Family sponsored) for Civil Engineer (233211) occupation as at 31/05/2021 based on points from 65 pts to 110 pts.

2. Number of onshore and offshore EOI applications submitted for 491 Skilled Work Regional visa (Family sponsored) for Civil Engineer (233211) occupation as at 31/05/2021 based on points from 65 pts to 110 pts.

Yours faithfully,
RN

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hide quoted sections

OFFICIAL

In reply please quote:

FOI Request:      FA 21/06/00705

File Number:      ADF2020/61138

Dear RN,

I refer to your FOI request received on 11 June 2021.  

The Department has made a decision on this request. Please find attached
the decision record and any documents released under the FOI Act.  

This request has been closed in our system. 

Signed electronically

Glen

Position number 60081621

Authorised Decision Maker | Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch

Data Division | Strategy and Law Enforcement Group

Department of Home Affairs
OFFICIAL

Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received
this email by mistake, please advise the sender and delete the message and
attachments immediately.  This email, including attachments, may contain
confidential, sensitive, legally privileged and/or copyright information.
 

Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information
by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. 
The Department of Home Affairs and ABF respect your privacy and have
obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.  

Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be sent to the originator of this
email.