Hi Christy,

It will be good to hear the NDIA’s response, but I may be able to help you in the meantime.

The OAIC release an annual report along with all of the data reported to them about FOI requests to agencies and ministers that year.

OAIC Annual Reports: https://www.oaic.gov.au/about-the-OAIC/o...

All OAIC FOI Statistics Data and Resources (excel spreadsheets): https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/freedom...

The 2023-2024 annual report shows that the NDIA had a reduction of FOI requests compared to the previous year; although when looking closer it seems the reduction was in the number of Personal Requests whilst Other (non-personal) requests have increased.

I’m unsure when the NDIA introduced their Participant Information Access (PIA) option but that may account for the reduction (PIA isn’t included in the FOI stats as it is an administrative release process rather than a legislated one). I’ve been told the PIA team have had their request load increase very significantly over the last year.

The OAIC annual spreadsheets track the number of requests resolved:
- Within the initial processing period (30-60 days depending on whether they have an extension)
- Response time up to 30 days after statutory period
- Response time 31 - 60 days after statutory period
- Response time 61 - 90 days after statutory period
- Response time over 90 days after statutory period

The annual spreadsheets also show the number of requests received, resolved and on hand at the end of the year; but if you want a more comprehensive breakdown, I made a request to the OAIC the other month asking for the reports the NDIA have submitted to them, inlcuding: 

- 2021-2022 annual, Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 forms.
- 2022-2023 annual, Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 forms.
- 2023-2024 annual, Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 forms.

You can find the result of that request here: https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/1... (and just FYI – some of the annual return pages in the document appear blank when viewed with safari or preview but should appear correctly when using chrome or adobe acrobat).

In there, you should be able to find the outstanding number of requests for the start of each quarter in section 2 question A of the quarterly return forms. If you need any guidance on what all the form sections are actually referring to, the OAIC have a FOI Statistics Guide that is quite helpful in breaking it all down: https://www.oaic.gov.au/__data/assets/pd...

I’m also awaiting a response from the OAIC about getting the NIDA's 2024-2025 Q1 return form, as that is the most recently completed quarter (July 1 - September 30): https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/n...

I hope this is of assistance to you.

Cheers,

Dan

Hi Dan
Thank you for your very informative annotation.
I found it very helpful.
Unfortunately it doesn’t answer my request in its entirety as I am wanting to know what significant delays will impact participants further with the upcoming closure of the NDIA office over the holiday period.

This is an easy request and would not require external input as they have the numbers and can get the updated numbers at a moments notice on their systems I am sure. I also have no doubt that they will deny my request stating it would be an unreasonable use of resources or perhaps try privacy or they may try to refer me to OAIC if the matter is overdue because my right to an internal review will be gone.

I know a number of impacted participants who are relying on their information being released to them in order to meet new requirements set out in the recent legislation changes. What I would like to know is what the reality of the situation is. How far behind are they? Are we likely to get help in the near future?

This team may be very busy but that does not excuse the fact that a large number of vulnerable people may go without critical support over the holidays.

Again, I appreciate your response and the time it would have taken to note the information and provide links. I will certainly look them through.

Christy