Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information (FOI) inbox of the
Commonwealth Department of Social Services (DSS). Your email, should it be
a request for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act
1982, will be actioned by the appropriate team member. 　

If your email is for any other enquiry you should direct it to
[1][email address]. It will not be actioned from this inbox.

GENERAL INFORMATION

If you are seeking general information about FOI, you may find the
following websites useful:

[2]http://www.dss.gov.au/contact/freedom-of...

[3]http://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-inform...

PROCESS

An FOI officer has received your email and it will be actioned
accordingly. In the case of a valid FOI request, you can expect us to
provide an acknowledgment that the request has been received as soon as
practicable, but in any case no later than 14 days after today.

REQUESTS OUTSIDE OFFICE HOURS

Please note that if this message has been received outside our business
hours of 9am to 5pm (Eastern Standard Time), Monday to Friday or on
a public holiday, your request will be actioned on the next business day.

Kind regards,

DSS FOI Team
Email: [4][Department of Social Services request email]　
Telephone: (02) 6146 3181
Fax: (02) 6204 4857

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.dss.gov.au/contact/freedom-of...
3. http://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-inform...
4. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]

Dear Ms Rahman

 

Please find attached correspondence in relation to your request under the
Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982.

 

Kind regards

 

Alexandra Brown

Senior Legal Officer

Information Team

Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch

Legal Services Group

Department of Social Services
P: (02) 6146 2607 | E: [1][email address]

 

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]

Dear Ms Rahman

Thank you for your email below.

I note that there is no mechanism under the FOI Act which allows for documents to be provided in the 'interim', before a primary decision on access is made under section 23 of the FOI Act.

Accordingly, I would appreciate it if you could please clarify whether you wish to:

(a) proceed with your request as currently framed (seeking access to the full report); or
(b) reduce the scope of the request to only seek material relating to the methodology contained in the report, including sampling and quantitative results.

If you would like to discuss this matter further, please call me on (02) 6146 2607.

Kind regards

Alexandra Brown
Senior Legal Officer
Information Team
Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch
Legal Services Group
Department of Social Services
P: (02) 6146 2607 | E: [email address]

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

-----Original Message-----
From: Sara Rahman [mailto:[FOI #1105 email]]
Sent: Wednesday, 1 July 2015 9:04 AM
To: FOI
Subject: Re: Your freedom of information request [DLM=For-Official-Use-Only]

Dear FOI,

I'm still interested in the full report, but in the interim the information on methodology, especially on sampling and the quantitative results will do.

Yours sincerely,

Sara Rahman

-----Original Message-----

Dear Ms Rahman

 

Please find attached correspondence in relation to your request under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982.

 

Kind regards

 

Alexandra Brown

Senior Legal Officer

Information Team

Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch

Legal Services Group

Department of Social Services
P: (02) 6146 2607 | E: [1][email address]

 

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #1105 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

hide quoted sections

Dear Ms Rahman

 

As discussed over the phone a moment ago, the Guidelines issued by the
Australian Information Commissioner under section 93A of the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 ('the FOI Guidelines') can be accessed via the
following link:

 

[1]http://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-inform...

 

Please note that the relevant guideline relating to the interpretation and
application of section 47C of the FOI Act (deliberative processes) is set
out under Part 6 of the FOI Guidelines and, in particular, paragraphs 6.56
to 6.76.

 

Kind regards

 

Alexandra Brown

Senior Legal Officer

Information Team

Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch

Legal Services Group

Department of Social Services
P: (02) 6146 2607 | E: [2][email address]

 

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

-----Original Message-----
From: FERRI, Eddie
Sent: Wednesday, 1 July 2015 1:29 PM
To: BROWN, Alexandra
Subject: FW: Your freedom of information request
[DLM=For-Official-Use-Only]

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: FOI

Sent: Wednesday, 1 July 2015 9:51 AM

To: Sara Rahman

Subject: RE: Your freedom of information request
[DLM=For-Official-Use-Only]

 

Dear Ms Rahman

 

Thank you for your email below.

 

I note that there is no mechanism under the FOI Act which allows for
documents to be provided in the 'interim', before a primary decision on
access is made under section 23 of the FOI Act.

 

Accordingly, I would appreciate it if you could please clarify whether you
wish to:

 

(a) proceed with your request as currently framed (seeking access to the
full report); or

(b) reduce the scope of the request to only seek material relating to the
methodology contained in the report, including sampling and quantitative
results.

 

If you would like to discuss this matter further, please call me on (02)
6146 2607.

 

Kind regards

 

Alexandra Brown

Senior Legal Officer

Information Team

Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch Legal
Services Group Department of Social Services

P: (02) 6146 2607 | E: [3][email address]

 

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Sara Rahman [[4]mailto:[FOI #1105 email]]

Sent: Wednesday, 1 July 2015 9:04 AM

To: FOI

Subject: Re: Your freedom of information request
[DLM=For-Official-Use-Only]

 

Dear FOI,

 

I'm still interested in the full report, but in the interim the
information on methodology, especially on sampling and the quantitative
results will do.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Sara Rahman

 

-----Original Message-----

 

Dear Ms Rahman

 

 

 

Please find attached correspondence in relation to your request under the 
Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982.

 

 

 

Kind regards

 

 

 

Alexandra Brown

 

Senior Legal Officer

 

Information Team

 

Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch

 

Legal Services Group

 

Department of Social Services

P: (02) 6146 2607 | E: [1][email address]

 

 

 

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

 

 

 

References

 

Visible links

1. [5]mailto:[email address]

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[6][FOI #1105 email]

 

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[7]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

 

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. http://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-inform...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[FOI #1105 email]
5. mailto:[email
6. mailto:[FOI #1105 email]
7. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

Dear Ms Rahman

 

Please find attached correspondence from the Department of Social Services
in relation to your request under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information
Act 1982.

 

Kind regards

 

Alexandra Brown

Senior Legal Officer

Information Team

Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch

Legal Services Group

Department of Social Services
P: (02) 6146 2607 | E: [1][email address]

 

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]

Dear Ms Rahman

 

Thank you for your email below.  The Department has received the money
order for payment of the charge, but in order to process the payment and
provide you with a receipt our Collector of Public Monies has advised that
they require an address (either a personal or business address).

 

Accordingly, I would appreciate it if you could please provide an address
to allow this to occur.  I note that the delay in processing the payment
will not affect the timeframe for processing your FOI request.

 

Kind regards

 

Alexandra Brown

Senior Legal Officer

Information Team

Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch

Legal Services Group

Department of Social Services
P: (02) 6146 2607 | E: [1][email address]

 

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

-----Original Message-----
From: Sara Rahman [mailto:[FOI #1105 email]]
Sent: Thursday, 9 July 2015 10:29 AM
To: FOI
Subject: Re: Your freedom of information request
[DLM=For-Official-Use-Only]

 

Dear FOI,

 

The fee has been paid and we would like to proceed.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Sara Rahman

 

-----Original Message-----

 

Dear Ms Rahman

 

 

 

Please find attached correspondence from the Department of Social
Services  in relation to your request under the Commonwealth Freedom of
Information  Act 1982.

 

 

 

Kind regards

 

 

 

Alexandra Brown

 

Senior Legal Officer

 

Information Team

 

Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch

 

Legal Services Group

 

Department of Social Services

P: (02) 6146 2607 | E: [1][email address]

 

 

 

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

 

 

 

References

 

Visible links

1. [2]mailto:[email address]

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[3][FOI #1105 email]

 

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[4]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

 

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email
3. mailto:[FOI #1105 email]
4. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

Dear Ms Rahman

 

Please find attached correspondence from the Department of Social Services
in relation to your request under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information
Act 1982, and material for release under that Act.

 

Please also find attached a receipt for payment of the charge received on
15 July 2015.

 

Kind regards

 

Alexandra Brown

Senior Legal Officer

Information Team

Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch

Legal Services Group

Department of Social Services

 

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

 

Dear Ms Rahman

 

Thank you for your email below.

 

As you have noted, deliberative matter does not include purely factual
material for the purposes of the exception to the general rule set out
under section 47C of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).  It is
partly for this reason that the decision was made to disclose parts of
pages 4 and 9 to you, as that material is either factual in nature or
already in the public domain.

 

However, while the remaining pages falling within the scope of your
request contain material which is factual in nature, this material is not
‘purely factual’ as it is integral to (and inextricably intertwined with)
the deliberative matter which was determined to be conditionally exempt
under subsection 47C(1) of the FOI Act.  Given the large volume of
deliberative matter captured by the request (totalling more than 1,300
pages), it was not reasonably practicable for the Department to extract
the factual material from the deliberative matter and release this to you
in edited form under section 22 of the FOI Act.

 

Paragraph 6.73 of the guidelines issued by the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner (OAIC) under section 93A of the FOI Act provides
support for this approach and states that "Where a decision maker finds it
difficult to separate the purely factual material from the deliberative
matter, both the elements may be exempt".

 

This approach to purely factual material and other non-deliberative
material was also upheld by the Information Commissioner (IC) in Crowe and
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet [2014] AICmr 72 (30 July 2014):

 

[1]http://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-inform...

 

In that decision, the IC relevantly noted that:

 

26.         The Department [of Prime Minister and Cabinet] has already
released some purely factual material and other non-deliberative material
to the applicant (together with some material that could qualify as
deliberative matter, but that is mostly on the public record in one guise
or another). The factual and other non-deliberative material that has been
released is mostly descriptive of existing government arrangements,
programs, commitments and announcements.

 

27.         Some of the material that has not been released is factual in
nature.  However, to apply a distinction explained in Crowe at [81] – [82]
and in Parnell & Dreyfus at [38], it is factual material that is either an
integral part of the deliberative process content of the IGB or is
embedded in or intertwined with that content and is impracticable to
excise. As such, it qualifies for conditional exemption under s 47C.

 

Accordingly, the Department is not inclined to disclose any further
material contained in Orima’s report as it has been determined to be
conditionally exempt under section 47C of the FOI Act.

 

If you wish to seek internal review of the Department’s primary decision
dated 19 August 2015, please let me know via [2][Department of Social Services request email] within 30
days of receipt of the decision letter.

 

Alternatively, if you wish to seek IC review of the Department’s decision
you must apply within 60 days of receipt of the Department’s decision
letter using the online merits review form available on the OAIC website
at: [3]www.oaic.gov.au

 

Kind regards

 

Alexandra Brown

Senior Legal Officer

Information Team

Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch

Legal Services Group

Department of Social Services

 

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Sara Rahman [[4]mailto:[FOI #1105 email]]

Sent: Monday, 31 August 2015 9:22 AM

To: FOI

Subject: Re: Your freedom of information request
[DLM=For-Official-Use-Only]

 

Dear FOI,

 

Thank your for your response and the material provided. I would like to
request the following material contained within the ORIMA research, which
is of a purely factual nature, and therefore constitutes an exception to
the deliberative matter exemption under Section 47C(2)(b) of the
legislation:

•             The sample size of the survey

•             The methodology used for drawing that sample

•             The breakdown of responses for each question of the survey

In other words, although the survey is not considered a scientific or
technical report, and therefore not an exception from the deliberative
process exemption (i.e. an exception on the grounds of section 47C(3)(a)),
the purely factual material contained within the report is not exempt.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Sara Rahman

 

-----Original Message-----

 

Dear Ms Rahman

 

 

 

Please find attached correspondence from the Department of Social
Services  in relation to your request under the Commonwealth Freedom of
Information  Act 1982, and material for release under that Act.

 

 

 

Please also find attached a receipt for payment of the charge received on

15 July 2015.

 

 

 

Kind regards

 

 

 

Alexandra Brown

 

Senior Legal Officer

 

Information Team

 

Commercial, Child Care, Disability and Information Law Branch

 

Legal Services Group

 

Department of Social Services

 

 

 

DSS acknowledges the traditional owners 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 both past and present

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[5][FOI #1105 email]

 

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[6]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

 

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. http://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-inform...
2. mailto:[Department of Social Services request email]
3. http://www.oaic.gov.au/
4. mailto:[FOI #1105 email]
5. mailto:[FOI #1105 email]
6. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections