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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Your email has been received by the Department of Home Affairs Freedom of
Information (FOI) Section.

The FOI section only responds to valid FOI requests and other matters
relating to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).  Visit the
FOI Information on our Website for more information on what [1]information
can be accessed under the FOI Act 1982.

What is a valid FOI request?

A valid FOI request may be for:

- documents you previously provided to the Department as part of a visa
application

- a copy of a decision record made by the Department

- statistical information held by the Department

- papers or briefings the Department prepared.

If your email is a valid FOI request, the Department will contact you
shortly to acknowledge your request.

A valid FOI request must:

o Be in writing and state the request is for consideration under the FOI
Act.
o Have enough information for us to be able to identify the documents
you are seeking.
o Provide a physical or electronic address where we can send our
decision.

Do not send duplicate emails as this may cause longer delays in processing
times.

What is an invalid FOI request?

Invalid FOI requests may include:

- Making a visa application

- Seeking evidence of your Australian Citizenship

- Seeking information about traveling to or departing Australia.

If your email is not specific an FOI request or FOI related matter, the
FOI section will not respond.

What happens next?

Once we receive and have registered your FOI request, we will send you an
acknowledgment letter by email. Read the acknowledgment letter carefully
for further instructions.

FOI requests are generally processed in the order they are received.

We will contact you as soon as the Department has assessed your request
under the FOI Act.

We’re responding to a large volume of requests

Due to the current high volume of requests, we will not provide progress
up-dates on current FOI requests.  This is to ensure we are able to
process as many requests as possible, including yours.

If processing your request is going to take us a lot of time and because
it is large or unspecific, it may be refused.  

Still have a question or request?

If you still have a question, which has not been answered above, and which
is about the work of the Department, use our general enquiries web page

[2]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...

You may be able to resolve your enquiry faster using these other resources

We only action and respond to FOI requests that are valid under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982. You may be able to resolve your enquiry
faster by using these resources:

General information about travelling to Australia:

The Department of Home Affairs, “Entering Australia” site
[3]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...

·       For visa and our requirements for entry to Australia
[4]https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...

For a copy of your visa refusal or visa grant letter you should contact
the office where you lodged your visa application. 

·       To check your current visa details and conditions use the
Department’s Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) portal which can
be accessed [5]here

·       If you are experiencing technical difficulties in lodging your
visa application through ImmiAccount, submit your concerns through the
ImmiAccount Technical Support Form, which is accessible [6]here.

·       For evidence of your Australian Citizenship please refer [7]here.
The FOI Section does not process these requests.

·       For movement records or travel history complete the online
International Movement Records form [8]here. The FOI Section does not
process these requests.

·       To update your details, including your Passport details, you can
notify the Department [9]here. The FOI Section does not process these
requests.

We appreciate your feedback         

We appreciate your feedback to help improve our services.

If you would like to provide feedback to us please use our Compliments,
complaints and suggestions form.
[10]https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...

Thank you

Information updated 11 January 2022

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.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
2. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
3. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
4. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/ge...
5. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/al...
6. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-sup...
7. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizens...
8. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering...
9. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/change-i...
10. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-...

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 22/08/00298
File Number: OBJ2022/21284

Dear BE,

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

This letter acknowledges we received your request on 4 August 2022 to access documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). This letter also provides important information about your request.

Scope of request
You have requested access to the following:
I seek access under the FOI Act 1982 to Question Time briefs (however described). This request is limited to Question Time briefs for the 47th Parliament (ie Question Time briefs prepared for 27 – 28 July and 1-4 August).

I also request a copy of the Department’s current index of Question Time briefs.

Duplicate copies of the same document are not required, although different or updated versions of a document are. If a document contains tracked changes or comments, it is requested that the document be provided in a form where all tracked changes and comments are visible.

Names and contact details for departmental staff below the SES level are not required and can be treated as irrelevant under s22 of the Act for the purposes of this request.

Your request was received by the Department on 4 August 2022 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 22/08/00298. Please include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of Information Section.

Timeframe for receiving your decision
The statutory timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the date upon which your application was received by the Department.

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Fees and Charges
Charges do not apply to requests from individuals seeking access to documents about themselves. However, a charge may apply to all other requests for access to documents.
Charges are based on the amount of time the Department spends on your request. Charges can range from $10 to over $1,000 depending on the complexity and scope of your request. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner reported that across the public service, the average charge notified was $335.50 in 2020-21.
If a charge applies, you will be issued with a Notice of Charge that explains the charge and your options.
Detailed information about FOI charges that may apply to your FOI request is available on the Department’s website.

We do not provide personal details of staff
The Department’s practice is to exclude the personal details of staff not in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as well as the direct contact details of SES staff, contained in documents that fall within scope of an FOI request. If you require personal details of non-SES officers, or direct contact details of SES staff, please inform us so the decision maker may consider your request. Otherwise we will take it that you agree to that information being excluded from the scope of your request. However names of staff that have previously been released in departmental correspondence may be disclosed.

We do not provide duplicated documents
If the FOI decision-maker deems a document to be a duplicate, they will not assess those pages as part of your FOI request. This means that if a there is a decision to release the document to you, you will receive only one copy, even if multiple copies of that document exist.

Released documents you request may be published to our website
Where documents are released to you in response to your request, the Department may be required to publish these documents on its website within 10 working days in accordance with section 11C of the FOI Act. Publication will not be required where the documents contain personal or business affairs information.

How to reduce or withdraw your request
Reducing the scope of your request can reduce the time and charges associated with processing your FOI request.
To reduce or withdraw your request, contact the FOI section at [Department of Home Affairs request email] and include your FOI request number.

Kind regards,

FOI Officer - Geoff
Freedom of Information
Department of Home Affairs

E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

-----Original Message-----
From: BE <[FOI #9224 email]>
Sent: 4 August 2022 2:39 PM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: CM: Freedom of Information request - Question Time Briefs

Dear Department of Home Affairs,

This is a request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

I seek access under the FOI Act 1982 to Question Time briefs (however described). This request is limited to Question Time briefs for the 47th Parliament (ie Question Time briefs prepared for 27 – 28 July and 1-4 August).

I also request a copy of the Department’s current index of Question Time briefs.

Duplicate copies of the same document are not required, although different or updated versions of a document are. If a document contains tracked changes or comments, it is requested that the document be provided in a form where all tracked changes and comments are visible.

Names and contact details for departmental staff below the SES level are not required and can be treated as irrelevant under s22 of the Act for the purposes of this request.

Yours faithfully,

BE

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

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

[FOI #9224 email]

Is [Department of Home Affairs request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Department of Home Affairs? If so, please contact us using this form:

https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

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...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

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.

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

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.

hide quoted sections

OFFICIAL

FOI Request FA 22/08/00298

File Number OBJ2022/21284 

Dear BE

I refer to your email dated 4 August 2022 in which you requested access to
documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under
the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). You requested to the
following:

I seek access under the FOI Act 1982 to Question Time briefs (however
described).  This request is limited to Question Time briefs for the 47th
Parliament (ie Question Time briefs prepared for 27 – 28 July and 1-4
August). 

I also request a copy of the Department’s current index of Question Time
briefs.  

Duplicate copies of the same document are not required, although different
or updated versions of a document are.  If a document contains tracked
changes or comments, it is requested that the document be provided in a
form where all tracked changes and comments are visible.

Names and contact details for departmental staff below the SES level are
not required and can be treated as irrelevant under s22 of the Act for the
purposes of this request.

I have assessed that a practical refusal reason exists in relation to your
request, and attach a notice advising you of that.

Before I make a final decision to refuse your request, you have an
opportunity to revise it to remove the practical refusal reason. This is
called a ‘request consultation process’. As outlined in the attached
notice, you have 14 days to respond.

Yours sincerely

Guy

Position no. 60103474

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & National Resilience Group

E: [1][Department of Home Affairs request email]

Department of Home Affairs - [2]www.homeaffairs.gov.au

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.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
2. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/

OFFICIAL

Dear BE

Re: FOI Request FA 22/08/00298

Thank you for your revised scope, as follows:

1. Final version of each QTB for the 47th Parliament as it was last provided to the Ministers’ Offices by the Department
2. A copy of the Department’s current index of Question Time briefs

We accept the revised scope and will commence processing your request. We will be in touch should any issues arise.

Yours sincerely

Guy
Position no. 60103474
Freedom of Information Section
FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division
Strategy & National Resilience Group
E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]
Department of Home Affairs - www.homeaffairs.gov.au

OFFICIAL

-----Original Message-----
From: BE <[FOI #9224 email]>
Sent: Monday, 15 August 2022 5:06 PM
To: FOI <[Department of Home Affairs request email]>
Subject: Re: FOI Request FA 22/08/00298 - practical refusal notice [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Dear FOI,

Thank you for your email.

Whilst I hold concerns about the basis of your assessment, and in particular, an over estimate in relation to the volume of documents and the time frame to review, nonetheless I agree to amend the scope of the request as follows:

1. Final version of each QTB for the 47th Parliament as it was last provided to the

Ministers’ Offices by the Department

2. A copy of the Department’s current index of Question Time briefs.

In your revised scope you had deleted the request for the current index of Question Time briefs. Whilst I am happy to otherwise accept your proposed scope, the inclusion of this as part of the revised scope would not present any material change to the volume of the request and on that basis it would be appreciated if it was provided.

Yours sincerely,

BE

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

OFFICIAL

FOI Request FA 22/08/00298

File Number OBJ2022/21284 

Dear BE

I refer to your email dated 4 August 2022 in which you requested access to

documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under

the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). You requested to the

following:

I seek access under the FOI Act 1982 to Question Time briefs (however

described).  This request is limited to Question Time briefs for the 47th

Parliament (ie Question Time briefs prepared for 27 – 28 July and 1-4

August). 

I also request a copy of the Department’s current index of Question Time

briefs.  

Duplicate copies of the same document are not required, although different

or updated versions of a document are.  If a document contains tracked

changes or comments, it is requested that the document be provided in a

form where all tracked changes and comments are visible.

Names and contact details for departmental staff below the SES level are

not required and can be treated as irrelevant under s22 of the Act for the

purposes of this request.

I have assessed that a practical refusal reason exists in relation to your

request, and attach a notice advising you of that.

Before I make a final decision to refuse your request, you have an

opportunity to revise it to remove the practical refusal reason. This is

called a ‘request consultation process’. As outlined in the attached

notice, you have 14 days to respond.

Yours sincerely

Guy

Position no. 60103474

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & National Resilience Group

E: [1][Department of Home Affairs request email]

Department of Home Affairs - [2]www.homeaffairs.gov.au

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.

References

Visible links

1. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]

2. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/

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

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

[FOI #9224 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...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

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.

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

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.

hide quoted sections

OFFICIAL

Dear BE

FOI request FA 22/08/00298

I refer to your FOI request received on 4 August 2022.

Preliminary assessment of charges

This email is to advise you that I have made a preliminary assessment that
you are liable to pay a charge in respect of the processing of your FOI
request in accordance with s.29 of the FOI Act.  Please see the attached
notice for further information.

The FOI Act provides you with 30 days to respond, in writing, to this
notice, which is close of business Friday, 23 September 2022.

Details on how to make a payment to the Department are included in the
notice. Please ensure that you include your FA reference number with your
payment. If this information is not included with your payment details it
may delay the processing of your request.

Please note if you make the payment by EFT, please advise the FOI section
at [1][Department of Home Affairs request email] immediately to avoid delays in the processing
of your payment.

Yours sincerely

Guy

Position no. 60103474

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & National Resilience Group

E: [2][Department of Home Affairs request email]

Department of Home Affairs - [3]www.homeaffairs.gov.au

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.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
3. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/

OFFICIAL

In reply please quote:

FOI Request:       FA 22/08/00298

File Number:        OBJ2022/21284 

Dear BE

I refer to your email dated 4 August 2022 in which you request access to
documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (Department) under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).

You have requested access to (as revised on 16 August 2022):

1. Final version of each QTB for the 47th Parliament as it was last
provided to the Ministers’ Offices by the Department
2. A copy of the Department’s current index of Question Time Briefs.

On 24 August 2022, Department notified you of a requirement to pay a
processing charge of $497.50 in respect of your request. 

In particular, Department notified you that, within 30 days of receipt of
that letter, you must either:

·        agree to pay the charge; or

·        contend that the charge has been wrongly assessed, should be
reduced, or should not be imposed; or

·        withdraw the request.

Department notified you that if, within 30 days of receipt of that letter,
you failed to notify Department of one of the above matters, your request
would be considered to have been withdrawn.

The 30 day period has now expired and Department does not appear to have
heard from you in response to that Notice. As such, in accordance with
section 29 of the FOI Act, Department considers that your request has been
withdrawn.

If you have any enquiries concerning this matter, please do not hesitate
to contact the FOI Section at the details below.

Yours sincerely

Guy

Position no. 60007879

Freedom of Information Section

FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division

Strategy & National Resilience Group

E: [1][Department of Home Affairs request email]

Department of Home Affairs - [2]www.homeaffairs.gov.au

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.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of Home Affairs request email]
2. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/