Request for Access to NDIA Audit & Risk Committee Reports, Actions, and Directions (June 2023 – Present)
Dear Freedom of Information Officer,
I am writing to request access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) pertaining to the activities of the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee from June 2023 to the current date.
Specifically, I seek access to the following:
All reports prepared by the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee.
Minutes of meetings and actions taken by the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee.
Directions issued by the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee.
Any records of communication (including emails, memos, and written correspondences) pertaining to the Committee’s role in reviewing and providing advice to the Board on the following aspects:
Financial reporting.
Performance reporting.
Systems of risk managment
Systems of internal control and administrative performance.
These documents are sought to understand and review the adequacy and appropriateness of the Agency's systems and practices in the areas mentioned, in line with the PGPA Act 2013.
Please inform me ahead of any charges applicable for the processing of this request. If specific parts of this request are too broad or are problematic to process, I would appreciate your guidance on how to amend my request to ensure that it can be processed more effectively.
Should you require any clarification regarding this request, please reply via email. I look forward to a decision on my request within the statutory timeframe of 30 days from the date of receipt of this application.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Mark
Thank you for your email to the National Disability Insurance Agency
(NDIA) Freedom of Information (FOI) team.
Please note: due to a high volume of requests, our ability to respond to
you in a timely manner may be affected. We will action your request as
soon as possible and will endeavour to process your matter within the
legislative deadlines. We may need to seek your agreement to an extension
of time. We appreciate your understanding if this is required.
Participant Information
Did you know the NDIA has other ways to access the documents and
information that we hold?
Participants, Guardians and Nominees can obtain copies of some participant
information through our National Contact Centre (NCC). For more
information about what’s available through the NCC, please contact 1800
800 110.
Please visit our [1]Access to Information webpage to find out more about
accessing information through:
* The [2]Participant Information Access (PIA) scheme
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You can also request data and statistics. Please visit our [6]Data and
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If you are able to obtain your information from a source listed above, you
can withdraw your FOI request by emailing [7][NDIA request email]
Further Information
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Should you have a query unrelated to FOI, please contact the Agency by
email at [9][email address] or via webchat at [10]ndis.gov.au.
Alternatively, you can also contact us by phoning 1800 800 110.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [11][NDIA request email]
The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians 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 past, present
and emerging.
References
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6. https://data.ndis.gov.au/
https://data.ndis.gov.au/
7. mailto:[NDIA request email]
mailto:[NDIA request email]
8. https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
https://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/policie...
9. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
10. https://www.ndis.gov.au/
https://www.ndis.gov.au/
11. mailto:[NDIA request email]
Dear Mark Pietsch,
Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement & Extension of Time
Thank you for your request of 02 October 2024, made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for copies of documents/information held
by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Scope of your Request
You have requested access to:
“ … I am writing to request access under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 to documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)
pertaining to the activities of the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee from June
2023 to the current date.
Specifically, I seek access to the following:
All reports prepared by the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee.
Minutes of meetings and actions taken by the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee.
Directions issued by the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee.
Any records of communication (including emails, memos, and written
correspondences) pertaining to the Committee’s role in reviewing and
providing advice to the Board on the following aspects:
Financial reporting.
Performance reporting.
Systems of risk managment
Systems of internal control and administrative performance.
These documents are sought to understand and review the adequacy and
appropriateness of the Agency's systems and practices in the areas
mentioned, in line with the PGPA Act 2013...”
Irrelevant Information
Section 22 of the FOI Act allows an Agency to redact information from
documents if that information would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant
to a request for access.
Given the nature of your request, it does not seem that NDIA staff
members’ surnames and contact details would be relevant to you. Can you
please send me a reply email confirming that such details are irrelevant
to your request for access?
Processing Timeframes
In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from 03 October 2024. This
30-day period expires on 01 November 2024.
The 30-day period can be extended in a number of ways, including with your
agreement.
We anticipate that it may take us a little longer than 30 days to process
FOI requests. I am therefore seeking your agreement to a 30-day extension
of time under section 15AA of the FOI Act. If you agree to this extension,
the new due date for us to decide on your request will be 01 December
2024.
If you do not agree and we are unable to process your request within the
30-day period expiring on 01 November 2024, we will be deemed to have
refused your request and you will not have a right to seek internal review
of that decision. You will, however, retain your right to external review
by the Australian Information Commissioner.
Please let us know if you agree by Tuesday 15 October 2024.
Disclosure Log
Subject to certain exceptions, documents released under the FOI Act will
be published on the NDIA’s disclosure log located on our website.
If you have any concerns about the publication of the documents you have
requested, please contact me.
Next steps
Your request will be allocated to an authorised FOI decision-maker. The
decision-maker may need to contact you to discuss a range of matters,
including refining the scope of your request.
We will contact you using the email address you have provided. Please
advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or need help, please contact us
at [1][NDIA request email].
Regards
Megan
Freedom of Information Officer
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [2][NDIA request email]
[3]NDIA logo
[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic
The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians 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 past, present
and emerging.
[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic
Dear Mark Pietsch,
Freedom of Information Request: Acknowledgement & Extension of Time
Thank you for your request of 02 October 2024, made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), for copies of documents/information held
by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Scope of your Request
You have requested access to:
“ … I am writing to request access under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 to documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)
pertaining to the activities of the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee from June
2023 to the current date.
Specifically, I seek access to the following:
All reports prepared by the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee.
Minutes of meetings and actions taken by the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee.
Directions issued by the NDIA Audit & Risk Committee.
Any records of communication (including emails, memos, and written
correspondences) pertaining to the Committee’s role in reviewing and
providing advice to the Board on the following aspects:
Financial reporting.
Performance reporting.
Systems of risk managment
Systems of internal control and administrative performance.
These documents are sought to understand and review the adequacy and
appropriateness of the Agency's systems and practices in the areas
mentioned, in line with the PGPA Act 2013...”
Irrelevant Information
Section 22 of the FOI Act allows an Agency to redact information from
documents if that information would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant
to a request for access.
Given the nature of your request, it does not seem that NDIA staff
members’ surnames and contact details would be relevant to you. Can you
please send me a reply email confirming that such details are irrelevant
to your request for access?
Processing Timeframes
In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, a 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from 03 October 2024. This
30-day period expires on 01 November 2024.
The 30-day period can be extended in a number of ways, including with your
agreement.
We anticipate that it may take us a little longer than 30 days to process
FOI requests. I am therefore seeking your agreement to a 30-day extension
of time under section 15AA of the FOI Act. If you agree to this extension,
the new due date for us to decide on your request will be 01 December
2024.
If you do not agree and we are unable to process your request within the
30-day period expiring on 01 November 2024, we will be deemed to have
refused your request and you will not have a right to seek internal review
of that decision. You will, however, retain your right to external review
by the Australian Information Commissioner.
Please let us know if you agree by Tuesday 15 October 2024.
Disclosure Log
Subject to certain exceptions, documents released under the FOI Act will
be published on the NDIA’s disclosure log located on our website.
If you have any concerns about the publication of the documents you have
requested, please contact me.
Next steps
Your request will be allocated to an authorised FOI decision-maker. The
decision-maker may need to contact you to discuss a range of matters,
including refining the scope of your request.
We will contact you using the email address you have provided. Please
advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or need help, please contact us
at [1][NDIA request email].
Regards
Megan
Freedom of Information Officer
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [2][NDIA request email]
[3]NDIA logo
[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic
The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians 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 past, present
and emerging.
[5]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags graphic
Dear foi,
I am happy to grant an extension of time, though please keep me updated on the progress of the search. This information is required ASAP in preparation for a briefing to be circulated prior to senate estimates
Yours sincerely,
Mark Pietsch
Dear foi,
I am still currently awaiting a response to this request.
Please contact me via phone to discuss the progress and scope of the request. This matter has been raised as a matter of priority due to the bearing this request has on Human Rights and concerns raised by the public in relation to their safety and that risks are not being appropriately managed or measured by Government.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Pietsch
Dear Mark Pietsch
Thank you for your email dated 3 December seeking a status update on your
request.
We are sorry it is taking us longer than expected to process your request.
I can advise that we have initiated internal consultations with
stakeholders who would be expected to be able to locate documents that
fall within the scope of your request.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the scope of your request with
you, if you can provide me a contact number and a suitable time that I can
call you that would be appreciated.
Please contact us at [1][NDIA request email] if you have any questions or
require help.
Kind regards
Kate (KIM627)
Senior FOI Officer
Complaints Management & FOI Branch
General Counsel Division
National Disability Insurance Agency
E [2][NDIA request email]
[3]NDIA logo
[4]LGBTIQA+ rainbow graphic
The NDIA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians 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 past, present
and emerging.