Request for Public Engagement Policy

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[1]Australian Government Department of Home Affairs logo

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References

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

Good afternoon GP

The Department of Home Affairs FOI section appear to have received
multiple requests from you on Monday 4 November 2024 via the Right to Know
Website. Can you please confirm which requests were lodged by you?

The reason we seek this confirmation is that we are hoping to consult you
on the scope of your requests. As such, we would be appreciative if you
would consider providing a contact number or specific email address that
we can contact you on to discuss progressing your requests.

Kind Regards,

Tahra

Position number: 60181896

Authorised FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section
Privacy, FOI & Records Management Branch | Legal Group
Department of Home Affairs

E: [1][ABF request email]

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OFFICIAL: Sensitive

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OFFICIAL: Sensitive

In reply please quote:

FOI Request: FA 24/11/00391

File Number: FA24/11/00391

Dear GP

Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request

This letter acknowledges that on 4 November 2024 the Department of Home
Affairs (the Department) received your request to access documents held
by 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 request a copy of the current Public Engagement Policy of the Australian
Customs and Border Protection Service. This policy should outline the
strategies the department employs to engage with the public, including
methods for soliciting and incorporating feedback into its operations and
decision-making processes.

Your request has been allocated FOI request number FA 24/11/00391. Please
include your FOI request number in all correspondence with the Freedom of
Information Section.

Timeframe

The timeframe for processing a request is 30 days from the day we receive
your request, as set out in the FOI Act.

Your review rights in relation to your request are available on [1]Freedom
of information reviews | OAIC.

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 [2]the Department’s website.

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The Department’s practice is to exclude the personal details of Government
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(SES), as well as the direct contact details of SES staff, contained in
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22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act. 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
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Publication of document

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
[3][ABF request email] and include your FOI request number.

Contacting the FOI Section

Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at
[ABF request email].

Kind Regards,

Tahra

Position number: 60181896

Authorised FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section
Privacy, FOI & Records Management Branch | Legal Group
Department of Home Affairs

E: [4][ABF request email]

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

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, the ABF and the National Emergency
Management Agency 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.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
2. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/access-an...
3. mailto:[ABF request email]
4. mailto:[ABF request email]

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

Good afternoon

Kindly following up on the below request to consult you on the scope of
your requests, grateful if you would consider providing a contact number
or specific email address to discuss.

Kind Regards,

Tahra

Position number: 60181896

Authorised FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section
Privacy, FOI & Records Management Branch | Legal Group
Department of Home Affairs

E: [1][ABF request email]

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

From: FOI
Sent: Wednesday, 6 November 2024 3:53 PM
To: GP <[FOI #12263 email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Request for Public
Engagement Policy [SEC=OFFICIAL:Sensitive]

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

Good afternoon GP

The Department of Home Affairs FOI section appear to have received
multiple requests from you on Monday 4 November 2024 via the Right to Know
Website. Can you please confirm which requests were lodged by you?

The reason we seek this confirmation is that we are hoping to consult you
on the scope of your requests. As such, we would be appreciative if you
would consider providing a contact number or specific email address that
we can contact you on to discuss progressing your requests.

Kind Regards,

Tahra

Position number: 60181896

Authorised FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section
Privacy, FOI & Records Management Branch | Legal Group
Department of Home Affairs

E: [2][ABF request email]

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

OFFICIAL: Sensitive

show quoted sections

OFFICIAL: Sensitive
Personal-Privacy

In reply please quote:

FOI Request: FA 24/11/00391

File Number: FA24/11/00391

Dear GP (Right to Know)

I refer to your email dated 4 November 2024, 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).

I wrote to you on 6 November 2024 to ask you to clarify which of the
series of FOI requests received on 5 November via the Right to Know
website, were from you so I could discuss options to combine and clarify
some of your requests.

As at 11 November, no response has been received fromyou but please make
contact on [1][ABF request email] with a direct contact as it would
still be ideal to discuss all your requests.

Scope of Request

You have requested access to the following:

I request a copy of the current Public Engagement Policy of the Australian
Customs and Border Protection Service. This policy should outline the
strategies the department employs to engage with the public, including
methods for soliciting and incorporating feedback into its operations and
decision-making processes.

Scope Refinement

The scope of your request lists an agency that was dissolved in 2015 and
was superseded by the Australia Border Force (ABF). Can you please
clarify you were seeking documents for the ABF?

Also, I see your agreement to combine this request with your other request
(FA24/11/00389)) with the scope:

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I seek the full text of the
Stakeholder Consultation Policy. I am particularly interested in how the
department consults with various stakeholders, such as community
organizations and businesses, regarding changes to customs regulations and
procedures.

The Department would like to suggest a rephrasing of your scope to be the
following:

Under the Freedom of information act, I seek current policy documents of
the Australian Border Force that detail public engagement and/or
stakeholder policies that detail the strategies the ABF employs to engage
with the public and stakeholders and how feedback in incorporated in to
their operations or decision making processes.

I request you consider this refinements to your scope and respond to me by
close of business 27 November 2024. Please respond confirming your
agreement and also your consent to withdraw the other request
(FA24/11/00389) to be combined with this request

Power to refuse request

Section 24 of the FOI Act provides that if the Department is satisfied
that a practical refusal reason exists in relation to a request, the
Department must undertake a consultation process with you, and if, after
that consultation process, the Department remains satisfied that the
practical refusal reason still exists, the Department may refuse to give
you access to the documents subject to the request. You have 14 days to
respond to this notice in one of the ways set out below.

Request Consultation Process

Under section 24AB(6) of the FOI Act, you have 14 days to do one of the
following:

· withdraw your request;

· make a revised request;

· indicate that you do not wish to revise your request.

If you do not do one of the three things listed above during the
consultation period (14 days), or you do not consult the contact person
listed below during this period, your request will be taken to have been
withdrawn in accordance with section 24AB(7) of the FOI Act.

Contact

Should you wish to revise your request or have any questions in relation
to this process, please do not hesitate to contact the FOI section at
[ABF request email].

Kind Regards

David
Team Leader – Authorised FOI Officer, Freedom of Information
Position Number 60157647

Privacy, FOI and Records Management Branch

Legal Group

Department of Home Affairs

E: [2][ABF request email]

Personal-Privacy
OFFICIAL: Sensitive

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