Dear Bureau of Meteorology,

The documents requested relate to the Severe Thunderstorm Warning Service provided in Queensland.

I request access to the following documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982:
1. The Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Directive.

2. The Queensland Severe Weather Directive.

3. The Weather and Oceanographic Services Handbook.

4. The Australian Integrated Forecasting System handbook, procedures and directives.

5. Documents including directives, procedures or instructions for the provision of the Severe Thunderstorm Warning Service in the Queensland region. This includes directives or updates communicated via email from January 1 2022 to December 18 2023.

6. The Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Warnings summary issued monthly for all of 2023.

7. The Disaster Mitigation Program handbook, policy, procedures and directives.

Please provide the latest final versions of the above documents. I also request that any draft versions of the listed documents be provided separately from the final version.

I respectfully request these documents without the "Released under Freedom of Information" watermark.

Please exclude names and contact details of staff below Group Executive level, third parties, and duplicate content.

Yours faithfully,

CR

FOI, Bureau of Meteorology

9 Attachments

Ref: FOI30/123

 

Dear CR,

 

1.            We refer to and acknowledge receipt of your email dated 18
December 2023 (below), in which you request access to documents under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (‘FOI Act’) for the following ('your
request'):

 

1. The Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Directive.

 

2. The Queensland Severe Weather Directive.

 

3. The Weather and Oceanographic Services Handbook.

 

4. The Australian Integrated Forecasting System handbook, procedures and
directives.

 

5. Documents including directives, procedures or instructions for the
provision of the Severe Thunderstorm Warning Service in the Queensland
region. This includes directives or updates communicated via email from
January 1 2022 to December 18 2023.

 

6. The Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Warnings summary issued monthly for
all of 2023.

 

7. The Disaster Mitigation Program handbook, policy, procedures and
directives.

 

Please provide the latest final versions of the above documents. I also
request that any draft versions of the listed documents be provided
separately from the final version.

 

I respectfully request these documents without the "Released under Freedom
of Information" watermark.

 

Please exclude names and contact details of staff below Group Executive
level, third parties, and duplicate content.

 

Clarification of your request:

 

2.            As given above, your request sets out seven Items for which
access to document/s is requested. We respectfully write with respect to
specific Items of your request.

 

3.            We note that parts of your request are broadly stated, and
there appears to be duplication across some of the Items. That is, Item 5
seeks:

 

Documents including directives, procedures or instructions for the
provision of the Severe Thunderstorm Warning Service in the Queensland
region. This includes directives or updates communicated via email from
January 1 2022 to December 18 2023.

 

4.            Notably, Item 5 appears reasonably to include documents
sought by Items 1, 2 and 3 and likely creates duplication, which
practically might be inconsistent with your express wish to exclude
'duplicate content'.

 

5.            We additionally note that Item 5 is worded to be inclusive
of various communications (including emails) across a broad timeframe
'from January 1 2022 to December 18 2023'. The scope of this Item appears
broad.

 

6.            We kindly request that you consider revising your request,
particularly in relation to the following.

 

 a. As Items 1-3 appear included in Item 5, we request that you withdraw
Items 1, 2 and 3 from your request so as to remove duplication of
request terms; and

 

 b. As noted above (at para [5]) Item 5 of your request is stated
broadly, particularly with a wide timeframe. We ask that you to
consider revising the timeframe to a shorter comparatively more
practical timeframe. For example, you may consider revising it to
cover a 6-months period such as 1 July 2023 - 18 December 2023
(inclusive).

 

7.            We would be grateful for consideration of the above and your
reply in relation to them by 12 pm on Tuesday 2 January 2024.

 

Request for your agreement to additional time:

 

8.            The Bureau received your request by email on 18 December
2023.

 

9.            Section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act provides that the Bureau has
30 calendar days to deal with an access request. This means the decision
is due by 17 January 2024.

 

10.          We respectfully request your agreement, pursuant to s 15AA,
to an additional 30 calendar days to deal with your access request. This
additionally will assist the Bureau to process your access request as
effectively as practicable and within time, particularly considering the
Bureau's resources are limited at this period of year either because many
of the Bureau's staff are/will soon be taking leave and that limited
specialist staff capable of providing assistance on your access request
are focused on crucial operational matters during this current weather
season.

 

11.          We kindly ask for your understanding and agreement to this
extension request.

 

Timeframe:

12.          We kindly ask for reply by 12 pm on Tuesday 2 January 2024
regarding the above matters, that is:

 

 a. For the reasons noted above at paragraphs [2]-[4], whether you agree
to revise your request by:

                                          i.    Withdrawing Items 1, 2 and
3; and

 

                                         ii.    Revise the timeframe in
Item 5 of your request to a shorter time-period, for example by limiting
it to cover a period such as 1 July 2023 - 18 December 2023 (inclusive).

 

 b. Your agreement to an additional 30 calendar days to process your
access request pursuant to s 15AA of FOI Act.

 

13.          Your response as soon as practicable will assist the Bureau
to process your access request as efficiently as practicable.

 

14.          We wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe season.

 

15.          The Bureau aims to provide accessible documents. If you need
this document in a different format or if you have any questions, please
contact [1][BOM request email].

 

 

Regards,

 

 

Freedom of Information

[2][BOM request email] | [3]www.bom.gov.au

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Dear Freedom of Information team,

I would like to extend my gratitude for your proactive approach in handling my FOI request.

Upon careful consideration of your statements, I would like to provide further clarification on the specific documents I am seeking:

1. Documents (in the ordinary sense of the word) that include directives, procedures, or instructions pertaining to the provision of the Severe Thunderstorm Warning Service in the Queensland region. This encompasses the Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Directive, the Queensland Severe Weather Directive, and the Weather and Oceanographic Services Handbook.

2. Emails and communications that relate to changes or updates regarding the directives, procedures, or instructions for the provision of the Severe Thunderstorm Warning Service in the Queensland region. This may include correspondence highlighting amendments to procedures or the introduction of new versions of relevant documents. The timeframe for this part of the request is limited to the period from January 1, 2023, to December 18, 2023.

3. Documents (in the ordinary sense of the word) solely dedicated to the Australian Integrated Forecasting System. This may include a handbook, procedures, or directives related to the system.

4. Documents (in the ordinary sense of the word) solely focused on the Disaster Mitigation Program. This may include a policy handbook, procedures, or directives associated with the program.

5. The Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Warnings summary that was issued monthly throughout the entirety of 2023.

While I understand your request for an extension of time, I must inform you that it is within my interest to allow the FOI request to expire, as this would impact your ability to impose charges (ss 7(2) and (3) of the Charges Regulations). Consequently, I understand if this decision results in the Bureau not being able to provide the requested information within the statutory time limit.

I believe that the scope of this revised request is now clearer and more specific. However, if there are any remaining areas of uncertainty, I kindly ask that you reach out to me for further clarification.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,
CR

FOI, Bureau of Meteorology

11 Attachments

Ref: FOI30/123

 

Dear CR,

 

Please see attached further correspondence.

 

Regards,

 

 

Freedom of Information

[1][BOM request email] | [2]www.bom.gov.au

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show quoted sections

FOI, Bureau of Meteorology

11 Attachments

Ref: FOI30/123

 

Dear CR,

 

Please see attached further correspondence.

 

Regards,

 

 

Freedom of Information

[1][BOM request email] | [2]www.bom.gov.au

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show quoted sections

CR left an annotation ()

This request has been combined with my other FOI request regarding similar documents. Correspondence with the Bureau continues here: https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/p...

The status of this page will reflect the progress of this combined request.

FOI, Bureau of Meteorology

9 Attachments

Ref: FOI30/123

 

Dear CR,

 

 1. We thank you for response dated 17 January 2024 and apologise for the
delay. You wrote:

 

I wish to informally revise my request to the following:

 

1. Procedure handbooks relating to the provision of severe weather
warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, and heatwave warnings in the
Queensland region. Procedure handbooks relating to the provision of
tropical cyclone warnings in Australia.

 

2. Emails highlighting amendments to the above directives, from 1 January
2023 to 18 December 2023. For an example of the emails sought, please
refer to Document 2 of FOI request 30/5531 (16 April 2012).

 

3. The policy handbook for the Australian Integrated Forecasting System.

 

4. The policy handbook for the Disaster Mitigation Program.

 

5. The Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Warnings summary that was issued
monthly throughout the entirety of 2023.

 

For parts 1, 3, and 4, please provide the latest final versions of the
listed documents. If any documents are currently in draft form
(unfinalised work in progress), I request those draft versions be provided
separately.

 

I respectfully request these documents without the "Released under Freedom
of Information" watermark.

 

Please exclude names and contact details of staff below Group Executive
level, third parties, and duplicate content.

 

I note you did not previously include item 5 from FOI30/123 in your
consultation letter. Please confirm this item is now included in the
scope.

 

In addition, I kindly request confirmation as to whether the Australian
Integrated Forecasting System and Disaster Mitigation Program referenced
in items 3 and 4 remain in effect or have since been superseded.

 

Before formally revising the scope of my request, I am seeking your
feedback on whether this reduced scope would still be considered to
substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the department from
its other operations. I kindly request that you consider the request
consultation period to remain in effect.

 

            (We refer to this as 'Your Proposed Revision'.)

 

 2. We confirm that the request consultation process continues during this
time.

 

 3. We apologise for erroneously leaving out 'Item 5' regarding 'The
Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Warnings summary that was issued
monthly throughout the entirety of 2023' and confirm that this Item
forms part of the combined request (referenced as FOI30/123 in the
noticed you 17 January 2024).

 

 4. In relation to Your Proposed Revision we make the following
observations.

 

 5. You wrote:

 

For parts 1, 3, and 4, please provide the latest final versions of the
listed documents. If any documents are currently in draft form
(unfinalised work in progress), I request those draft versions be provided
separately.

 

 6. Your inclusion of 'any documents are currently in draft form'
maintains a broad scope. We note that this may cover a broad set of
documents potentially in scope. This arises because every minor
iterative change (even grammatical) made to a document creates draft
versions of a document in the Bureau's electronic record system. In
addition to this, we also note that Items 1, 3 and 4 of Your Proposed
Revision are not limited by any clearly stated timeframe. In other
words, these Items of Your Proposed Revision remain potentially very
broad. You may consider amending the request, for example by excluding
drafts to reduce the scope.

 

 7. In relation to Item 2 of Your Proposed Revision, you wrote:

 

Emails highlighting amendments to the above directives, from 1 January
2023 to 18 December 2023. For an example of the emails sought, please
refer to Document 2 of FOI request 30/5531 (16 April 2012).

 

 8. We note that this proposed revision requires the Bureau's staff
(including its specialist operational staff) to search for and
retrieve emails across the relevant period. Further, each document
will need to be reviewed to identify whether the whole document or
merely part of one is relevant to the request. You may consider
further revising the scope by limiting the documents to be emails
between senior executive staff. However, even if you limit the scope
in this way, there remains the practical concern that the Bureau would
be diverting its operational staff during this crucial peak weather
season to conduct document searches and take other steps to process
the request.

 

 9. We reiterate that, as observed in the notice to you on 17 January
2024, the decision maker's view regarding the practical refusal reason
includes the consideration that there would be an unreasonable
diversion of limited specialist staff from their crucial operational
duties during this current peak weather season. We note that this
concern remains. Many of the Bureau's operation staff necessary to the
task of processing the request are focused on their operational duties
during this crucial peak weather season. To divert these and other
operational resources remains a significant and substantial diversion
of resources and poses grave concern to ongoing operations.

 

10. We hope the above assists. We look forward to your reply.

 

Regards,

 

Freedom of Information

[1][BOM request email] | [2]www.bom.gov.au

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FOI, Bureau of Meteorology

9 Attachments

Ref: FOI30/123

Dear CR,

1. We thank you for response dated 17 January 2024 and apologise for the delay. You wrote:

I wish to informally revise my request to the following:

1. Procedure handbooks relating to the provision of severe weather warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, and heatwave warnings in the Queensland region. Procedure handbooks relating to the provision of tropical cyclone warnings in Australia.

2. Emails highlighting amendments to the above directives, from 1 January 2023 to 18 December 2023. For an example of the emails sought, please refer to Document 2 of FOI request 30/5531 (16 April 2012).

3. The policy handbook for the Australian Integrated Forecasting System.

4. The policy handbook for the Disaster Mitigation Program.

5. The Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Warnings summary that was issued monthly throughout the entirety of 2023.

For parts 1, 3, and 4, please provide the latest final versions of the listed documents. If any documents are currently in draft form (unfinalised work in progress), I request those draft versions be provided separately.

I respectfully request these documents without the "Released under Freedom of Information" watermark.

Please exclude names and contact details of staff below Group Executive level, third parties, and duplicate content.

I note you did not previously include item 5 from FOI30/123 in your consultation letter. Please confirm this item is now included in the scope.

In addition, I kindly request confirmation as to whether the Australian Integrated Forecasting System and Disaster Mitigation Program referenced in items 3 and 4 remain in effect or have since been superseded.

Before formally revising the scope of my request, I am seeking your feedback on whether this reduced scope would still be considered to substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the department from its other operations. I kindly request that you consider the request consultation period to remain in effect.

(We refer to this as 'Your Proposed Revision'.)

1. We confirm that the request consultation process continues during this time.

1. We apologise for erroneously leaving out 'Item 5' regarding 'The Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Warnings summary that was issued monthly throughout the entirety of 2023' and confirm that this Item forms part of the combined request (referenced as FOI30/123 in the noticed you 17 January 2024).

1. In relation to Your Proposed Revision we make the following observations.

1. You wrote:

For parts 1, 3, and 4, please provide the latest final versions of the listed documents. If any documents are currently in draft form (unfinalised work in progress), I request those draft versions be provided separately.

1. Your inclusion of 'any documents are currently in draft form' maintains a broad scope. We note that this may cover a broad set of documents potentially in scope. This arises because every minor iterative change (even grammatical) made to a document creates draft versions of a document in the Bureau's electronic record system. In addition to this, we also note that Items 1, 3 and 4 of Your Proposed Revision are not limited by any clearly stated timeframe. In other words, these Items of Your Proposed Revision remain potentially very broad. You may consider amending the request, for example by excluding drafts to reduce the scope.

1. In relation to Item 2 of Your Proposed Revision, you wrote:

Emails highlighting amendments to the above directives, from 1 January 2023 to 18 December 2023. For an example of the emails sought, please refer to Document 2 of FOI request 30/5531 (16 April 2012).

1. We note that this proposed revision requires the Bureau's staff (including its specialist operational staff) to search for and retrieve emails across the relevant period. Further, each document will need to be reviewed to identify whether the whole document or merely part of one is relevant to the request. You may consider further revising the scope by limiting the documents to be emails between senior executive staff. However, even if you limit the scope in this way, there remains the practical concern that the Bureau would be diverting its operational staff during this crucial peak weather season to conduct document searches and take other steps to process the request.

1. We reiterate that, as observed in the notice to you on 17 January 2024, the decision maker's view regarding the practical refusal reason includes the consideration that there would be an unreasonable diversion of limited specialist staff from their crucial operational duties during this current peak weather season. We note that this concern remains. Many of the Bureau's operation staff necessary to the task of processing the request are focused on their operational duties during this crucial peak weather season. To divert these and other operational resources remains a significant and substantial diversion of resources and poses grave concern to ongoing operations.

1. We hope the above assists. We look forward to your reply.

Regards,

Freedom of Information
[BOM request email]<mailto:[BOM request email]> | www.bom.gov.au<http://www.bom.gov.au/>
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CR left an annotation ()

FOI, Bureau of Meteorology

12 Attachments

Ref: FOI30/123

 

Dear CR,

 

 1. We refer to your FOI matter and our previous correspondences.

 

 2. Please see attached:

 

 a. the decision in relation to your request; and
 b. relevant documents as described in the decision.

 

 3. If there are question, please let us know by reply email.

 

Regards,

 

Freedom of Information

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From: FOI <[12][BOM request email]>
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2024 7:47 AM
To: [13][email address]
Cc: FOI <[14][BOM request email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
in QLD [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

Ref: FOI30/123

 

Dear CR,

 

 1. We write to let you know the Bureau is continuing to progress your FOI
matter towards the date of 1 March 2024.

 

 2. The Bureau is undertaking the steps necessary to process your FOI
matter – steps which were set out in our s 15AC application to the
OAIC.

 

Regards,

 

Freedom of Information

[15][BOM request email] | [16]www.bom.gov.au

 

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From: FOI <[26][BOM request email]>
Sent: Friday, February 2, 2024 4:23 PM
To: CR <[27][email address]>
Cc: FOI <[28][BOM request email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
in QLD [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

Ref: FOI30/123

 

Dear CR,

 

 1. We refer to your email dated 2 February 2024 and our previous
correspondences.

 

Timeframe:

 

 2. We will proceed on the basis that you have not agreed to extend the
consultation period (under 24AB(6) and you have not agreed to extend
the time for processing your request (under s 15AA). On that basis,
the consultation period ended on 31 January 2024 and a decision on
your request was due on that day.

 

 3. Therefore, a decision on your request will be completed out of time.

 

 4. A decision that is out of time may be considered a deemed refusal and
on that basis it is open to you to seek a review of the decision with
the Australian Information Commissioner under the FOI Act.

 

 5. Nevertheless, the Bureau will continue to process your request as soon
as practicable. We intend to request an extension of time from the
Information Commissioner in accordance with s 15AC of the FOI Act.

 

Revised scope:

 

 6. You have agreed to exclude items 3 and 4 from the scope of your
request. In addition, you have previously agreed to exclude names and
contact details of staff below Executive level and third parties,
duplicate content and early parts of emails streams captured in later
emails. We therefore understand your revised request to be for:

 

o Item 1: Latest, final version of the procedure handbooks relating to
the provision of severe weather warnings, severe thunderstorm
warnings, and heatwave warnings in the Queensland region. The
procedure handbooks relating to the provision of tropical cyclone
warnings in Australia.

 

o Item 2: Emails from senior executive staff highlighting amendments to
the above directives, from 1 January 2023 to 18 December 2023 (of the
type released as Document 2 of FOI request 30/5531 (16 April 2012)).

 

o Item 5: The Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Warnings summary that was
issued monthly throughout the entirety of 2023.

 

Next steps:

 

·         We will seek an extension of time from the Information
Commissioner, for dealing with your request and will continue to progress
work on the matter.

 

·         We will complete document searches based on the revised scope in
relation to Items 1 and 2.

 

·         We expect that we may need to consult third parties in relation
to some of the documents. Although the Act allows an additional 30 days
for processing requests where third party consultation is required, we
note that in this case the timeframe for processing your request has
already ended and a decision on your request is being completed out of
time; therefore, we will conduct any third-party consultation as quickly
as possible while giving third parties a reasonable opportunity to
respond.

 

·         In relation to Item 5, we will enquire further with relevant
sections of the Bureau about whether any documents exist within scope,
taking into account the additional information you have provided in regard
to this item, being that you 'note the Severe Thunderstorm Directive
Queensland 2011/12 Season released under FOI request 30/5531 refers to
such summaries being accessible via your information management system
(page 27, item 8.1.2).'

 

·         In relation to Item 5, you further wrote: 'As the department has
been unable to locate discrete documents responding to this item, the
department must produce a written document under section 15 of the FOI Act
to fulfil this part of my request'. We note that s 17 of the FOI Act
relates to providing access to information that is stored electronically
and is not available in discrete form. The Bureau is aware of our
obligations under this section and will include consideration of all
relevant material within scope of Item 5, including information stored
electronically, as is our regular FOI practice. Our decision on your
request will identify whether any documents exist within scope of Item 5.

 

·         By way of assistance to you, we will consider whether there are
any materials related to your request, including material that may already
be publicly available, that can be provided to you in addition to any
material found to be in scope.

 

 7. We will keep you informed of progress. Please contact
[29][BOM request email] if you have any questions about this matter in the
mean time.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information

[30][BOM request email] | [31]www.bom.gov.au

 

[32]The Bureau of Meteorology logo. Text reads The Bureau of Meteorology.
Image is a stylised synoptic map of Australia.
[33]Facebook icon. Link to Bureau Facebook page.  [34]Twitter icon. Link
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channel.  [36]Instagram icon. Link to Bureau Instagram
account.  [37]LinkedIn icon. Link to Bureau LinkedIn
profile.  [38]Stylised synoptic map of Australia. Link to Bureau website,
 
[39]Aboriginal The Bureau of Meteorology acknowledges the Traditional
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Strait Islander land, sea and community.
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FOI, Bureau of Meteorology

12 Attachments

Ref: FOI30/123

 

Dear CR,

 

 1. We refer to your FOI matter and our previous correspondences.

 

 2. Please see attached:

 

 a. the decision in relation to your request; and
 b. relevant documents as described in the decision.

 

 3. If there are question, please let us know by reply email.

 

Regards,

 

Freedom of Information

[1][BOM request email] | [2]www.bom.gov.au

[3]The Bureau of Meteorology logo. Text reads The Bureau of Meteorology.
Image is a stylised synoptic map of Australia.
[4]Facebook icon. Link to Bureau Facebook page.  [5]Twitter icon. Link to
Bureau Twitter account.  [6]YouTube icon. Link to Bureau YouTube
channel.  [7]Instagram icon. Link to Bureau Instagram
account.  [8]LinkedIn icon. Link to Bureau LinkedIn profile.  [9]Stylised
synoptic map of Australia. Link to Bureau website,
 
[10]Aboriginal The Bureau of Meteorology acknowledges the Traditional
flag and Torres Custodians of Australia and their continuing connection to
Strait Islander land, sea and community.
flag
Important: This message may contain confidential or legally privileged
information. If you think it was sent to you by mistake, please delete all
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From: FOI <[12][BOM request email]>
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2024 7:47 AM
To: [13][email address]
Cc: FOI <[14][BOM request email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
in QLD [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

Ref: FOI30/123

 

Dear CR,

 

 1. We write to let you know the Bureau is continuing to progress your FOI
matter towards the date of 1 March 2024.

 

 2. The Bureau is undertaking the steps necessary to process your FOI
matter – steps which were set out in our s 15AC application to the
OAIC.

 

Regards,

 

Freedom of Information

[15][BOM request email] | [16]www.bom.gov.au

 

[17]The Bureau of Meteorology logo. Text reads The Bureau of Meteorology.
Image is a stylised synoptic map of Australia.
[18]Facebook icon. Link to Bureau Facebook page.  [19]Twitter icon. Link
to Bureau Twitter account.  [20]YouTube icon. Link to Bureau YouTube
channel.  [21]Instagram icon. Link to Bureau Instagram
account.  [22]LinkedIn icon. Link to Bureau LinkedIn
profile.  [23]Stylised synoptic map of Australia. Link to Bureau website,
 
[24]Aboriginal The Bureau of Meteorology acknowledges the Traditional
flag and Torres Custodians of Australia and their continuing connection to
Strait Islander land, sea and community.
flag
Important: This message may contain confidential or legally privileged
information. If you think it was sent to you by mistake, please delete all
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From: FOI <[26][BOM request email]>
Sent: Friday, February 2, 2024 4:23 PM
To: CR <[27][email address]>
Cc: FOI <[28][BOM request email]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
in QLD [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

Ref: FOI30/123

 

Dear CR,

 

 1. We refer to your email dated 2 February 2024 and our previous
correspondences.

 

Timeframe:

 

 2. We will proceed on the basis that you have not agreed to extend the
consultation period (under 24AB(6) and you have not agreed to extend
the time for processing your request (under s 15AA). On that basis,
the consultation period ended on 31 January 2024 and a decision on
your request was due on that day.

 

 3. Therefore, a decision on your request will be completed out of time.

 

 4. A decision that is out of time may be considered a deemed refusal and
on that basis it is open to you to seek a review of the decision with
the Australian Information Commissioner under the FOI Act.

 

 5. Nevertheless, the Bureau will continue to process your request as soon
as practicable. We intend to request an extension of time from the
Information Commissioner in accordance with s 15AC of the FOI Act.

 

Revised scope:

 

 6. You have agreed to exclude items 3 and 4 from the scope of your
request. In addition, you have previously agreed to exclude names and
contact details of staff below Executive level and third parties,
duplicate content and early parts of emails streams captured in later
emails. We therefore understand your revised request to be for:

 

o Item 1: Latest, final version of the procedure handbooks relating to
the provision of severe weather warnings, severe thunderstorm
warnings, and heatwave warnings in the Queensland region. The
procedure handbooks relating to the provision of tropical cyclone
warnings in Australia.

 

o Item 2: Emails from senior executive staff highlighting amendments to
the above directives, from 1 January 2023 to 18 December 2023 (of the
type released as Document 2 of FOI request 30/5531 (16 April 2012)).

 

o Item 5: The Queensland Severe Thunderstorm Warnings summary that was
issued monthly throughout the entirety of 2023.

 

Next steps:

 

·         We will seek an extension of time from the Information
Commissioner, for dealing with your request and will continue to progress
work on the matter.

 

·         We will complete document searches based on the revised scope in
relation to Items 1 and 2.

 

·         We expect that we may need to consult third parties in relation
to some of the documents. Although the Act allows an additional 30 days
for processing requests where third party consultation is required, we
note that in this case the timeframe for processing your request has
already ended and a decision on your request is being completed out of
time; therefore, we will conduct any third-party consultation as quickly
as possible while giving third parties a reasonable opportunity to
respond.

 

·         In relation to Item 5, we will enquire further with relevant
sections of the Bureau about whether any documents exist within scope,
taking into account the additional information you have provided in regard
to this item, being that you 'note the Severe Thunderstorm Directive
Queensland 2011/12 Season released under FOI request 30/5531 refers to
such summaries being accessible via your information management system
(page 27, item 8.1.2).'

 

·         In relation to Item 5, you further wrote: 'As the department has
been unable to locate discrete documents responding to this item, the
department must produce a written document under section 15 of the FOI Act
to fulfil this part of my request'. We note that s 17 of the FOI Act
relates to providing access to information that is stored electronically
and is not available in discrete form. The Bureau is aware of our
obligations under this section and will include consideration of all
relevant material within scope of Item 5, including information stored
electronically, as is our regular FOI practice. Our decision on your
request will identify whether any documents exist within scope of Item 5.

 

·         By way of assistance to you, we will consider whether there are
any materials related to your request, including material that may already
be publicly available, that can be provided to you in addition to any
material found to be in scope.

 

 7. We will keep you informed of progress. Please contact
[29][BOM request email] if you have any questions about this matter in the
mean time.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information

[30][BOM request email] | [31]www.bom.gov.au

 

[32]The Bureau of Meteorology logo. Text reads The Bureau of Meteorology.
Image is a stylised synoptic map of Australia.
[33]Facebook icon. Link to Bureau Facebook page.  [34]Twitter icon. Link
to Bureau Twitter account.  [35]YouTube icon. Link to Bureau YouTube
channel.  [36]Instagram icon. Link to Bureau Instagram
account.  [37]LinkedIn icon. Link to Bureau LinkedIn
profile.  [38]Stylised synoptic map of Australia. Link to Bureau website,
 
[39]Aboriginal The Bureau of Meteorology acknowledges the Traditional
flag and Torres Custodians of Australia and their continuing connection to
Strait Islander land, sea and community.
flag
Important: This message may contain confidential or legally privileged
information. If you think it was sent to you by mistake, please delete all
copies and advise the sender.

 
[40]Banner. Scrolling ticker style with the text The Bureau of severe
weather warning, the harvest and Meteorology.

 

 

show quoted sections