Summary of process for determining vessel names
Luke Bacon made this Freedom of Information request to Department of Home Affairs
This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.
Dear Department of Home Affairs,
Could you please provide a document that contains a description of the process by which names of vessels intercepted by the Australian Border Force are produced. To help clarify what I mean, the description might explain that the names of vessels were told to the ABF by their captains, or that some kind of sequential naming system is used to generate names by the ABF.
A list of vessels are named in this previously released document, which helps provide an example: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files...
If possible, please direct me to an existing public document or provide the document informally. If this is not possible, please proceed with this as a formal information request under the Act.
I would like to request the most recent document describing this process, but I would also like to know if this process has changed over time if you wouldn't mind letting me know if you learn about that during your search.
Yours faithfully
** This is an automated response. Please do not reply to this email **
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
OFFICIAL
In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 20/10/00858
File Number: OBJ2020/32485
Dear Mr Bacon
Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request
I refer to your correspondence received on 17 October 2020 seeking access to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
Scope of request
You have requested access to the following:
A document that contains a description of the process by which names of vessels intercepted by the Australian Border Force are produced. To help clarify what I mean, the description might explain that the names of vessels were told to the ABF by their captains, or that some kind of sequential naming system is used to generate names by the ABF.
Your request was received by the Department on 17 October 2020 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 20/10/00858 . 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 here.
Exclusion of staff details
The Department’s policy 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.
Duplicate 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 exists.
Publication of document
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.
Contacting the FOI Section
Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at [DIBP request email].
Yours sincerely,
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information
FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division
Strategy & Law Enforcement Group
Department of Home Affairs | Email: [DIBP request email]
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Good morning,
I refer to your request received on 17 October 2020 for access to documents under the FOI Act.
The current due date for your request is 16 November 2020.
Due to the number of requests currently being processed by our office, we will not be able to finalise your request by the original due date.
The Department seeks your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days. This would extend the due date for your request to 16 December 2020.
It would assist the Department in managing its FOI caseload if you could provide a response to this request by close of business, Friday 13 November 2020.
If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact the FOI section on the details below.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information
FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division
Strategy & Law Enforcement Group
Department of Home Affairs | Email: [DIBP request email]
OFFICIAL
Good Afternoon,
The current due date for my request was 30 days ago now. Could you please provide an update on when you are planning to complete this request?
I'd like to note that this late delivery is a significant failure to comply with the FOI Act, though I understand it is not uncommon at this Department.
Yours sincerely,
Luke Bacon
OFFICIAL
Good morning,
Thank you for your email enquiring about the progress of your FOI request.
Please be advised that the Department is currently processing a large number of FOI requests. Our staff are working hard and the Department is committed to processing your request as quickly as possible.
A decision on access will be made on your request and you will be notified of this as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information
FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division
Strategy & Law Enforcement Group
Department of Home Affairs | Email: [DIBP request email]
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Bacon
FOI request FA 20/10/00858
I refer to your FOI request received on 17 October 2020, seeking access to
the following:
A document that contains a description of the process by which names of
vessels intercepted by the Australian Border Force are produced. To help
clarify what I mean, the description might explain that the names of
vessels were told to the ABF by their captains, or that some kind of
sequential naming system is used to generate names by the ABF.
The Department has made a decision on this request. Please find attached
the decision record.
This request has now been closed.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information (FOI) Section
FOI and Records Management Branch
Data Division
Strategy & Law Enforcement Group
E: [DIBP request email]
Department of Home Affairs | [1]www.homeaffairs.gov.au
OFFICIAL
Important Notice: The content of this email is intended only for use by
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References
Visible links
1. http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/
Dear Rebecca,
Thanks for this decision for for your thorough search. It's quite interesting that there are no mentions of this process.
I would like to submit a new request then, for documents produced between January 1 2011 and January 1 2012, where the determination of a specific vessel's name is described. For clarity, I'm requesting an example of how a name was determined now, rather than an overall process for determining names as in the earlier request.
Let me know if you need further clarity.
Thanks again for your efforts.
Yours sincerely,
Luke Bacon
OFFICIAL
In reply please quote:
FOI Request: FA 21/01/01114
File Number: OBJ2021/2943
Dear Mr Bacon
Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information Access request
I refer to your correspondence received on 17 January 2021 seeking access to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
Scope of request
You have requested access to the following:
documents produced between January 1 2011 and January 1 2012, where the determination of a specific vessel's name is described. For clarity, I'm requesting an example of how a name was determined now, rather than an overall process for determining names as in the earlier request.
Your request was received by the Department on 17 January 2021 and has been allocated FOI request number FA 21/01/01114 .
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 here.
Exclusion of staff details
The Department’s policy 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.
Duplicate 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 exists.
Publication of document
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.
Contacting the FOI Section
Should you wish to discuss your request you may contact the FOI Section at [DIBP request email].
Yours sincerely,
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information
FOI and Records Management Branch | Data Division
Strategy & Law Enforcement Group
Department of Home Affairs | Email: [DIBP request email]
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Good morning
I refer to your request received on 17 January 2021 for access to documents under the FOI Act.
The current due date for your request is 16 February 2021.
In order for the Department to complete the decision making process in relation to the documents that fall within the scope of your request, the Department will require additional time to process your request.
The Department seeks your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI Act to extend the timeframe for the processing of your request by 30 days. This would extend the due date for your request to Thursday 18 March 2021.
It would assist the Department in managing its FOI caseload if you could provide a response to this request by close of business, Thursday 11 February 2021
If you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me on the details below.
Kind regards,
FOI Officer
Freedom of Information
Department of Home Affairs
E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Bacon,
I refer to FOI request FA 21/01/01114 dated 17 January 2021 for access to documents held by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
I am writing to request additional information to assist the Department in identifying the documents relevant to your request.
You have requested access to:
documents produced between January 1 2011 and January 1 2012, where the determination of a specific vessel's name is described. For clarity, I'm requesting an example of how a name was determined now, rather than an overall process for determining names as in the earlier request.
Could you please clarify if you are seeking access to an example of the name of a Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (SIEV) between January 1 2011 and January 1 2012 or documents produced between January 1 2011 and January 1 2012 which explain how the name of the vessel was determined?
I draw your attention to the following link which shows how SIEVs are referenced: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files...
Please provide any information that will sufficiently assist the Department to identify the documents you are seeking access to.
Kind regards
Tina – Position Number 60045423
Freedom of Information (FOI) Section
FOI and Records Management Branch
Data Division
Strategy & Law Enforcement Group
E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]
Department of Home Affairs | www.homeaffairs.gov.au
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Bacon,
I refer to the email below seeking additional information to assist the Department in identifying documents relevant to your FOI request.
Could you please confirm that you agree to withdraw the request on the basis that the link provided below satisfies the elements of your request?
Alternatively please provide additional information to clarify the scope of your request by COB Monday 22 March 2021.
If you do not respond by this date your request will be taken to have been withdrawn.
Kind regards
FOI Officer – Position Number 60045423
Freedom of Information (FOI) Section
FOI and Records Management Branch
Data Division
Strategy & Law Enforcement Group
E: [Department of Home Affairs request email]
Department of Home Affairs | www.homeaffairs.gov.au
OFFICIAL
Hi there,
Apologies for the delay, I missed your reply somehow.
> Could you please clarify if you are seeking access to an example of the name of a Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (SIEV) between January 1 2011 and January 1 2012 or documents produced between January 1 2011 and January 1 2012 which explain how the name of the vessel was determined?
It is the later, as my request states, 'how a name was determined'.
The document you've linked to does help to clarify the question. What I'm trying to understand from the document(s) I am requesting, is how the names like 'ZINC', 'GATSBY', 'EXCALIBUR', etc. were determined.
Yours sincerely,
Luke Bacon
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Bacon
FOI request FA 21/01/01114
I refer to your FOI request received on 17 January 2021, seeking access to
the following:
documents produced between January 1 2011 and January 1 2012, where the
determination of a specific vessel's name is described. For clarity, I'm
requesting an example of how a name was determined now, rather than an
overall process for determining names as in the earlier request (FA
20/10/00858).
The Department has made a decision on this request. Please find attached
the decision record.
This request has now been closed.
Yours sincerely
FOI Section
FOI and Records Management Branch
Data Division
Strategy & Law Enforcement Group
Email: [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/
Luke Bacon left an annotation ()
It would appear that no formal process exists, and the Border Force staff come up with vessel names informally.