Supplementary Budget Estimates topics
Dear Department of Veterans' Affairs,
If possible, please treat this as an administrative or informal request.
Otherwise, please consider this a request under the FOI Act.
Can you please provide the topics list for briefs created in preparation for hearings of Senate 2016-2017 Supplementary Budget Estimates.
I ask that all fees in relation to this request be waived because the release of the documents is in the public interest. The documents help identify the most important policy areas within the department's responsibilities.
Yours faithfully,
Jackson Gothe-Snape
Dear Mr Gothe-Snape,
Freedom of Information Request: FOI 12492
I refer to your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). Your request is in the following
terms:
[…] the topics list for briefs created in preparation for hearings of
Senate 2016-2017 Supplementary Budget Estimates.
We received your request on 15 November 2016 and the 30 day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date.
You should therefore expect a decision by 15 December 2016. The period of
30 days may be extended if we need to consult third parties, impose a
charge or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
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.
If you have any questions, please contact me using the following details:
Post: GPO Box 9998 CANBERRA ACT 2601
Facsimile: (02) 6289 6337
Email: [1][DVA request email]
Yours sincerely
Nadia Vittoria
Legal Officer
Information Law
Legal Services, Assurance & Deregulation
2 December 2016
Dear Mr Gothe-Snape
Freedom of Information Request: FOI 12492
I refer to your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). Your request is in the following
terms:
[…] the topics list for briefs created in preparation for hearings of
Senate 2016-2017 Supplementary Budget Estimates.
I am writing to seek your agreement to an extension of time to process
your FOI request under section 15AA of the FOI Act. I am seeking an
extension until 23 December 2016. The reason for this request is due to
the high volume of work our section is currently experiencing.
If you are agreeable to this request for an extension, please provide a
written response to this request using the details below.
In the event that you do not agree to this request, we may decide to seek
an extension of time under section 15AB of the FOI Act from the Office of
the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
If you have any questions, please contact me using the following details:
Post: GPO Box 9998 CANBERRA ACT 2601
Facsimile: (02) 6289 6316
Email: [1][DVA request email]
Yours sincerely
Nadia Vittoria
Legal Officer
Information Law
Legal Services & Assurance Branch
12 December 2016
Hello,
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes, the 23rd of December is okay. Have a good lead up to Christmas.
Yours sincerely,
Jackson Gothe-Snape
Dear Mr Gothe-Snape
Freedom of Information Request: FOI 12492
Please find attached the Statement of Reasons and document released to you
in response to your request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
Yours sincerely,
Nadia Vittoria
Legal Officer
Information Law
Legal Services, Assurance & Deregulation
Hello,
Thank you for getting back to me.
Can I please request an internal review of the redactions claimed under section 47C.
I submit that the document does not contain deliberative matter. A more recent decision than the Dreyfus matter from the Information Commissioner finds topic lists for briefs do not contain deliberative matter. See 'Penny Wong and Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet [2016] AICmr 6 (29 January 2016)'.
Yours sincerely,
Jackson Gothe-Snape
Thank you for your email. Please note that all offices of the Department
of Veterans' Affairs are closed from Saturday 24 December 2016
to 2 January 2017. We will reopen again on 3 January 2017.
Your email will be actioned after this date.
Kind regards,
Freedom of Information
Department of Veterans' Affairs
Dear Mr Gothe-Snape
Freedom of Information Internal Review: IR 13334
I refer to your request for internal review under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). You have sought a review of the
primary decision in relation to your request FOI 12492.
Your request for internal review is in the following terms:
Can I please request an internal review of the redactions claimed under
section 47C.
- I submit that the document does not contain deliberative
matter. A more recent decision than the Dreyfus matter from the
Information Commissioner finds topic lists for briefs do not contain
deliberative matter. See 'Penny Wong and Department of the Prime Minister
and Cabinet [2016] AICmr 6 (29 January 2016)'.
We received your request for internal review on 23 December 2016 and the
30 day statutory period for reviewing the primary decision commenced the
day after that date. You should therefore expect a decision by 23 January
2017. The internal review will be conducted by a different officer from
the original decision-maker.
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.
If you have any questions, please contact me using the following details:
Post: GPO Box 9998 CANBERRA ACT 2601
Facsimile: (02) 6289 6337
Email: [1][DVA request email]
Nadia Vittoria
Legal Officer
Information Law
Legal Services, Assurance & Deregulation
13 January 2017
Dear Mr Gothe-Snape,
Please find attached a Statement of Reasons, and document released to you,
in relation to your request for internal review.
Yours sincerely,
Frank White
Assistant Director
Information Law
Legal Services & Assurance