The Department’s Incoming Government Brief for 2022.
Arthur Jordan made this Freedom of Information request to Department of Veterans' Affairs
Dear Department of Veterans' Affairs,
On 02 Mar 22, Alison Hale of DVA stated in a letter the following:-
"We will bear your views in mind when providing advice to the Government about veterans’ legislation reform."
As there has been a change of Government since May 2022, I seek a copy of the Department’s Incoming Government Brief for 2022.
I also seek any and all documents between the Department to the Minister(s) relating to all instances of "... providing advice to the Government about veterans’ legislation reform" for the last three (3) years. Any private details can be redacted, but NOT business details of Australian Public Servants and other related Staff including but not limited to names, email address and business phone numbers. These are to be treated as "in scope".
Yours faithfully,
Arthur Jordan
Dear Mr Jordan,
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (the department) has received your
request for access to information under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act). I note you have requested access to the following:
I seek a copy of the Department's Incoming Government Brief for 2022. I
also seek any and all documents between the Department to the Minister(s)
relating to all instances of "... providing advice to the Government about
veterans' legislation reform" for the last three (3) years. Any private
details can be redacted, but NOT business details of Australian Public
Servants and other related Staff including but not limited to names, email
address and business phone numbers. These are to be treated as "in scope".
Your request was received by the department on 9 November 2022 and the
ordinary 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced
from the day after that date.
Charges
The Department will notify you within 14 days of an estimate of the
charges that will apply to your request for non-personal information
before we process any requested documents or impose a final charge.
Your address
The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address that we can send
notices to. You have advised your electronic address is
[1][FOI #9547 email] . Unless you tell us
otherwise, we will send all notices and correspondence to this address.
Disclosure log
Information released under the FOI Act may be published on a disclosure
log on our website, subject to certain exceptions. These exceptions
include where publication of personal, business, professional or
commercial information would be unreasonable.
Request to treat certain material as out of scope or irrelevant to the
request
To the extent the department has documents in its possession that fall
within the scope of your request, we intend to treat the following
information as out of scope or irrelevant to your request, pursuant to
section 22(1)(b)(ii) of the FOI Act:
1. The surnames, signatures and direct contact details of non-SES
Commonwealth employees and contractors, including clinical staff working
for Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling; and
2. The signatures of third party individuals.
If you agree to the department treating these details as irrelevant,
please advise by 23 November 2022.
Further assistance
If you have any questions about your request, please email
[2][DVA request email]
Yours sincerely
Arthur Position Number – 62341836
Information Access Officer
Information Access Unit / Client Access and Rehabilitation Branch
Client Engagement and Support Services Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[3][DVA request email]
[4]www.dva.gov.au
[5][IMG][6][IMG][7][IMG][8][IMG]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #9547 email]
2. mailto:[DVA request email]
3. mailto:[DVA request email]
4. http://www.dva.gov.au/
5. https://www.facebook.com/DVAAus
6. https://twitter.com/DVAAus
7. https://au.linkedin.com/company/australi...
8. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
As I have already told you, in writing, I DO NOT agree to your request to treat certain material as out of scope or irrelevant to the request. Please respect my wishes as previously communicated to you.
Yours sincerely,
Arthur Jordan
Good afternoon Jordan,
Thank you for your request for information per your below email.
Search minutes have been sent to the relevant business area for document retrieval, however I have had a request to clarify your scope further.
Can you please define what you mean by 'Government'? For example, are you referring to Cabinet in this instance?
Could you please provide a response latest COB Monday 28th November.
Kind regards,
Suzanne| Information Access Officer
Position 62210871
Information Access Unit I Client Access and Rehabilitation Branch
Client Engagement and Support Services Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Tel 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[DVA request email]
www.dva.gov.au
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
I am not asking for any Cabinet documents. I am more interested in any documents prepared for the incoming DVA Minister Keough by DVA, including any outstanding matters from the previous Minister, particularly relating to any suggestions for "quick wins" and/or legislative change.
Yours sincerely,
Arthur Jordan
Good morning Mr Jordan,
Thank you for the below response. I have forwarded this to the relevant business area and will advise if anything further is required.
Kind regards,
Suzanne| Information Access Officer
Position 62210871
Information Access Unit I Client Access and Rehabilitation Branch
Client Engagement and Support Services Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Tel 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[DVA request email]
www.dva.gov.au
Dear Mr Jordan
Freedom of Information Request: LEX 54669
I refer to your request for access to documents held by the Department of
Veterans’ Affairs (Department) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(FOI Act). Your request was received by the Department on 9 November 2022
and was made in the following terms:
On 02 Mar 22, Alison Hale of DVA stated in a letter the following:-
"We will bear your views in mind when providing advice to the Government
about veterans’ legislation reform." As there has been a change of
Government since May 2022, I seek a copy of the Department’s Incoming
Government Brief for 2022. I also seek any and all documents between the
Department to the Minister(s) relating to all instances of "... providing
advice to the Government about veterans’ legislation reform" for the last
three (3) years. Any private details can be redacted, but NOT business
details of Australian Public Servants and other related Staff including
but not limited to names, email address and business phone numbers. These
are to be treated as "in scope".
In accordance with section 15(5)(b) of the FOI Act, the due date for a
decision on your request is 9 December 2022.
Due to the complexity of your request and the ongoing consultation with
other business areas within the Department, I am seeking your agreement to
a 30 day extension of time under [1]section 15AA of the FOI Act.
If you are agreeable, this would make the new decision date for your
request Monday 9 January 2023.
Please advise no later than COB Monday 5 December 2022 if you agree to the
extension of time.
Further information on FOI processing can be found at the website of the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at
[2]https://www.oaic.gov.au/.
Kind regards,
Suzanne| Information Access Officer
Position 62210871
Information Access Unit I Client Access and Rehabilitation Branch
Client Engagement and Support Services Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Tel 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[3][DVA request email]
[4]www.dva.gov.au
[5]cid:image002.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[6]cid:image003.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[7]cid:image004.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[8]cid:image005.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590
[9]cid:image005.jpg@01D8E9E7.0F9C7A60
[10]cid:image012.jpg@01D8E9E7.0F9C7A60
References
Visible links
1. http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewd...
2. https://www.oaic.gov.au/
3. mailto:[DVA request email]
4. http://www.dva.gov.au/
5. https://www.facebook.com/DVAAus
6. https://twitter.com/DVAAus
7. https://au.linkedin.com/company/australi...
8. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
I refer to your request for an extension of time. As I do not wish to be seen to be adversarial I am prepared to consent to an extension of time of fourteen (14) days. I hope this is agreeable with you.
Yours sincerely,
Arthur Jordan
Dear Mr Jordan
Please find attached correspondence in relation to your freedom of
information request to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (LEX 54669).
Kind regards
Ramona | Assistant Director
Position Number: 62336362
Information Access Unit I Client Access and Rehabilitation Branch
Client Engagement and Support Services Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Tel 1800 838 372 (1800 VETERAN)
e [1][email address]
[2]www.dva.gov.au
[3]cid:image002.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[4]cid:image003.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[5]cid:image004.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[6]cid:image005.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590
[7]cid:image009.jpg@01D8EDC8.743A0070
[8]cid:image010.jpg@01D8EDC8.743A0070
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.dva.gov.au/
3. https://www.facebook.com/DVAAus
4. https://twitter.com/DVAAus
5. https://au.linkedin.com/company/australi...
6. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
I refer to your recent 24AB consultation notice. I am prepared to narrow the time frame so that it now covers the period from 01 March 2022 to the date of the FOI request. I still require access to the Departments Incoming Brief for 2022 as previously stated. I hope that my goodwill in this matter as well as my desire NOT to appear to or indeed, be adversarial in my dealings with DVA will be reciprocated by the hired staff from Sparke Helmore who work in the Information Access section and who appear to routinely place roadblocks to some FOI requests.
I would also ask as to why someone could not have, in the first instance, called me on the phone to discuss this matter. This has been the procedure of the Defence Department and many other Government Departments I have had FOI dealings with. This would have been a much friendlier and collegiate way to deal FOI (and other) matters in my opinion. You would also confirm that I don't bite, raise my voice nor treat you with a lack of respect. Currently this letter only approach gives me the impression that you are only going through the motions because the law says you must, not because you want to be helpful to me in a friendly and courteous manner.
I look forward to your kindly reply. Feel free to phone me to discuss further. You have all my private details.
Yours sincerely,
Arthur Jordan
Dear Mr Jordan,
Please find attached the decision letter and SIGBOX instructions for
request LEX 54669.
You are welcome to submit a new FOI request at any time. I strongly
recommend you take into consideration the matters raised in the attached
letter before submitting a new FOI request.
As the documents we are releasing to you are too large to send via email,
we will be releasing them to you using SIGBOX.
Please follow the instructions provided in the email to access your
information.
Any documents produced by the Department in response to this FOI request
will be available through SIGBOX for a period of 7 days before being
removed. It is important that you download the information from SIGBOX
onto your own electronic device within 7 days of receipt. Given the
holiday shutdown, if you are unable to do this within the 7 day period
please respond to this email and the documents can be released to you
again.
You will shortly receive an email from Information Law via ‘Macquarie
Government’ advising you that Information Access has shared a document
with you. The email will read a little like this:
[1]Hey there, Just letting you know that Information Access shared various
documents with you. Activate your guest account at Macquarie Government by
setting a password. Then view it! You can login using the email address –
‘[FOI #9547 email]‘ Cheers! -- Macquarie
Government – Intellicentres are intelligent
https://macquariegovernment.com/
Suzanne| Information Access Officer
Position 62210871
Information Access Unit I Client Access and Rehabilitation Branch
Client Engagement and Support Services Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Tel 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[2][DVA request email]
[3]www.dva.gov.au
[4]cid:image002.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[5]cid:image003.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[6]cid:image004.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590[7]cid:image005.png@01D7B6E3.69D49590
[8]cid:image005.jpg@01D8E9E7.0F9C7A60
[9]cid:image012.jpg@01D8E9E7.0F9C7A60
References
Visible links
1. https://macquariegovernment.com/
2. mailto:[DVA request email]
3. http://www.dva.gov.au/
4. https://www.facebook.com/DVAAus
5. https://twitter.com/DVAAus
6. https://au.linkedin.com/company/australi...
7. https://www.youtube.com/DVATVAus
[1]Macquarie Government
Hey there,
just letting you know that Information Access shared LEX 54669 JORDAN
(Suzanne) with you.
Activate your guest account at Macquarie Government by [2]setting a
password.
Then [3]view it!
You can login using the email address
"[FOI #9547 email]" .
Cheers!
--
Macquarie Government - Intellicentres are intelligent
[4]https://macquariegovernment.com/
References
Visible links
2. https://dva.sig-box.com/index.php/apps/g... #9547 email]/EIYxVhB5uBOds2adeQFeW
3. https://dva.sig-box.com/index.php/f/497330
4. https://macquariegovernment.com/
[1]Macquarie Government
Hello [FOI #9547 email],
You are receiving this email because the following things happened at
[2]Macquarie Government
* Information Access shared [3]LEX 54669 JORDAN (Suzanne) with you -
Today at 4:05:38 AM
--
Macquarie Government - Intellicentres are intelligent
[4]https://macquariegovernment.com/
References
Visible links
2. file:///tmp/dva.sig-box.com/
3. file:///tmp/dva.sig-box.com/index.php/f/497330
4. https://macquariegovernment.com/
[1]Macquarie Government
Hello [FOI #9547 email],
You are receiving this email because the following things happened at
[2]Macquarie Government
* The share for [3]LEX 54669 JORDAN (Suzanne) expired - Today at
7:30:06 PM
--
Macquarie Government - Intellicentres are intelligent
[4]https://macquariegovernment.com/
References
Visible links
2. file:///tmp/dva.sig-box.com/
3. file:///tmp/dva.sig-box.com/index.php/f/497330
4. https://macquariegovernment.com/
Dear INFORMATION.ACCESS,
I received this response in relation to my FOI request which:-
1. Doesn't make sense to me; and
2. Appears to be addressed to another person named Suzanne JORDAN (not me)
This is the error message I received:-
[1]Macquarie Government
Hello [FOI #9547 email],
You are receiving this email because the following things happened at
[2]Macquarie Government
* The share for [3]LEX 54669 JORDAN (Suzanne) expired - Today at
7:30:06 PM
Can you please investigate this error message and advise me of your results.
In the meantime I would be pleased if you could send me any documents I am entitled to receive via my email address which is "[email address]" as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
Arthur Jordan.
Yours sincerely,
Arthur Jordan
[1]Macquarie Government
Hello,
You have 29 days to change your password
See [2]dva.sig-box.com/index.php/settings/personal?sectionid=general on
Macquarie Government for more information
--
Macquarie Government - Intellicentres are intelligent
[3]https://macquariegovernment.com/
References
Visible links
2. file:///tmp/dva.sig-box.com/index.php/settings/personal?sectionid=general
3. https://macquariegovernment.com/
[1]Macquarie Government
Hello,
Please change your password to gain back access to your account
See [2]dva.sig-box.com/index.php/settings/personal?sectionid=general on
Macquarie Government for more information
--
Macquarie Government - Intellicentres are intelligent
[3]https://macquariegovernment.com/
References
Visible links
2. file:///tmp/dva.sig-box.com/index.php/settings/personal?sectionid=general
3. https://macquariegovernment.com/