Notice (to affected third party) of internal review decision (s 54C(4)) 
Note on sample notice
This notice is intended for an affected third party who applied for internal review of an agency decision to grant access to documents requested by an applicant under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). For internal review rights to be available to an affected third party, they must have been consulted under ss 26A, 26AA, 27 or 27A of the FOI Act. In the case of consultation under ss 27 or 27A, the third party must also have made a submission in response that the documents should not be released.
Guidance about third party review rights is available in the Guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner under s 93A of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, Part 3 (Decisions on FOI requests), available at www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/foi-guidelines/part-3-processing-and-deciding-on-requests-for-access/#consultation-with-third-parties.

Dear [third party]
Freedom of information request no. [Insert identifier number/code]
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of my decision following your request for internal review of [name of agency]’s decision to grant access to documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). 
Summary
I, [insert name, position], am an officer authorised under section 23(1) of the FOI Act to make decisions in relation to FOI requests.
On [insert date] [name of agency] sought your comments on a FOI request which covered [insert number] documents containing information [that originated or was received from your agency/about your business/about you].
You wrote to us on [insert date] opposing the release of [those documents/[insert number] of the [insert total number] documents] on the grounds that [insert grounds]. Specifically you said:
•	[quote or accurately paraphrase the objections raised by the third party.]
You were advised on [insert date] of our decision to grant access to [the documents/[insert number] of the [insert total number] documents/edited versions of the documents]. You asked for internal review of that decision on [insert date].
[Explain the background to the internal review. Relevant information could include:
•	information provided by the third party in their application for internal review
•	any correspondence entered into by the third party or agency during the processing period
•	any other background material that provides context for the processing of the FOI request.]
With regard to the documents [insert if applicable: (set out in the schedule attached)], I have decided: [insert summary of decision].
Decision and reasons for decision
With regard to the documents identified in the attached schedule, I have decided: [insert the following as appropriate, insert additional bullets for each additional respective exemption type, specify if the decision varies the agency’s earlier decision]
•	to grant access in full to documents [insert document numbers as marked in schedule if applicable, eg 5, 6 and 12] 
•	to grant access in part to documents [insert document numbers] with [exempt/irrelevant] matter deleted under section 22 [and exempt under [insert relevant section number] ([insert nature of exemption, eg ‘Exemptions – Documents subject to legal professional privilege’])]
•	to defer access to documents [insert document numbers] under section 21(1)([insert subsection]) ([insert reason for deferment, eg ‘premature release of the document would be contrary to the public interest’] until [insert date].
•	to refuse access to documents [insert document numbers] under section [insert relevant section number] ([insert nature of exemption, eg ‘Exemptions – Documents to which secrecy provisions of enactments apply’])
•	to refuse access to documents [insert document numbers] under section [insert relevant section number] ([insert nature of exemption, eg ‘Public interest conditional exemptions – personal privacy’]) as providing access would be contrary to the public interest
Material taken into account
I have taken the following material into account in making my decision:
•	[insert the following as appropriate]
•	the content of the documents that fall within the scope of the request
•	[details of any relevant correspondence entered into by the third party and agency including the third party’s submissions as to why access should be refused]
•	the FOI Act (specifically sections [insert applicable sections])
•	the guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner under section 93A of the FOI Act
•	[insert further items as appropriate].
The schedule indicates each document to which access is granted. My reasons for granting access are given below.
[Insert reasoning explaining each access decision. The sample section 26 notice provides an example of what to include. Where the internal review decision diverges from the original decision, make this clear.]
Your review rights
If you are dissatisfied with my decision, you may apply to the Australian Information Commissioner for review. An application for review by the Information Commissioner must be made in writing within 30 days of the date of this letter, and be lodged in one of the following ways:
online: https://forms.business.gov.au/smartforms/servlet/SmartForm.html?formCode=ICR_10
email: foidr@oaic.gov.au 
post:	GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001
More information about Information Commissioner review is available on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website. Go to https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews-and-complaints/information-commissioner-review/. 
FOI Complaints
If you are unhappy with the way we have handled your FOI request, please let us know what we could have done better. We may be able to rectify the problem. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can make a complaint to the Australian Information Commissioner. A complaint to the Information Commissioner must be made in writing. Complaints can be lodged in one of the following ways:
online: https://forms.business.gov.au/smartforms/servlet/SmartForm.html?formCode=ICCA_1
email: foidr@oaic.gov.au
post: GPO Box 5218 Sydney 2001
More information about complaints is available on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews-and-complaints/make-an-foi-complaint/.
If you are not sure whether to lodge an Information Commissioner review or an Information Commissioner complaint, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has more information at: https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/reviews-and-complaints/.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DECISION
If you wish to discuss this decision, please contact [me, using the details below/the following officer]:
	[Insert officer name, position and contact details]
Yours sincerely

Attachments
1.	Schedule of documents
2.	[Insert others as necessary – eg relevant excerpts of FOI Act, OAIC Guidance and Advice, relevant correspondence etc]