Our FOI disclosure log

“I want copy of the documents released in FOIREQ22/00241 updated as at 1 October.”

Part release

Exemptions used:
s 22

Date of publication

21 Oct 2022

“I want copy of all s 55G decisions (excluding drafts) the OAIC received in August 2022.

The personal information of private individuals (not Commonwealth public servants and contractors) is irrelevant.”

38 documents released in part

17 documents refused in full

Exemptions

• S 22

S47E(d)

Date of publication

11 November 2022

“Please treat this request administratively if possible, otherwise treat it as an FOI request.

The OAIC refers people to Austlii for decisions that are made by the Information Commissioner. Each request on Austlii for the OAIC has an AICmr number associated with it (for example, “[2022] AICmr 63”).

During a routine search of Austlii I found that a number of AICmr numbers appear to be missing from Austlii.

To assist the OAIC, examples of decisions from Austlii that I can’t find include but are not limited to:

[2022] AICmr 60

[2022] AICmr 59

[2022] AICmr 33

This was from a 5 minute search, I’m sure there are more.

I’m seeking information (or documents) that:

1. Discuss or explain why an AICmr number may not be allocated to a decision.

2. Discuss why, if an AICmr number has been allocated to a decision, that decision may not be published on Austlii, and if so where it would be published.

3. Are policies or procedures on the publication of decisions on Austlii, including the process that is used to publish those decisions and any approval processes required for a decision to be published.

4. Are any policies or procedures on the removal of decisions from Austlii, including approval processes and steps required to remove a decision from Austlii.

5. Are any requests to remove decisions that have already been published on Austlii, and all documents that relate to each of those requests.

I am happy to exclude as irrelevant:

1. Duplicates of documents (for example, duplicate emails or email chains).

2. All phone numbers, both landline and mobile.

3. The portion of all email addresses before the domain (for example, for the email address “jane.smith@oaic.gov.au” I am happy for you to exclude “jane.smith” but do not exclude “oaic.gov.au”).

4. Names of OAIC staff below SES level *unless* the position of the staff member is not defined in the document (for example, if an email contains “John Smith” and their position “Senior Lawyer” then I am happy for “John Smith” to be redacted. If “Senior Lawyer” is not contained in the document then I do not consent to it being redacted).

5. The names of individuals not part of the OAIC. Please note the rules at part 2 and 3 apply to individuals not part of the OAIC. I do not consent to the removal of position descriptions, organisation names, or domain names of non-OAIC entities.

I consider this request to be in the public interest as it may disclose a breach (inadvertently or intentionally) of the Freedom of Information Act, and public access to decisions of a decision making body are inherently integral to our legal system. My understanding of the FOI Act is that “The Information Commissioner must publish a decision on an IC review to members of the public generally.”

In addition to providing suggested documents, any information the OAIC line areas are willing to provide that alleviates the concerns that decisions are not correctly being published correctly.”

Part release

Exemptions used:
s 42, s 46(b), 47E(d)

Date of publication

10 November 2022

Internal review of FOIREQ22/00225

“I request copy of all Freedom of Information Act complaints received by the OAIC in July 2022. Let's see if you pull this 100% exemption rubbish on me.

Personal information of private individuals (excluding Commonwealth public servants and contractors) is irrelevant.”

Part release

Exemptions used:
s 47E(d),

Date of Publication

21 Oct 2022

The documents released in FOIREQ22/00171 had most of their contents redacted under s 22.

For the purposes of the FOI Act, I seek full copy of D2022/003201, D2022/003202, D2022/003203, and all organisation charts that appeared in that brief compilation from which those aforementioned documents were drawn.

I vary my scope to also include copy of the index that appeared in FOIREQ22/00171, but in full without any s 22 redactions.

Part release

Exemptions used:
s 47F, s 47E(c)

Date of Publication

18 Oct 2022

Internal review of FOIREQ22/00224:

“I want copy of all s 55G decisions (excluding drafts) the OAIC received in July 2022. Let's see if you'll claim 100% exemption to me.

The personal information of private individuals (not Commonwealth public servants and contractors) is irrelevant.”

Part release

Exemptions used:
s 47E(d),

Date of Publication

21 Oct 2022

Internal review of FOIREQ22/00205:

“copy of all notice of decisions (including their reasons) to dispose of ic reviews and foi complaints under s 54W(a)(i) and s 73(e) between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2022.”

Part release

Exemptions used:
s 47E(d),

Date of Publication

21 Oct 2022

Internal review of FOIREQ22/00199:

“…copy of any currently used document of the OAIC (which the FOI Act states is any document is in the possession of the agency, whether created in the agency or received in the agency) that sets out how any service complaint about the OAIC, any foi complaint about the performance of functions or the exercise of powers under the FOI Act made by the OAIC, any IC review requested on an OAIC FOI decision, and any privacy complaint about any act taken by the OAIC, is to be managed by the OAIC.”

Part release

Exemptions used:
s 47E(d), s 47F

Date of Publication

21 Oct 2022