Freedom Of Information Requests

Question

Senator RUSTON: What would be the longest, in the last 12 months, that it's taken for you to provide a response to an FOI request? Ms Worswick: I'll need to take that on notice. [...] Senator RUSTON: I think that's the point, Mr Lye-it does depend on the nature of the FOI. Quite clearly, as Ms Worswick has said, you're not going to be sending an FOI to a minister's office where somebody has asked for their own information. I'm keen to understand- Mr Lye: We're happy to get it for you. Ms Worswick: What I can also give you on notice is a protocol we have which defines when a matter would be subject to an FOI alert and when it's not. Senator RUSTON: Is it possible to get a copy of that protocol? Ms Worswick: Yes. I can also tell you that of the requests we've received in this year, 88 requests sought non-personal information and the remaining 90 requests sought personal information. Of the 88 that sought non-personal information, some of those were for records or pieces of information that are really specific and personal, or of relevance only to that individual. They're not matters where we would issue an alert. Senator RUSTON: If you can get them-clearly fewer than half of them are going to the minister's office. Ms Worswick: Sorry, just to correct you, they don't go to the minister's office. We issue an alert which allows a range of stakeholders to be aware that that FOI decision has been made and that the information is going to the applicant. Senator RUSTON: If I'm correct, you gave me evidence before that you would not issue that alert, including to the minister's office, for those 90 that were just seeking personal information. Ms Worswick: No, we don't. [...] Senator RUSTON: Of the 88 that are left, for how many would that alert be sent out to senior officials et cetera- Ms Worswick: I can get you that number. Senator RUSTON: and the minister's office? Your decision is obviously attached to that alert. After that alert has been sent out with that decision, for those that do get sent out more widely, what is the timeframe from when you send out the alert and the advice to when you release the information to the applicant? Senator RUSTON: Were those three all cabinet exemptions? Ms Worswick: Actually, I would need to go away and check that. Senator RUSTON: Out of all of those, it is those three that I'm interested in. The others are, quite clearly, totally and utterly reasonable grounds, and I'm sure the last three are as well.

Answer

Please see attached answer.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• DSS SQ26-000697.pdf (opens in a new tab)