Centrelink annual report 1999 – 2000 Contact officer

Freedom of Information Request Statistics

Of the requests finalised in the period:

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  61 per cent resulted in full access to the requested records;
  
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  26 per cent resulted in part access to requested records;
  
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  10 per cent were refused access;
  
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  9 cases were transferred to other agencies; and
  
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  188 cases were withdrawn by the applicant.
  

Of those requests for access under FOI which were finalised during the financial year, 69.5 per cent were finalised within the 30 days permitted. A further 15.8 per cent were finalised within 60 days.

Under the exemption provision of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, Centrelink may refuse to provide access to documents. The majority of exemptions claimed in 1999–2000 were to protect the confidentiality/privacy of third parties or other customers.

Freedom of Information Reviews and Appeals

Of those where the original decision was affirmed, 17 applicants requested a further review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The result of matters with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal was:

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  one case where the original decision was varied; and
  
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  Eight cases where the decision was dismissed.
  

Publication of Certain Documents and Information

Section 8 Freedom of Information Act 1982

Introduction

Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 requires the publishing in the annual report of agency statements concerning:

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  particulars of the organisational structure and functions indicating decision making powers affecting members of the public;
  
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  arrangements for external input to the decision making process;
  
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  the categories of documents that are maintained by the Agency;
  
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  the facilities in place to assist members of the public to obtain access to documents of the Agency; and
  
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  Information about the procedures in place to assist in providing members of the public access to documents.
  

Organisational Structure and Functions Statement

Information about the structure, functions and organisation of Centrelink is provided in Chapter 9 Corporate Overview, page 116.

Arrangements for External Individuals and Agencies to Provide Advice to Centrelink

Individuals or organisations outside Centrelink’s administration may express their views about its policy formulation or about its administration of schemes.

This can be done by making representations to the Minister or the CEO or by being invited to serve on committees, working parties or advisory bodies which are established to provide the Minister or the CEO with advice on specific issues and programs.

Centrelink also receives comment and feedback on programs from various focus groups of community members organised by external consultants or Centrelink officers.

Categories of Documents Maintained by Centrelink

Centrelink makes manuals, instructions and guidelines available on request for inspection and purchase by the public. These can be purchased from Centrelink’s Online Reference Unit, Tuggeranong Office Park, Box 7788, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610.

Centrelink has also complied with its obligation under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to produce and update an index of all manuals and guidelines. The index is available for inspection at an Australian Archives ‘Information Access Office’in all capital cities.

Documents in the Possession of Centrelink

Documents held by Centrelink may be categorised as:

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  separate records of decision making bodies such as agenda and minutes;
  
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  separate records of Cabinet matters, including Cabinet submissions and Cabinet minutes;
  
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  general correspondence and associated categories of documents according to subject matter; and
  
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  Documents maintained separately which relate to administrative functions, for example, finance and personnel documents, assets listings and payroll records.
  

None of these documents are:

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  open to the public as part of the public register or otherwise, in accordance with an enactment other than the Freedom of Information Act 1982, where that access is subject to a fee or other charge;
  
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  available for purchase by the public in accordance with arrangements made by Centrelink, with the exception of manuals, instructions or guidelines; or
  
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  Customarily made available to the public other than under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, free of charge on request.
  

Centrelink officers make forms and leaflets relating to payments and other services freely available to the public.

Facilities for Access to Documents

Centrelink Customer Service Centres have facilities for inspection of documents accessed under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. Agency publications may also be inspected at these locations.

Information on these facilities can be obtained from the FOI Contact Officer in each Customer Service Centre, the FOI Action Officer in each Area Office or from the Business Manager, Privacy and FOI Team,in National Support Office.

Procedures for Gaining Access to Documents

All offices will provide, on request, access to some personal documents held by the office. This is outside of the formal FOI process.

Applications for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 must be made by letter, statement or by completing a form. Centrelink has developed FOI request forms available in all customer service delivery offices, to ensure that requests for access to documents are handled quickly.

There are two forms. These are:

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  the form I want to access, or change my information about mewhich is used to request access via photocopies or inspection or make changes to documents; and
  
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  The form I want to ask for a Review which is used by applicants to appeal against and request an internal review of a decision about access to documents under Freedom of Information.
  

These forms have tear off leaflets that explain the FOI process and customer rights. These forms can be filled out in the office, where a FOI Contact Officer is available to assist, or can be posted out on request. Requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 may be lodged at, or posted to, any Centrelink office.

General enquiries about FOI may be directed to the FOI Contact Officer in any Centrelink Customer Service Centre.

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