David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Minister representing the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, and the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Material, upon notice, on 20 August 2012:

For the period 1 January to 30 June 2012, in regard to the department and each agency within the responsibility of the Minister/Parliamentary Secretary:

(1) How many Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were received?

(2) How many FOI requests were granted or denied?

(3) How many conclusive certificates were issued in relation to FOI requests?

Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1)   During the period 1 January 2012 to 30 June 2012, Defence received 177 section 15 FOI requests, and six section 48 requests. Defence Housing Australia received four section 15 requests.

(2)   The following tables provide a breakdown of completed requests:

Defence Section 15

Notes

1.   Where a document is identified and exempted in full, access to the document can be denied, with reference to the relevant exemption provisions of the FOI Act. During the period in question, one denial related to documents where section 47E 'certain operations of agencies' provisions applied, three section 37 where 'enforcement of law and protection of public safety' provisions applied, one section 46 where 'contempt of court' provisions applied, one denial related to documents where section 33 'national security' provisions applied and three section 38 where 'secrecy provisions" applied.

2.   Section 24A of the FOI Act provides for requests for access to documents to be refused if the documents cannot be found or do not exist. Access may also be refused under section 24 if the work involved in processing the request would substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of an agency. For the period in question, all 12 refusals related to documents that did not exist or could not be found.

Defence Section 48

Defence Housing Australia Section 15

(3)    This question has been previously answered under Parliamentary Senate Question on Notice Nos. 1 615 to 1617 tabled on 8 May 2011.