Our reference: FOI 24/25-0072
GPO Box 700 Canberra ACT 2601 1800 800 110 18 November 2024 ndis.gov.au
Bob Buckley Right to Know
By email: foi+request-11721-2eed3a05@righttoknow.org.au
Dear Bob Buckley
Freedom of Information request — Notification of Decision
Thank you for your correspondence of 21 July 2024, in which you requested access to
documents held by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), under the *Freedom of
Information Act 1982* (FOI Act).
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with a decision on your request.
Scope of your request
You have requested access to the following documents:
The Australian Newspaper published an article 27/6/2024 (see https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustr alian.com.au%2Fnation%2Fpolitics%2Fminister-bill-shorten-starts-multimillion-dollar- ndis-cost-delay-tracker%2Fnews- story%2F58d64dfb61d0bbd822f06f295ec80938&data=05%7C02%7Cfoi%40ndis.gov .au%7Ca6c7519de6f141a4de0808dca8fc21a9%7Ccd778b65752d454a87cfb9990fe5 8993%7C0%7C0%7C638571048207731742%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJ WIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C6 0000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Ojugfy6CsObwlom6LfelMF6kD%2FvPoNqoJEyDg1ZfyF k%3D&reserved=0) claiming
“NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said the scheme’s actuary had calculated the two-month
delay would add more than $1bn to the cost of the scheme over the budget’s forward
estimates““
Please provide, in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act,
- the scheme actuary’s complete advice to the Minister that includes support for the
Minister’s claim above,
- the request(s) to the scheme actuary that caused that advice to be compiled.”
Administrative release – Point 1
After reviewing your request, I have discovered David Gifford’s letter to the Minister on the APH website: Submissions – Parliament of Australia. It is included in the Joint submission by Department of Social Services (DSS) and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) – Submission 20.
- Submissions – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)
I note that this information is publicly available as such I am satisfied that this information directly addresses point 1 of your request.
Administrative release – Point 2
Searches for documents were conducted by the following NDIA branch:
- Scheme actuary
As a result of these searches, I can confirm that I have been provided with the information addressing point 2 of your request.
In regards to David Gifford’s message, the Minister addressed the budget’s forward estimates during Question Time in House of Representatives, presenting a document on 27 June 2024 that details the budget expenditure. Referencing a section on page 78 which address point 2 of your request.
Hansard - House of Representatives 27/06/2024 Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)
I note that this information is publicly available as such I am satisfied that this information directly addresses point 2 of your request.
In reaching my decision, I took the following into account:
- your correspondence outlining the scope of your request
- the nature and content of the documents falling within the scope of your request
- the FOI Act
- the FOI Guidelines published under section 93A of the FOI Act
- consultation with relevant NDIA staff
- the NDIA’s operating environment and functions.
Rights of review
Your rights to seek a review of my decision, or lodge a complaint, are set out at Attachment A.
Should you have any enquiries concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at foi@ndis.gov.au.
Yours sincerely
Cooper-(CHH674) Senior Freedom of Information Officer Complaints Management & FOI Branch General Counsel Division