Our reference: FOI 24/25-1557
GPO Box 700 Canberra ACT 2601 1800 800 110 dis.gov.au
15 May 2025
David Wright
By email: foi+request-12946-983e24b2@righttoknow.org.au
Dear David Wright
Freedom of Information request — Notification of Decision
Thank you for your correspondence of 20 March 2025, 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:
“..Please provide the following information about all law firms engaged by the NDIA in the first six months of the 2024-2025 financial year for matters to which the NDIA was a Respondent at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT):
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A list of all law firms engaged.
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The number of AAT matters each law firm was engaged for.
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The total of all payments made by the NDIA to each of these law firms, giving the total figure paid to each law firm and also a combined total figure of all payments….
Section 17(1)(c) of the FOI Act
Section 17(1)(c) of the FOI Act provides that an agency can produce a written document containing the requested information, by the use of a computer or other equipment that is ordinarily available for retrieving or collating stored information. We have been able to produce a document containing some of the information you requested. I have, therefore, treated your request as if it were a request for access to this document in accordance with section 17(1)(c) of the FOI Act.
I have identified 1 document, which fall within the scope of your request.
The document was identified by the ART Team who conducted searches of NDIA’s systems, using all reasonable search terms that could return documents relevant to your request, and consulting with relevant NDIA staff who could be expected to be able to identify documents within the scope of the request.
I have decided to grant access to 1 document in full.
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.
Release of documents
The document for release, as referred to in the Schedule of Documents at Attachment A, is enclosed.
Rights of review
Your rights to seek a review of my decision, or lodge a complaint, are set out at
Attachment B.
Should you have any enquiries concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at fox@xxxx.xxx.xx.
Yours sincerely
Kate (KIM627) A/Assistant Director – Freedom of Information Non Personals Team Information Release, Privacy and Legal Operations Branch Reviews and Information Release Division
Schedule of Documents for FOI 24/25-1557
| Document number | Page number | Description | Access Decision | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-2 | Created Document Date: 17 March 2025 | FULL ACCESS | Document created under section 17 of the FOI Act |
National Disability Insurance Agency
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Attachment B
Your review rights
Internal Review
The FOI Act gives you the right to apply for an internal review of this decision. The review will be conducted by a different person to the person who made the original decision.
If you wish to seek an internal review of the decision, you must apply for the review, in writing, within 30 days of receipt of this letter.
No particular form is required for an application for internal review, but to assist the review process, you should clearly outline your grounds for review (that is, the reasons why you disagree with the decision). Applications for internal review can be lodged by email to xxx@xxxx.xxv.au or sent by post to:
Freedom of Information Section Complaints Management & FOI Branch General Counsel Division National Disability Insurance Agency GPO Box 700 CANBERRA ACT 2601
Review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
The FOI Act also gives you the right to apply to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) to seek a review of this decision.
If you wish to have the decision reviewed by the OAIC, you may apply for the review, in writing, or by using the online merits review form available on the OAIC’s website at www.oaic.gov.au, within 60 days of receipt of this letter.
Applications for review can be lodged with the OAIC in the following ways:
- Online: www.oaic.gov.au
- Post: GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
- Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au
- Phone: 1300 363 992 (local call charge)
Complaints to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner or the Commonwealth Ombudsman
You may complain to either the Commonwealth Ombudsman or the OAIC about actions taken by the NDIA in relation to your request. The Ombudsman will consult with the OAIC before investigating a complaint about the handling of an FOI request.
Your complaint to the OAIC can be directed to the contact details identified above. Your complaint to the Ombudsman can be directed to:
- Phone: 1300 362 072 (local call charge)
- Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.au
Your complaint should be in writing and should set out the grounds on which it is considered that the actions taken in relation to the request should be investigated.
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