❓ Hon Nick Goiran questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding delays in processing FOI applications related to the National Redress Scheme, with the Minister providing data on application volumes and processing times.
AnsweredQoN 1046Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NATIONAL REDRESS SCHEME — FOI APPLICATIONS
1046. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the minister's answers to my questions
prior to the 2021–22 budget estimates hearings regarding the
extraordinary wait times being experienced by applicants making FOI
applications for their National Redress Scheme applications.
(1) Why are FOI applications in relation to the National
Redress Scheme not prioritised?
(2) Of the
approximately 300 FOI applications in relation to the National Redress Scheme
received by the department during 2020–21, how many remain to be
processed?
(3) How many such FOI applications have been received in the
current financial year?
(4) Of the number in (3), how many have been processed?
(5) What indicative period of time are such FOI
applicants given of how long the processing of their application may take?
(6) For how many days has the oldest application been waiting
to be processed?
1046. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the minister's answers to my questions
prior to the 2021–22 budget estimates hearings regarding the
extraordinary wait times being experienced by applicants making FOI
applications for their National Redress Scheme applications.
(1) Why are FOI applications in relation to the National
Redress Scheme not prioritised?
(2) Of the
approximately 300 FOI applications in relation to the National Redress Scheme
received by the department during 2020–21, how many remain to be
processed?
(3) How many such FOI applications have been received in the
current financial year?
(4) Of the number in (3), how many have been processed?
(5) What indicative period of time are such FOI
applicants given of how long the processing of their application may take?
(6) For how many days has the oldest application been waiting
to be processed?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question. I provide
this answer on behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Child Protection.
The following answer has been provided by the Minister for Child Protection.
(1) FOI
applications are dealt with in order of receipt to ensure equity for all
applicants wishing to access documents of the Department of Communities.
(2) The volume
of applications identified as relating to the National Redress Scheme is an
estimate only and based on applications explicitly referring to the National
Redress Scheme. Only an estimated number of applications can be provided as it
is not mandatory for applicants to use a standard application form, nor are
applicants required to provide the reason for making an application under the
Freedom of Information Act 1992. Approximately 35 applications relating to the
National Redress Scheme received in 2020–21 remain to be processed.
(3) Approximately 100 applications relating to the
National Redress Scheme have been received since 1 July 2021.
(4) Approximately
30 of those applications relating to the National Redress Scheme received in
the current financial year have been processed.
(5) Applicants are advised that applications may take
up to nine months to process as some may require a manual review of
physical records. Those suffering illness or elderly applicants can be
expedited upon request.
(6) It is 258 days. This application has been progressed and
is almost complete.
this answer on behalf of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Child Protection.
The following answer has been provided by the Minister for Child Protection.
(1) FOI
applications are dealt with in order of receipt to ensure equity for all
applicants wishing to access documents of the Department of Communities.
(2) The volume
of applications identified as relating to the National Redress Scheme is an
estimate only and based on applications explicitly referring to the National
Redress Scheme. Only an estimated number of applications can be provided as it
is not mandatory for applicants to use a standard application form, nor are
applicants required to provide the reason for making an application under the
Freedom of Information Act 1992. Approximately 35 applications relating to the
National Redress Scheme received in 2020–21 remain to be processed.
(3) Approximately 100 applications relating to the
National Redress Scheme have been received since 1 July 2021.
(4) Approximately
30 of those applications relating to the National Redress Scheme received in
the current financial year have been processed.
(5) Applicants are advised that applications may take
up to nine months to process as some may require a manual review of
physical records. Those suffering illness or elderly applicants can be
expedited upon request.
(6) It is 258 days. This application has been progressed and
is almost complete.
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