Senator Robert Ray asked the Minister for Family and Community Services, upon notice, on 23 June 1999:

(1) How many freedom of information requests were received by the department in the 1996/1997 and 1997/1998 financial years.

(2) How many of those requests were granted partially or in full.

(3) How many requests were refused.

(4) (a) In how many instances was a fee waiver sought; and (b) in how many instances where a waiver was sought was it granted (either partially or in full).

Senator Newman (Family and Community Services; Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —The answer to the honourable senator's questions is as follows:

The question is taken to be a request for information regarding the activities of the former Department of Social Security for the 1996/1997 and 1997/1998 financial years, and Centrelink for the 1997/1998 financial year. The answers to the question are as follows:

(1) The number of requests received by my department in 1996/1997 and 1997/1998 financial years was: 1996/1997—DSS—7464 requests received ; 1997/1998—DSS—6 requests received; 1997/1998—Centrelink—6905 requests received.

(2) The number of requests granted partially or in full: 1996/1997—DSS—7495 requests were answered in part or in full; 1997/1998—DSS—1 request was answered in part or in full (2 were transferred to Centrelink); 1997/1998—Centrelink—5455 requests were answered in part or in full.

(3) The following number of requests were refused: 1996/1997—DSS—560 requests were refused; 1997/1998—DSS—0 requests were refused; 1997/1998—Centrelink—552 requests were refused.

(4) (a) The Department does not maintain records of the number of instances where a waiver of fees was sought. (b) The Department does not maintain records of the number of waivers granted.

The majority of freedom of information requests are made by customers seeking access to their own income support and associated information. Freedom of Information Regulation 6 provides that charges and fees are not applicable to persons receiving an income support payment. Accordingly, fees and charges are not applied in the majority of cases and a record of instances where waiver of fees are sought is not required.