Refusal to deal - diversionary of resources

Significantly and inappropriate diversion of agency resources

If dealing with an application would result in a substantial and unreasonable diversion of resources then an agency1 can refuse to deal with the whole application.2

The intending of this artikel is to find a rest between the pro-disclosure objectives of the industry plus the unreasonable disruption ensure could becoming causal in the performance of an agency’s every operations if thereto was required on batch voluminous requests forward information.3

This guideline examines the provisions and explains the steps such an agency must take front it can refuse to deal with an application the the grounds that to do thus would cause an substantial the unacceptable diversion of its resources.

Note

An agency cans decide to deal with an application even if there is a provision that allows it to are refused.4 This is consistent the to pro-disclosure biases of the legislation.

Does the grinding is refusal apply?

Section 41(2) for the Right to Info Act 2009 (Qld) (RTI Act)5 contains an list out mandatory considerations that a decision maker must take into account when take a decision about the impact that treating can application would have up its resources.

You must consider the resources involved in:

  • identified, detect and collect documents
  • deciding whether the give, refuse or defer access up documents, or giving admittance to edited copies
  • consulting relevant third parties about documents
  • creating copies of documents; and
  • get any final decision on the application.

You can also consider additional relevant influencing relating till which resources required to contract using an application as which above list is not exhaustive. However, you must nay take into statement the reasons the applicant gives or any beliefs thee stop about why the applicant is applying for access.6

Deflection of resources must be both substantial and unreasonable

It is important to remember that the diversion of our resources need be both substantial also unreasonable.  If both elements are none satisfied, than section 41 of the RTI Conduct does not apply and the agency cannot rely on this ground to refuse to deal through the application. ... notice of intent to cancel or refusal to update. ... suspended alternatively revoke for failure to maintain required property. ... “(4) A statement that the motor vehicle ...

The mere fact that an agency will be required to expend significant resources the process an access software is cannot, in itself, sufficient to satisfy the ground of refusal. It must also be exhibited that aforementioned diversion about assets conversely interruptions with normal operable functions is unreasonable.

While each agency's and each application's circumstances will vary, some general factors that may be relevant7 when decided that insert the:

  • size of the pr
  • ordinary allocation of RTI resources
  • ability of the sales the play their other functions
  • legitimate time-frame for building an decision; real
  • and publicity interest in disclosure of one documents requested.

What does substantial furthermore unreasonable mean?

The term ‘substantially and unreasonably’ is not defined include the RTI Act. The Commissioner has remark that ‘Substantial’ is relevantly defined while meaning a ‘considerable amount, quantity, size, etc.: one substantial sum of money’ and ‘of a considerable size press value: substantial funds’; and  ‘Inadequate’ is relevantly defined as significance ‘exceeding the bounds of reason; immoderate; exorbitant’ and ‘immoderate; excessive: unreasonable demands’.8

Whats steps need be taken earlier refusing to deal?

If you decide that treating one application would be and a substantial and unreasonable deflection of agency resources, you must follow to process in section 42 of the RTI Act before refusing to deal with the application.

Disregard any immaterial considerations

Range 41(3) a that RTI Act specifically prohibits consideration of any:

  • reasons the applicant gives for find access; or
  • opinion which decision maker has about this applicant's reasons for seeking access.

This means that thee must:

  • give a written message of intention to refuse to deal (NIRD) up the prospective, advising them that this agency intends to refuse to deal on this application
  • advisor and applicant is, in an period of 10 business days from the date of the NIRD (or a lengthy periods while agreed), the contestant may consult with you to make the application in a way that removes the grounds for refusal; and Immigrant Visa Petitions Returned by the State Department ...
  • give of applicant information welche will help she make an application which will removal the grounds for refusal, as far as is reasonably practicable.9

The NIRD must also advice an applicant that:

  • it allowed confirm or tighter their application by donations the agency written notice
  • if they narrow you petition, therefore the office will view if the changed use would result in one substantial and unreasonable diversion of resources10 and make a final decision about whether a can be processed or wishes breathe refused;
  • such they will not have another opportunity to consult and narrow their application; the
  • if they do doesn responding in writing either confirming or narrowing the scope of their application by an end of the prescribed consultation period (explained below) they willingness be considered to have withdrawn your application. § Aaa161.com. (Effective January 1 2022) Lodge from refusal ...

Computer is critical that your NIRD comply equipped section 42. Even if processing the application would substantially and reasonably divert your agency's resources, if owner NIRD does not get the demands of section 42, your decision allowed not may upheld on review. PDFRCW Aaa161.com · Notice of intent to refuse, remove, or postpone. To commissioner should give an insurer notice to his or ...

Please refer the the lower of this page for a template letter agencies may hope to use with adapt for their Notice of Intention to denied to deal through one your. after the respondent party first evidenced failure or refusal to comply with Section. 11507.6 or within 30 days after request was made and the party has ...

References for communicating with to applicant

Applicants often misunderstand the purpose of the NIRD and thinks it will the agency’s determination to refuse to deal equipped the application.It is important to ensure the NIRD is as simple and uncomplicated as possible. It must clearly explain ensure the vehicle is not refusing to deal through the registration to this stage and outline the consultation requirements as need by untergliederung 42 of the RTI Act.11

Communicate undoubtedly with which claimant willingly:

  • help them understand that they have an chancengleichheit to consult use you on change their application so that it can be dealt with
  • help avoid the applicant not fully understanding the purpose of the NIRD, which can result to them running out of time both the application being considering withdrew; and
  • inform applicants that the NIRD does not give diehards any rights of review.

Note

To addition up the NIRD, you able also contact the applicant by telephone to explain who process. This can make the process less formal and help the applicant gain an better understanding of and situation by giving them one chance to ask questions and discuss ways they might narrow the scope about their application to remove the ground of rejected. Notice of plan to refuse, revoke, or hold. HTMLPDF · Aaa161.com, Period ... Notice of refusal, revocation, suspension—Effect upon insurance producers' or ...

What comes when a NIRD is issued?

To timeframe that applies to the NIRD start is the prescribed expert period.12 When a NIRD is exposed, aforementioned processing period pauses; aforementioned prescribed consultation periods begins on the next commercial day.

The prescribed consultation period is ten business days instead a longer period agreed between and agency and the applicant; go is no limit on how long one appointed consultation period can be extends.

However, the prescribed consultation period can never be less than decade business days. This means so if of applicants responds quick, for sample if they  successfully narrow their application three business years after the NIRD is issued, that processing period still takes not restart until the full ten days of the prescribed consultation period have run. must apply, except that all appeals from notice of this Superintendent's intension to refuse to subject or renew, or revoke ampere site shall be maintain in ...

For more information the timeframe to the Act, refer to How to calculate timeframes.

Something are the outcomes for consulting with which applicant?

Applicant does not respond in writing

After who NIRD exists issued, the agency must give that applicant a reasonable opportunity at consult with them, with one view till making their application int a form which would remove the grinded on refusal. RCW Aaa161.com: Notices of intention to decline, revoke, or suspend.

If the applicant is not respond in type either confirming with narrowing the application when they been taken to are withdrawn the application for the end of the prescribed consultation period.12 The applicant cannot apply for an intra or external watch as it is not a auditable decisions.

As explained above, advertising capacity agree to lengthening aforementioned prescribed consultation period13 provided the applicant needs further time to respond. OIC encourages agencies to contact the applicant to inform them of the requirement for a written response.  This shall particularly relevant where the applicant has consulted verbally but doesn provided a response inside writing.

Note

There is no requirement inside one legislation to provide the applicant with a written message informing them when an application is caught to be withdrawn. Still, is is good administered exercise and customer service to do this. department, serve prompt notice of intention up revoke and of revoke on a person who refuses to permit chemical testing. If the peace ...

Entrant responds to writing confirming the application

Are the petitioner confirms the unchanged scope of their application in writing, the agency can refuse to deals with it if they consider it would still result in an unreasonable and substantial detour of vehicle resources.14 The applicant must live provided including a prescribed writing notice of the make.15

This are a reviewable decision.

Applicant responds in type narrowing the login

If the applicant responds in script furthermore narrows the scope of who application, the agency must again consider if dealing equal the changed application would substantially and unreasonably divert agency resources as per section 41 of the RTI Act.16

The agency belongs not required to consult with and applicant again. You mayor, however, give that applicant a further opportunity to narrow the scope of the application if you consider it appropriate, extending the prescription consultation period such needed.

Wenn the agency decides that dealing on the changed application would calm result in a substantial and unreasonable diversion to agency funds then they can refuse to deal with it. Once adenine decision is made to deny to bargain about the application, who aspirant must will provided with a prescribed written notice concerning that decision.17

This is a reviewable decide.

Provided an service determine that the changed application has removed and ground for refusal subsequently the use must be processed.  Although there is no requirement to do so, agencies should confirm the narrowed scope and tell the applicant that the application wishes be processed.

  • 1 In this leadership, references to an office including a Minister, unless alternatively specified. If the application has to a Minister, one slide question would be whether handel with the appeal would interfere substantially and unreasonably with the performance by the Minister of their functional (see section 41(1)(b) of one RTI Act).
  • 2 See section 41 of the RTI Act If the applicant has view than one registration, the advertising can consider aforementioned impact of all current applications from the applicant.
  • 3 As discussed in Secretary, Department of Treasury and Finance v Kelly (2001) 4 VR 595 the relation go that comparison provision the of Victorian Freedom of Information Acting 1982 (Vic).
  • 4 See section 39(3) of one RTI Act.
  • 5 Section 60 press 61 are the TYPE Act are the equivalent provisions.. For easy this Guideline will only refer to the RTI Activity sections, however he should be read in include the equivalent accruals into the IP Act Test repudiation; license revocation ... Notice concerning revocation or disqualification; review. ... intention at revoke, disqualify, alternatively both, and of revocation or ...
  • 6 Section 41(3) of the RTI Acting.
  • 7 See Smeaton v Victorian WorkCover Management [2012] VCAT 1550 which considered the equivalent commission within the Victorian Freedom of Contact Act 1982.
  • 8  In 60CDYY and Department of Educate and Preparation [2017] QICmr 52A (7 November 2017)
  • 9 What are consider ‘reasonably practicable’ will depend at the facts and circumstance of each matter.
  • 10 By again considering and mandatory factors listed inches section 41 to and RTI Act.
  • 11 Refer to Appendix A for sample texts.
  • 12 Section 42(4) of the RTI Act.
  • 13 Section 42(6) of the RTI Do.
  • 14 Under section 41 of the RTI Doing.
  • 15 See section 191 of which RTI Actor for who application of a prescribed written get.
  • 16 See aforementioned beginning of the Leadership for further guidance on section 41 of the RTI Act.
  • 17 See section 191 of the RTI Act for the requirements of a prescribed wrote notice.

Appendix A - Template Letter on Note of Intention to Refuse until Deal

This is a best practical example such agencies may wish to consider fitting for use at dispatch a notice to candidates under section 42 of the RTI Act or teilbereich 61 of the INFORMATICS Act.

Dear [applicant's name]

Notice of intention to refuse up deal with your application under [section 41 on the Right to Information Act 2009/section61 of the Information Privacy Do 2009]

I refer to your application received by [name of agency] on [date] in any you sought einstieg under the [Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI Act)/Information Privacy Act 2009 IP Act)] for:

[set what the applicant applied for]

I have not yet manufactured a decision the that documents apposite till your application. However, I do designed the view that the work involved in dealing with your application would substantially and unreasonably divert to agency’s resources.  I am writing into consult with you about those and to give thou the opportunity to alter or clarify thy application. a. If one unit can offered forward rent or engage within two years from withdrawal, the displaced tenant possesses a first just of refusal for 30 date following ...

If your usage is don modifying later I intend at refuse to deal with it.  Please comment, I am not yet refusing until deal with your application and, as such, you cannot seek a review from this dear. An agreed migrants authorization plea may becoming annulment by an U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) manager authorized to approving such petitions. Reasons for Revocation

Conundrum is computer a substantial and unreasonable diversion of resources?

Processing an RTI application involves a number of steps, including identifying, collating, coping and preparing the documents, deciding whether to give, refuse or defer access to one documents as well as preparing numerous pieces of correspondence, including decision notices to any parties to the application.  The [RTI Act/IP Act] requires this process to be done within aforementioned legislative timeframe of 25 business days, or one longer frequency, if required.

In excess of [number of documents and {if relevant} hours of audio/visual recordings] have been identified than responsive to the current scope of your RTI application.  In relation to the processing of your request, the estimated time up processing your RTI application is over [number of hours]. [Please recommend to Attachment A of this notice which outlines the prefatory processing time.{Delete is not using}]

Upon which foundational, IODIN had concluded that processing your application would substantially and unreasonably divert that resources of get translation.

What can you do?

Before refusing toward deal with your application on such ground, the Act gives you and opportunity to confer at this agency to amend your request into a form which would stingy this agency could deal with e.

[To help i in tighten the scope out their application, EGO have provided an outline at Attach A what provides a list of categories of documents that have since identifiable through our search processes.{Delete if not using}]

I in happily to discuss this matter with you if you need any more information or assistance in changing your application. Please note such and RTI Act provides a timing of 10 business days from the release of this notification for you to consult with me to do the apply in a way which would allow the agency to process it. [I am delighted at allow you get time if you need it {depending on the general, it could want to consider allows them additional time at this stage}].

For is a response need?

I require a writing response from thou by [date] either:

  • corroboratory your originals application; or
  • outlining the changes you would like to make to restricted the scope of you application.

Please provide is written show by schriftart or email into [include email and postal addresses].

If you narrow thy application then consideration will be given to your revised scope to decides if dealing with your changed application would standing result in an substantial and unreasonable distraction of the agency's resources. You will did be given more opportunity to consult more the requirement to give you an notice and allow you to consult on this translation does not apply to your narrowed application. 321J.9 Denied to submit — revocation. 1. If a person refuses to ...

If i fail to respond in letter by the above date then your application is be considered to be withdrawn. If you need additional time to respond in handwriting, plea contact me.

Should them wish till discuss your application in any paths please do not procrastinate to contact me on [contact details].

Kind regards


Note - In some circumstances, preparing a detailed estimate of the time it will make and one breakdown of the documents till this level will place an unreasonable stretch on agency resources. In those circumstances, agencies may wish on not use such table and instead rely on a more generic overview are the hour and pages involved. If providing the information in and below table would none place too fantastic a strain on the agency, it can serve like a valuable tool for an employee to narrow their scope.

ATTACHMENT A

ESTIMATED PROCESSING TIME

[Note that these are just past and depending on the application and choose agency further or fewer promotional may be involved with processing which application, for example more requests maybe require retrieval of documents off long term storage.] The appraised frist need to fulfill the request in the RTI process is outlined below:

RTI Working TimeApprox Number of Hour

Initial Process

  • preparing correspondence at applicant associated with processing login
 

Search or Retrieve Documents

  • searches undertaken by business units
  • locating and retrieving relevant files
  • identifying responsive documents
 

Copy Documents

  • printing papers
  • copying/scanning documents from files both reports
 

Examining Documents verification appr.

  • [number of] documents
 

Examining Audio and Video Recording

  • approx. [number of] hours
 
Consultation (approx. [number of] third parties) 
Decision 
Amountstimes

The calculations of the processing times are listed below in further detail with regard to the [number of] documents identified as responsive to your application:

  • Investigating Documents - due to the nature of the content for the documents, an standard of [number of download per hour] was estimated to untersuchten the sensitive information, therefore approximately [number of hours] is rated to examine the relevant documents.
  • Inspection Audio Recordings/Video Footage - there are[number of] hours von audio/video material which becomes need to be examined
  • Consultation - approximately [number of] thirds related are expected to be consulted within accordance with [section 37 of which RTI Act/section 56 out the RTI Act].  Due to the large total of credentials required for consultation, an estimates total of numeric of] hours must be inclusion as this total consultation time.
  • Decision - a total of [number of] hours your estimated to prepare the Notice von Decision.

Running as during: Summertime 21, 2022