54D Refusal to deal with application-previous application for same amendment

(1) This section applies if an applicant applies to an agency or Minister for amendment under section 53 of information in 1 or more documents (the later application) and has made an earlier application to the same agency or Minister for the same or a similar amendment under section 53 of information in 1 or more of the same documents (the earlier application).

(2) However, this section does not apply if the applicant withdrew the earlier application or the application was taken to be withdrawn under section 54C.

(3) The agency or Minister may, to the extent the later application relates to the amendment of a document or documents sought under the earlier application, refuse to deal with the later application on a ground mentioned in subsection (4) if—

(a) the agency or Minister is satisfied the amendment sought under the later application was the same or similar amendment sought under the earlier application; and

(b) the later application has not disclosed any reasonable basis for again seeking amendment of information in the document or documents.

(4) The grounds are as follows—

(a) the agency’s or Minister’s decision on the earlier application was to refuse to amend on a ground mentioned in section 54E(2);

(b) when the later application was made, the agency or Minister had not decided whether to amend the information to which the earlier application relates;

(i) is the subject of a review under division 2 and the review is not complete; or

(ii) has been the subject of a completed review under division 2.