DEFENCE FOI 400/24/25
STATEMENT OF REASONS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1982
1.
I refer to the request by Deborah-May (the applicant), dated and received on 
23 November 2024 by the Department of Defence (Defence), for access to the 
following documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act):
AI usage in Operation COVID Assist:
Documentation, reports, videos, or transcripts regarding the use of AI before, during, 
and after the operation.
Specific details on how AI systems were utilised in areas such as planning, logistical 
support, data analysis, or decision-making.
AI governance and oversight in Defence operations:
Records on risk assessments, governance measures, and oversight of AI systems used in 
Defence operations.
Any documented scenarios or contingency plans addressing potential risks from AI 
systems, such as failures, adversarial exploitation, or unintended subgoal emergence.
FOI decision maker
2.
I am the authorised officer pursuant to section 23 of the FOI Act to make a decision on 
this FOI request.
Documents identified
3.
I identified no documents as falling within the scope of the request.  
Decision
4.
I have decided to refuse the request under section 24A [requests may be refused if 
documents cannot be found, do not exist or have not been received] of the FOI Act.
Material taken into account
5.
In making my decision, I have had regard to:
a. the terms of the request;
b. relevant provisions of the FOI Act; 
c. the Guidelines published by the Office of the Australian Information 
Commissioner under section 93A of the FOI Act (the Guidelines); and
d. advice  received  from  relevant  personnel  within  Joint  Operations  Command 
(JOC),  Vice  Chief  of  the  Defence  Force  Group  (VCDFG),  Joint  Capabilities 
Group (JCG), Defence People Group (DPG) Security and Estate Group (SEG) 
and Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). 

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