The sender of this email certifies that its contents, and any attachments,
are of an 'OFFICIAL' nature.

Good morning,

Freedom of Information request no. 24-2025

I refer to your request for access to documents related to the Royal
Assent of the Foreign States Immunities Amendment Act 2009.

OPC received your request on 13 January 2025 and the 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date.
You should therefore expect a decision from us by 12 February 2025. The
period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third parties or
for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.

If you require this information, please let us know so the decision maker
may consider releasing it. Otherwise, we will take it that you agree to
this information being excluded from the scope of your request (that is,
the information will be treated as irrelevant and redacted from any
documents for release).

Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
([1]https://www.opc.gov.au/corporate‑informa...),
subject to certain exceptions. For example, personal information will not
be published where this would be unreasonable.

We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

Kind Regards,

FOI Contact Officer

a: 28 Sydney Ave Forrest ACT 2603

t: 02 6120 1400

e: [2][OPC request email]

w: [3]www.opc.gov.au

P Please consider the environmental impact before you print this email

[4]Indigenous Signature 1

-----Original Message-----
From: Tyler <[FOI #12720 email]>
Sent: Monday, 13 January 2025 1:42 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Act No. 89 of 2009 -
assented/signed copy and documents submitted for Royal Assent

Dear Office of Parliamentary Counsel,

Is it possible for OPC (and if necessary, other relevant offices if any
such as the Office of the Official Secretary of the Governor-General) to
provide the following on Act No. 89 of 2009, Foreign States Immunities
Amendment Act 2009?

I am looking for:

- A copy of the Act as passed with signature of the Royal Assent.

- Documents submitted to the Governor-General for royal assent to the Act
(including the certificate from either the House of Representatives or the
Senate, and the certificate signed by the Attorney-General recommending
assent).

Thanks Yous!

Yours faithfully,

Tyler

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[5][FOI #12720 email]

Is [6][OPC request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Office of Parliamentary Counsel? If so, please contact us using this
form:

[7]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[8]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. https://www.opc.gov.au/corporate%1einfor...
2. mailto:[OPC request email]
3. http://www.opc.gov.au/
5. mailto:[FOI #12720 email]
6. mailto:[OPC request email]
7. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
8. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

The sender of this email certifies that its contents, and any attachments,
are of an 'OFFICIAL' nature.

Good morning,

Freedom of Information request no. 24-2025

I refer to your request to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) for access to documents related
to the Royal Assent of the Foreign States Immunities Amendment Act 2009.

The purpose of this email is to advise you that part of your request has
been transferred to another agency.

Under section 16(1) of the FOI Act, OPC with the agreement of the other
agency, may transfer part of the request to the other agency if the
requested document is not in the possession of OPC but is in the
possession of the other agency or if the subject matter of the document is
more closely connected with the functions of the other agency.

OPC, with agreement, transferred part of your request as the documents are
in the possession of the Office of the Official Secretary to the
Governor-General.

The part of your request that has been transferred is:

o Documents submitted to the Governor-General for royal assent to the
Act (including the certificate from either the House of
Representatives or the Senate, and the certificate signed by the
Attorney-General recommending assent).

We received your request on 13 January 2025 and the 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from the day after that
date.  The transfer of your request does not affect the due date for
completion of your request. You should therefore expect a decision from
the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General by 12
February 2025. However, the statutory period of 30 days may be extended if
the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General needs to
consult third parties or for other reasons. The Office of the Official
Secretary to the Governor-General will advise you if this happens.

If you have any questions about this transfer, please contact us by email
to [1][email address].

If you have any other questions about your request, the contact details
for the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General are
[2][email address].

Kind regards,

FOI Contact Officer

a: 28 Sydney Ave Forrest ACT 2603

t: 02 6120 1400

e: [3][OPC request email]

w: [4]www.opc.gov.au

P Please consider the environmental impact before you print this email

[5]Indigenous Signature 1

-----Original Message-----
From: Tyler <[FOI #12720 email]>
Sent: Monday, 13 January 2025 1:42 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Act No. 89 of 2009 -
assented/signed copy and documents submitted for Royal Assent

Dear Office of Parliamentary Counsel,

Is it possible for OPC (and if necessary, other relevant offices if any
such as the Office of the Official Secretary of the Governor-General) to
provide the following on Act No. 89 of 2009, Foreign States Immunities
Amendment Act 2009?

I am looking for:

- A copy of the Act as passed with signature of the Royal Assent.

- Documents submitted to the Governor-General for royal assent to the Act
(including the certificate from either the House of Representatives or the
Senate, and the certificate signed by the Attorney-General recommending
assent).

Thanks Yous!

Yours faithfully,

Tyler

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[6][FOI #12720 email]

Is [7][OPC request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Office of Parliamentary Counsel? If so, please contact us using this
form:

[8]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[9]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[OPC request email]
4. http://www.opc.gov.au/
6. mailto:[FOI #12720 email]
7. mailto:[OPC request email]
8. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
9. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

The sender of this email certifies that its contents, and any attachments,
are of an 'OFFICIAL' nature.

Good morning,

In response to your FOI Request received by the Office of Parliamentary
Counsel on 13 January 2025, please find attached the decision by the
Agency’s authorised decision-maker under section 23 of the FOI Act.

Kind regards,

FOI Contact Officer

a: 28 Sydney Ave Forrest ACT 2603

t: 02 6120 1400

e: [1][OPC request email]

w: [2]www.opc.gov.au

P Please consider the environmental impact before you print this email

[3]Indigenous Signature 1

-----Original Message-----
From: Tyler <[FOI #12720 email]>
Sent: Monday, 13 January 2025 1:42 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Act No. 89 of 2009 -
assented/signed copy and documents submitted for Royal Assent

Dear Office of Parliamentary Counsel,

Is it possible for OPC (and if necessary, other relevant offices if any
such as the Office of the Official Secretary of the Governor-General) to
provide the following on Act No. 89 of 2009, Foreign States Immunities
Amendment Act 2009?

I am looking for:

- A copy of the Act as passed with signature of the Royal Assent.

- Documents submitted to the Governor-General for royal assent to the Act
(including the certificate from either the House of Representatives or the
Senate, and the certificate signed by the Attorney-General recommending
assent).

Thanks Yous!

Yours faithfully,

Tyler

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[4][FOI #12720 email]

Is [5][OPC request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Office of Parliamentary Counsel? If so, please contact us using this
form:

[6]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[7]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[OPC request email]
2. http://www.opc.gov.au/
4. mailto:[FOI #12720 email]
5. mailto:[OPC request email]
6. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
7. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

Dear Tyler,

Our ref: FOI2025008

As per the email sent to you by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) dated 22 January 2025, part of your Freedom of Information request was transferred to the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General, as OPC determined that the subject-matter more closely connected with the functions of the Office.
Accordingly, please find attached the OOSGG component of the response to your FOI request.

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information Contact Officer
Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General
W: www.gg.gov.au

-----Original Message-----
From: Tyler <[FOI #12720 email]>
Sent: Monday, 13 January 2025 1:42 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Act No. 89 of 2009 - assented/signed copy and documents submitted for Royal Assent [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Dear Office of Parliamentary Counsel,

Is it possible for OPC (and if necessary, other relevant offices if any such as the Office of the Official Secretary of the Governor-General) to provide the following on Act No. 89 of 2009, Foreign States Immunities Amendment Act 2009?

I am looking for:

- A copy of the Act as passed with signature of the Royal Assent.

- Documents submitted to the Governor-General for royal assent to the Act (including the certificate from either the House of Representatives or the Senate, and the certificate signed by the Attorney-General recommending assent).

Thanks Yous!

Yours faithfully,

Tyler

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #12720 email]

Is [OPC request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Office of Parliamentary Counsel? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

hide quoted sections

The sender of this email certifies that its contents, and any attachments,
are of an 'OFFICIAL' nature.

Good morning,

Thank you for your email seeking a review of the FOI decision that was
sent to you on 28 January 2025.

Your request will be independently reviewed internally and responded to as
set out in the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Kind regards,

FOI Contact Officer

a: 28 Sydney Ave Forrest ACT 2603

t: 02 6120 1400

e: [1][OPC request email]

w: [2]www.opc.gov.au

P Please consider the environmental impact before you print this email

[3]Indigenous Signature 1

-----Original Message-----
From: Tyler <[FOI #12720 email]>
Sent: Friday, 31 January 2025 5:43 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Act No. 89 of
2009 - assented/signed copy and documents submitted for Royal Assent

OPC ref: no. 24-2025 (T25/6)

OOSGG ref: FOI2025008

Dear Office of Parliamentary Counsel and Office of the Official Secretary
of the Governor-General,

Please pass this on to the person(s) who conduct(s) Freedom of Information
reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of the handling by the Office
of the Official Secretary of the Governor-General and the Office of
Parliamentary Counsel of my FOI request 'Act No. 89 of 2009 -
assented/signed copy and documents submitted for Royal Assent'. A full
history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the
Internet at this address:
[4]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...

My request for review concerns my request for:

"Documents submitted to the Governor-General for royal assent to the Act
(including the certificate from either the House of Representatives or the
Senate, and the certificate signed by the Attorney-General recommending
assent)"

on which OOSGG replied to me on 30 January 2025.

My reasons and concerns for requesting review are as follows.

1, OSSGG

OSSGG's letter on 30 January 2025 mentioned two provisions in the FOI Act
for refusal of my above request. The two provisions were sections 6A and
24A of the FOI Act.

I understand the OSSGG's reasons under section 6A of the FOI Act. But I
wonder if section 24A is also relevant here, and if the answer is yes,
then which other office/department would have copy of the documents being
sought.

I ask this question about section 24A, because on past occasions, OPC have
very helpfully provided such documents relating to other Acts of the
Commonwealth Parliament, which included (one) a letter from either the
Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President of the Senate to
the Governor-General, about the passage of a bill for the
Governor-General's assent, and (two) a certificate or note from the
Attorney-General to the Governor-General on whether any amendments to the
bill should be proposed and whether the bill should be reserved for the
monarch's pleasure. (And on some occasions, OPC have also included copy of
a note from the First Parliamentary Counsel to the Attorney-General on the
matters to be addressed by the certificate or note  from the
Attorney-General to the Governor-General).

For example, OPC has very helpfully provided such information in OPC FOI
request no. 28-2025

[5]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...

On this basis, can OSSGG review and confirm whether both sections 6A and
24A are applicable (to the extent that my present request relates to
OSSGG)?

2, OPC

I understood that OPC does not have copy of these documents, and this was
the reason why this part of my request (for the above documents) was
transferred to OSSGG.

Can OPC review and confirm: whether OPC does have these documents in its
possession (and as such may provide copy of these documents as requested)?
And if OPC does not have these documents, then which offices/departments
should have copies of these documents (e.g. Attorney-General?
Attorney-General's Department?) to which this part of my request should be
transferred?

Early advice from both OSSGG and OPC is very very much appreciated

Thank yous!

Yours faithfully,

Tyler

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[6][FOI #12720 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[7]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[OPC request email]
2. http://www.opc.gov.au/
4. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...
5. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...
6. mailto:[FOI #12720 email]
7. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

The sender of this email certifies that its contents, and any attachments,
are of an 'OFFICIAL' nature.

Good afternoon Mr Hu,

In response to your request for an Internal Review of FOI Request 24-2025
received by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel on 31 January 2025, please
find attached the decision by the Agency’s authorised decision-maker under
section 23 of the FOI Act.

Kind regards,

FOI Contact Officer

a: 28 Sydney Ave Forrest ACT 2603

t: 02 6120 1400

e: [1][OPC request email]

w: [2]www.opc.gov.au

P Please consider the environmental impact before you print this email

[3]Indigenous Signature 1

-----Original Message-----
From: Tyler <[FOI #12720 email]>
Sent: Friday, 31 January 2025 5:43 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Act No. 89 of
2009 - assented/signed copy and documents submitted for Royal Assent

OPC ref: no. 24-2025 (T25/6)

OOSGG ref: FOI2025008

Dear Office of Parliamentary Counsel and Office of the Official Secretary
of the Governor-General,

Please pass this on to the person(s) who conduct(s) Freedom of Information
reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of the handling by the Office
of the Official Secretary of the Governor-General and the Office of
Parliamentary Counsel of my FOI request 'Act No. 89 of 2009 -
assented/signed copy and documents submitted for Royal Assent'. A full
history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the
Internet at this address:
[4]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...

My request for review concerns my request for:

"Documents submitted to the Governor-General for royal assent to the Act
(including the certificate from either the House of Representatives or the
Senate, and the certificate signed by the Attorney-General recommending
assent)"

on which OOSGG replied to me on 30 January 2025.

My reasons and concerns for requesting review are as follows.

1, OSSGG

OSSGG's letter on 30 January 2025 mentioned two provisions in the FOI Act
for refusal of my above request. The two provisions were sections 6A and
24A of the FOI Act.

I understand the OSSGG's reasons under section 6A of the FOI Act. But I
wonder if section 24A is also relevant here, and if the answer is yes,
then which other office/department would have copy of the documents being
sought.

I ask this question about section 24A, because on past occasions, OPC have
very helpfully provided such documents relating to other Acts of the
Commonwealth Parliament, which included (one) a letter from either the
Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President of the Senate to
the Governor-General, about the passage of a bill for the
Governor-General's assent, and (two) a certificate or note from the
Attorney-General to the Governor-General on whether any amendments to the
bill should be proposed and whether the bill should be reserved for the
monarch's pleasure. (And on some occasions, OPC have also included copy of
a note from the First Parliamentary Counsel to the Attorney-General on the
matters to be addressed by the certificate or note  from the
Attorney-General to the Governor-General).

For example, OPC has very helpfully provided such information in OPC FOI
request no. 28-2025

[5]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...

On this basis, can OSSGG review and confirm whether both sections 6A and
24A are applicable (to the extent that my present request relates to
OSSGG)?

2, OPC

I understood that OPC does not have copy of these documents, and this was
the reason why this part of my request (for the above documents) was
transferred to OSSGG.

Can OPC review and confirm: whether OPC does have these documents in its
possession (and as such may provide copy of these documents as requested)?
And if OPC does not have these documents, then which offices/departments
should have copies of these documents (e.g. Attorney-General?
Attorney-General's Department?) to which this part of my request should be
transferred?

Early advice from both OSSGG and OPC is very very much appreciated

Thank yous!

Yours faithfully,

Tyler

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[6][FOI #12720 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:

[7]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[OPC request email]
2. http://www.opc.gov.au/
4. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...
5. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/a...
6. mailto:[FOI #12720 email]
7. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections