OFFICIAL
FOI Request: LEX 11661

Dear Tyler

Thank you for your email dated 18 October 2024 seeking access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).

This email sets out some information about how your request will be processed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the department).

Scope of request:
You have sought access to:

- documents that were submitted to the Governor-General, or other relevant officers (e.g. Prime Minister??), for approval of appointment of Hon. George Brandis KC to the post of High Commissioner to the United Kingdom;

- letters of credence, or similar written correspondences (between governments within the Commonwealth of Nations), from Australia to the UK, and from the UK to the Australia, conveying and accepting (or otherwise confirming) the above appointment.

(I understand that the above appointment took place in 2018.)

If it emerges that the scope of your request is unclear or is too large for processing, the department will contact you to discuss re-scoping the request.

Timeframe for receiving our decision:
We received your request on 18 October 2024, and the 30-day statutory period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date. A decision is currently due to you by 18 November 2024. The period of 30 days may be extended in certain circumstances.

Charges:
Please note that the department may issue charges for processing FOI requests. If applicable, we will advise you of any relevant charges when we are in a position to estimate the resources required to process your request.

Disclosure log:
Please note that, with some exceptions (such as personal information), documents released under the FOI Act may later be published on the department's disclosure log.

Exclusion of officials' names and contact details:
It is the department's policy to withhold the personal information of junior staff from ministerial offices and government officials not in the Senior Executive Service (SES) or equivalent, including their email addresses and contact numbers, together with all signatures, mobile phone numbers, departmental inboxes and technical transmission details including reference numbers.

Duplicate documents and incomplete email chains:
Your request will be processed on the basis that you did not intend to capture duplicate documents or duplicate emails within email chains.
If you require the excluded information or documents, please let us know at [DFAT request email] so the decision-maker may consider; otherwise, we will take it that you agree to the information and documents being excluded from the scope of your request.

Personal Information:
If we need to consult with other people or organisations regarding your FOI request, we may need to disclose your personal information (e.g. your name). When we consult it may be apparent that you have made a request, even if we do not disclose your identity. Please let us know if you have any concerns in this regard. Further information on the way the department handles personal information is accessible via our privacy policy.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us by reply email.

Kind Regards

DFAT FOI Team
_______________________________
Freedom of Information Section
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Policy Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

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© Brooke Rigney-Lively (2024)
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all First Nations peoples, their cultures and to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tyler <[FOI #12178 email]>
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2024 8:27 AM
To: FOI FOI <[DFAT request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Freedom of Information request - Appointment of High Commissioner to UK, 2018 (Hon. George Brandis KC)

CAUTION: This email originated from outside the organisation. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender.

Dear Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

Is it possible to provide the following:

- documents that were submitted to the Governor-General, or other relevant officers (e.g. Prime Minister??), for approval of appointment of Hon. George Brandis KC to the post of High Commissioner to the United Kingdom;

- letters of credence, or similar written correspondences (between governments within the Commonwealth of Nations), from Australia to the UK, and from the UK to the Australia, conveying and accepting (or otherwise confirming) the above appointment.

(I understand that the above appointment took place in 2018.)

Thank you

Yours faithfully,
Tyler

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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #12178 email]

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