Thank you for your email, which has been forwarded to the Department’s FOI
Team for their consideration. A member of the FOI Team will respond to
your email in the next couple of days.

Kind regards

FOI Coordinator

OFFICIAL

Good afternoon,

Thank you for your below email to the Department of Finance (Finance).

You have indicated that the below FOI request is directed at the Finance
Minister’s office. You have requested:

All public speeches made by the Minister for Finance that contain a
condemnation about the killing of children in the occupied Palestinian
Territories, specifically in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip since the 7th October 2023. I require all draft and final versions
of these speeches.

If you intended for solely the Minister for Finance to consider this
request, we suggest you send this to [1][email address]
and advise that you do not require Finance to take any further action.

Otherwise, grateful if you could confirm if you intend for Finance to
process this request.

Kind regards,

FOI Team

FOI Officer | Legal and Assurance Branch

Business Enabling Services

Department of Finance

A: One Canberra Avenue, Forrest ACT 2603

-----Original Message-----

From: The FOI People <[2][FOI #11442 email]>

Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2024 10:43 PM

To: FOI Requests <[3][email address]>

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Children killed in the
Palestinian Territories

Dear Minister for Finance,

I am requesting the following documents under the FOI act:

All public speeches made by the Minister for Finance that contain a
condemnation about the killing of children in the occupied Palestinian
Territories, specifically in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip since the 7th October 2023. I require all draft and final versions
of these speeches.

Yours faithfully,

The FOI People

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

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

[4][FOI #11442 email]

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

[6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

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://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

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.

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References

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Thank you for your email, which has been forwarded to the Department’s FOI
Team for their consideration. A member of the FOI Team will respond to
your email in the next couple of days.

Kind regards

FOI Coordinator

OFFICIAL

Good morning,

Freedom of Information Request – FOI 23-24/158

Thank you for your email to the Department of Finance (Finance) requesting
access to the following documents under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act):

All public speeches made by the Minister for Finance that contain a
condemnation about the killing of children in the occupied Palestinian
Territories, specifically in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip since the 7th October 2023. I require all draft and final versions
of these speeches.

The subject matter of the requested documents is more closely connected
with the functions of the Minister for Finance. As such, Finance has
transferred your request, in full to the Finance Minister’s office under
section 16 of the FOI Act. 

The Finance Minister’s office will contact you in due course, however, if
you have any queries in the interim, please send any correspondence to
[1][email address] .

Kind regards

FOI Officer | Legal and Assurance Branch

Business Enabling Services

Department of Finance

A: One Canberra Avenue, Forrest ACT 2603

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]

OFFICIAL

Good morning

RE: Acknowledgment of Freedom of Information Request and Transfer

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request to the Department of
Finance, received on 22 May 2024, regarding access to documents under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). As outlined in your request,
you seek access to documents relating to:

o “All public speeches made by the Minister for Finance that contain a
condemnation about the killing of children in the occupied Palestinian
Territories, specifically in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the
Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023. You require all draft and final
versions of these speeches.”

The subject matter of the requested documents is more closely connected
with the functions of the Minister for Finance. Consequently, the
Department of Finance has transferred your request, in full, to our office
under section 16 of the FOI Act.

Please be advised that the statutory period for processing your request
commenced from 23 May 2024, with a decision due by 22 June 2024, in
accordance with Section 15(5)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Consultation:

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.

Charges:

You may be notified of any processing charges applicable to your request.
We will provide you with an estimate of these charges before processing
your request further or imposing a final charge. Charges are assessed
based on the time spent searching for, retrieving, and copying the
documents, among other factors.

Your prompt response to any notice of charges will help avoid delays in
processing your request.

Additional information:

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office
via [email address] or myself directly on this email.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Bailey

Office of Senator Katy Gallagher

Minister for Finance

Minister for Women

Minister for the Public Service

Manager of Government Business in the Senate

Senator for the Australian Capital Territory

Parliament House (02) 6277 7400

‘I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of Canberra
region and recognise any other people or families with connection to the
lands of the ACT and region. I acknowledge and respect their continuing
culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this
region.”

From: FOI Requests <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2024 11:40 AM
To: The FOI People <[FOI #11442 email]>
Cc: FOI Requests <[email address]>
Subject: FOI 23-24/158 Request has been transferred to Minister for
Finance's office [SEC=OFFICIAL]

OFFICIAL

Good morning,

Freedom of Information Request – FOI 23-24/158

Thank you for your email (23/05/24) to the Department of Finance (Finance)
requesting access to the following documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act)

All public speeches made by the Minister for Finance that contain a
condemnation about the killing of children in the occupied Palestinian
Territories, specifically in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip since the 7th October 2023. I require all draft and final versions
of these speeches.

The subject matter of the requested documents is more closely connected
with the functions of the Minister for Finance. As such, Finance has
transferred your request, in full to the Finance Minister’s office under
section 16 of the FOI Act.

The Finance Minister’s office will contact you in due course, however, if
you have any queries in the interim, please send any correspondence to
[1][email address] .

Kind regards

FOI Officer | Legal and Assurance Branch

Business Enabling Services

Department of Finance

A: One Canberra Avenue, Forrest ACT 2603

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]

OFFICIAL

Dear Applicant,

RE: Freedom of Information Request No. 2324-11

I am writing to notify you that a decision has been made regarding your
Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 22 May 2024, seeking documents
in the following terms:

“All public speeches made by the Minister for Finance that contain a
condemnation about the killing of children in the occupied Palestinian
Territories, specifically in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip since the 7th October 2023. I require all draft and final versions
of these speeches.”

Please find attached the Notice of Decision which contains details
regarding the outcome of your request.

Included in the attached decision notice are your rights should you wish
to seek a review of your FOI request.

We appreciate your patience and understanding throughout the processing of
your request.

If you have any further inquiries or require assistance with the
information provided, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Kind regards

Michael Bailey

Office of Senator Katy Gallagher

Minister for Finance

Minister for Women

Minister for the Public Service

Manager of Government Business in the Senate

Senator for the Australian Capital Territory

Parliament House (02) 6277 7400

‘I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of Canberra
region and recognise any other people or families with connection to the
lands of the ACT and region. I acknowledge and respect their continuing
culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this
region.”

Thank you for your email, which has been forwarded to the Department’s FOI
Team for their consideration. A member of the FOI Team will respond to
your email in the next couple of days.

Kind regards

FOI Coordinator

OFFICIAL

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your email to the Department of Finance (Finance). It is our
understanding that your request for internal review relates to a matter
transferred from Finance to the Office of the Minister for Finance
(“Minister’s office”) on 28 May 2024 (our ref: FOI 23-24/158).

Background

On 22 May 2024 Finance received your request for access to the following
documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act):

All public speeches made by the Minister for Finance that contain a
condemnation about the killing of children in the occupied Palestinian
Territories, specifically in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip since the 7th October 2023. I require all draft and final versions
of these speeches.

In an email to Finance on 23 May 2024, you confirmed that the above
request was “directed to the Minister for Finance”. Accordingly, Finance
transferred your request to the Minister’s office under section 16 of the
FOI Act and notified you of the transfer by email on 28 May 2024. Due to
this transfer, Finance was not responsible for making an access decision
or releasing documents in this matter. This was instead carried out by the
Minister’s office.

Information Commissioner Review

The [1]FOI Guidelines published by the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner (OAIC) provide that internal review cannot be
sought for decisions made by a minister (or someone the minister has
authorised to make a decision on their behalf). If you wish to seek review
of your decision, you must instead ask for an Information Commissioner
review (IC review). These review rights and the review application process
are set out in the decision letter provided to you by the Minister’s
office on 21 June 2024.

If you require further information about the decision or how to seek an IC
review, please direct your correspondence directly to the Minister’s
office: [2][email address] .

Kind regards,

FOI Officer.

Legal and Assurance Branch

Business Enabling Services

Department of Finance

A: One Canberra Avenue, Forrest ACT 2603

-----Original Message-----
From: The FOI People <[FOI #11442 email]>
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2024 9:59 PM
To: FOI Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Children
killed in the Palestinian Territories

Dear Minister for Finance,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information
reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Minister for Finance's
handling of my FOI request 'Children killed in the Palestinian
Territories'.

The first speech released has a condemnation of Hamas on October 7th, and
no other condemnations. It doesn't mention any children being killed in
the Palestinian Territories, let alone a condemnation. The second speech
again does not mention any condemnation of the children killed in the
Palestinian Territories. Also, no drafts of these speeches were released
which was requested in the FOI request.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on
the Internet at this address:
[3]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Yours faithfully,

The FOI People

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

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

[4][FOI #11442 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:

[5]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

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.

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

Be careful with this message

External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognise the sender and know the content is safe.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/c...
4. mailto:[FOI #11442 email]
5. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

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