Communication with ministers of parliament about the $50 million funding increase for EMDG
Dear Australian Trade Commission,
I'm requesting all internal communications/emails from September 1st, 2013 regarding the $50 million increase the Export Market Development Grant received, in particular communications with Federal or State ministers or any requests for an increase in funding.
Yours faithfully,
Mathew Peterson
Dear Mr Peterson,
Acknowledgement of FOI request received
Thank you for your email dated 6 March 2014 where you seek documentation regarding the $50 million increase to the Export Market Development Grant. You have asked for documentation dating from 1 September 2013 onwards (‘Request’).
Austrade received your request on 6 March. The 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date ie from 7 March. You can expect a decision on this Request by 7 April. However, we will aim to have this Request finalised as early as possible.
The period of 30 days to process this FOI request may be extended if we need to consult third parties, impose a charge, or for other reasons. We will let you know if this occurs. We will seek to process your request as quickly as possible.
You will be notified of any charges that Austrade may decide to impose in relation to your request as soon as possible before we process any documents that fall within the scope of your request.
Please also note that information released under the FOI Act may later be published online on our disclosure log (http://www.austrade.gov.au/FOI-disclosur...), subject to certain exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where this would be unreasonable.)
We will contact you using this email address. Please advise if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
More information about exemptions under the FOI Act is available in Fact Sheet 8 on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s website: www.oaic.gov.au/publications/factsheets.....
Yours sincerely,
Dear Mr Peterson. I refer to your FOI request dated 6 March 2014 sent to
the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) with respect to internal
communications from 1 September 2013 regarding a $50 million increase to
the Export Market Development Grants scheme.
Please see attached a bundle of documents that respond to your request. A
second email will follow in a moment with the remaining documents.
Although not expressly requested, you might be interested in the
Coalition’s policy document dated August 2013, the Export Market
Development Grants Amendment Bill 2014 and the Explanatory Memorandum for
that Bill, which address the issue. Those documents can be accessed via
the following links:
[1]https://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2...
[2]http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014B0...
Austrade is withholding four Ministerial Submissions on the issue, and a
letter from the Prime Minister to the Minister for Trade and Investment
with respect to the issue, on the basis of sections 34 (Cabinet documents)
and 47C (deliberative processes) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
I am seeking confirmation that those documents are not to be released. If
you wish to press your FOI request in relation to the withheld documents,
please let me know.
Regards
Stephen Thompson | Seconded Legal Officer, Legal Services
Legal, Security & Procurement
Education and Corporate Operations
Australian Trade Commission (Austrade)
Level 23, 201 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000
T +61 2 9392 2356 | F +61 2 9392 2115 | M 0404 828 224
[3][email address] | [4]www.austrade.gov.au
References
Visible links
1. https://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2...
2. http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014B0...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.austrade.gov.au/
Email #2.
From: Stephen-Thompson (Sydney)
Sent: Monday, 7 April 2014 4:43 PM
To: '[FOI #554 email]'
Cc: FOI Coordination Officer
Subject: FOI request to Austrade dated 6 March 2014 - email #1 of 2
[SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Dear Mr Peterson. I refer to your FOI request dated 6 March 2014 sent to
the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) with respect to internal
communications from 1 September 2013 regarding a $50 million increase to
the Export Market Development Grants scheme.
Please see attached a bundle of documents that respond to your request. A
second email will follow in a moment with the remaining documents.
Although not expressly requested, you might be interested in the
Coalition’s policy document dated August 2013, the Export Market
Development Grants Amendment Bill 2014 and the Explanatory Memorandum for
that Bill, which address the issue. Those documents can be accessed via
the following links:
[1]https://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2...
[2]http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014B0...
Austrade is withholding four Ministerial Submissions on the issue, and a
letter from the Prime Minister to the Minister for Trade and Investment
with respect to the issue, on the basis of sections 34 (Cabinet documents)
and 47C (deliberative processes) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
I am seeking confirmation that those documents are not to be released. If
you wish to press your FOI request in relation to the withheld documents,
please let me know.
Regards
Stephen Thompson | Seconded Legal Officer, Legal Services
Legal, Security & Procurement
Education and Corporate Operations
Australian Trade Commission (Austrade)
Level 23, 201 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000
T +61 2 9392 2356 | F +61 2 9392 2115 | M 0404 828 224
[3][email address] | [4]www.austrade.gov.au
References
Visible links
1. https://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2...
2. http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014B0...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.austrade.gov.au/
Dear Mr Peterson. I refer to your FOI request dated 6 March 2014 sent to
the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) with respect to internal
communications from 1 September 2013 regarding a $50 million increase to
the Export Market Development Grants scheme.
Austrade has identified some documents which might be eligible for release
in response to your request, and possible other documents. I will be in
touch about those documents shortly.
In the meantime, although not expressly requested, you might be interested
in the Coalition’s policy document dated August 2013, the Export Market
Development Grants Amendment Bill 2014 and the Explanatory Memorandum for
that Bill, which may be relevant to your FOI request. Those documents can
be accessed via the following links:
[1]https://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2...
[2]http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014B0...
Regards
Stephen Thompson | Seconded Legal Officer, Legal Services
Legal, Security & Procurement
Education and Corporate Operations
Australian Trade Commission (Austrade)
Level 23, 201 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000
T +61 2 9392 2356 | F +61 2 9392 2115 | M 0404 828 224
[3][email address] | [4]www.austrade.gov.au
References
Visible links
1. https://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2...
2. http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014B0...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.austrade.gov.au/