OFFICIAL
 
 
FOI Request: LEX 11828
  
Dear Oliver Smith 
  
Thank you for your email dated 28 November 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 created since 1 July 2024 in relation to the cost of
Australia Day events at Australian Government embassies, high commissions,
consulates, multilateral missions and representative offices.’
  
Clarification of scope:  
Your scope as it currently reads would require document searches to be
tasked to every Post in our overseas network to locate documents as
expenditure of this nature is typically managed locally by our embassies
and consulates and not through a central unit in Canberra. As such, we are
inviting you to revise the scope of your request. For example, you may
wish to limit it to a specific Post. If you do not revise the scope of
this request, it is our preliminary view that a Practical Refusal reason
will exist and we may proceed to a formal refusal process under section
24AB of the FOI Act 1982.
 
We would be grateful if you could please provide a revised scope by COB
Monday 2 December 2024.
  
Timeframe for receiving our decision:  
We received your request on 28 November 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 30 December 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 [1]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 [2][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 [3]privacy policy.  
  
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us by reply email.  
  
Kind regards  
  
Aaron
_______________________________
Freedom of Information Section
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Policy Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
[4]dfat.gov.au | [5]X | [6]Facebook | [7]Instagram  | [8]LinkedIn
 
© 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.
 
 
 
 

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OFFICIAL
Good afternoon Oliver Smith

Please see attached correspondence relating to your request.

Kinds regards,

Aaron
_______________________________
Freedom of Information Section
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Policy Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
dfat.gov.au | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

© 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.

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