OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Nosey

Thank you for your email dated 16 December 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:

I seek access to any and all documents, records, data, and supporting
material held by [Name of Agency] concerning the sharing of personal
information originating from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
over the last ten years. This includes any data transfers from or to the
DVA, whether they were one-off exchanges or ongoing, systematic transfers
of DVA client information, including personal, medical, financial, or
service-related details concerning veterans or their dependents.

I am interested in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of what DVA
client information [Authority name] has received or accessed and for what
purposes. Specifically, I request:

All records of data sharing arrangements between DVA and [Authority name],
including but not limited to memoranda of understanding, service-level
agreements, emails, letters, meeting minutes, file transfer logs, internal
reports, and instructions that outline what data was shared, when it was
shared, and the format or system used for the transfer.

Any policies, procedures, guidelines, or frameworks that govern how
[Authority name] requests, obtains, stores, handles, or uses DVA client
information. This includes documents that detail the criteria for
approving access to such data, any consent or authorization processes,
security controls, and retention or destruction policies.

Copies of any ethics committee approvals, privacy impact assessments,
internal review board decisions, or other documents that reflect
deliberations or authorizations for obtaining DVA client information. This
includes records that show the agency considered the ethical, legal, or
privacy implications of receiving or using DVA client data.

Documents that outline the intended uses or practical applications of the
DVA client data, such as project proposals, business cases, internal
strategy papers, or briefings that explain why [Authority name] sought
access to this information, how it was intended to be integrated into the
agency’s operations, and any expected outcomes or benefits.

A representative sample (in a suitably de-identified or redacted form) of
the data or data fields received, so long as providing this sample does
not breach any exemption under the FOI Act. The purpose is to understand
the nature and granularity of the information shared, without disclosing
identifiable personal details.

If the only data [Authority name] received pertains solely to data linked
to the Centrelink Confirmation eServices (CCeS) arrangements as described
at
[1]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...,
and there were no other forms of DVA data shared, then no CCeS-related
data needs to be provided under this request.

I emphasize that I am not authorizing the transfer of this FOI request to
the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or any other agency. If [Authority
name] holds the requested information, it should provide it directly. If
there are parts of this request that [Name of Agency] does not understand
or believes are not held, I invite you to contact me to clarify or refine
the scope under section 24AB of the FOI Act, rather than initiating a
transfer. However, I do not consent to the transfer of this request to
another entity. The FOI Act places the onus on agencies to process
requests for documents they hold, and I expect [Authority name] to meet
its responsibilities in this regard.

I note that the statutory timeframe for processing FOI requests is 30 days
from the date of receipt. I do not consent to any extension of time due to
internal reduced activity periods, holiday stand-down periods, or other
internal operational issues. If [Authority name] considers that it cannot
meet the 30-day timeframe, it may seek an extension from the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner as provided under section 15AB of the
FOI Act. I request to be notified if such an application is made.

If you consider any part of this request too broad or complex, please
contact me promptly to discuss refining its scope. I remain willing to
consider adjustments that will assist efficient processing, provided that
they occur within the statutory timeframe and do not undermine the
substance of what I am seeking.

I believe that disclosure of these documents is in the public interest, as
it promotes transparency and accountability in how government agencies
access and use sensitive personal information about veterans. Should you
consider charges applicable, I request that you exercise your discretion
to reduce or waive them, given the importance of the matter and its
alignment with the principles of open government and public
accountability.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has reviewed your request and has
determined that there is insufficient information to action this request.

Clarification of your scope:

Upon review of your request, the department considers that we require
further clarity or direction as to what records you are seeking. This is
because it is not clear what documents you are seeking.

In consideration of clarifying your request, you may find it useful to
consult our [2]organisation chart and advise us which branch of the
department we should task your request to.

Consideration of withdrawing your request:

We also acknowledge that you do not authorise the transfer of this FOI
request to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, however, we believe that
the Department of Veterans' Affairs would be the most appropriate agency
to respond to your request. Considering the above circumstances, we would
like to provide you with an opportunity to withdraw your application. We
would be grateful for your reply by email should you wish to withdraw your
application.

We would be grateful for your reply on how to process your request by: COB
Wednesday 18 December 2024.

Kind Regards,

DFAT FOI Team

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

[3]dfat.gov.au | [4]X | [5]Facebook | [6]Instagram  | [7]LinkedIn

[8]undefined

© 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.

show quoted sections

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Nosey,

Please refer to the below email to clarify the scope of your request.

We could be grateful if you could provide a response by COB 20 December
2024.

Kind Regards,

DFAT FOI Team

_______________________________
Freedom of Information Section  
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Division

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[1]dfat.gov.au | [2]X | [3]Facebook | [4]Instagram  | [5]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.

From: FOI FOI
Sent: Monday, 16 December 2024 3:35 PM
To: noseyrosey <[FOI #12600 email]>
Subject: Your FOI Request - Clarification of Scope - LEX11874
[SEC=OFFICIAL]

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Nosey

Thank you for your email dated 16 December 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:

I seek access to any and all documents, records, data, and supporting
material held by [Name of Agency] concerning the sharing of personal
information originating from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
over the last ten years. This includes any data transfers from or to the
DVA, whether they were one-off exchanges or ongoing, systematic transfers
of DVA client information, including personal, medical, financial, or
service-related details concerning veterans or their dependents.

I am interested in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of what DVA
client information [Authority name] has received or accessed and for what
purposes. Specifically, I request:

All records of data sharing arrangements between DVA and [Authority name],
including but not limited to memoranda of understanding, service-level
agreements, emails, letters, meeting minutes, file transfer logs, internal
reports, and instructions that outline what data was shared, when it was
shared, and the format or system used for the transfer.

Any policies, procedures, guidelines, or frameworks that govern how
[Authority name] requests, obtains, stores, handles, or uses DVA client
information. This includes documents that detail the criteria for
approving access to such data, any consent or authorization processes,
security controls, and retention or destruction policies.

Copies of any ethics committee approvals, privacy impact assessments,
internal review board decisions, or other documents that reflect
deliberations or authorizations for obtaining DVA client information. This
includes records that show the agency considered the ethical, legal, or
privacy implications of receiving or using DVA client data.

Documents that outline the intended uses or practical applications of the
DVA client data, such as project proposals, business cases, internal
strategy papers, or briefings that explain why [Authority name] sought
access to this information, how it was intended to be integrated into the
agency’s operations, and any expected outcomes or benefits.

A representative sample (in a suitably de-identified or redacted form) of
the data or data fields received, so long as providing this sample does
not breach any exemption under the FOI Act. The purpose is to understand
the nature and granularity of the information shared, without disclosing
identifiable personal details.

If the only data [Authority name] received pertains solely to data linked
to the Centrelink Confirmation eServices (CCeS) arrangements as described
at
[6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...,
and there were no other forms of DVA data shared, then no CCeS-related
data needs to be provided under this request.

I emphasize that I am not authorizing the transfer of this FOI request to
the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or any other agency. If [Authority
name] holds the requested information, it should provide it directly. If
there are parts of this request that [Name of Agency] does not understand
or believes are not held, I invite you to contact me to clarify or refine
the scope under section 24AB of the FOI Act, rather than initiating a
transfer. However, I do not consent to the transfer of this request to
another entity. The FOI Act places the onus on agencies to process
requests for documents they hold, and I expect [Authority name] to meet
its responsibilities in this regard.

I note that the statutory timeframe for processing FOI requests is 30 days
from the date of receipt. I do not consent to any extension of time due to
internal reduced activity periods, holiday stand-down periods, or other
internal operational issues. If [Authority name] considers that it cannot
meet the 30-day timeframe, it may seek an extension from the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner as provided under section 15AB of the
FOI Act. I request to be notified if such an application is made.

If you consider any part of this request too broad or complex, please
contact me promptly to discuss refining its scope. I remain willing to
consider adjustments that will assist efficient processing, provided that
they occur within the statutory timeframe and do not undermine the
substance of what I am seeking.

I believe that disclosure of these documents is in the public interest, as
it promotes transparency and accountability in how government agencies
access and use sensitive personal information about veterans. Should you
consider charges applicable, I request that you exercise your discretion
to reduce or waive them, given the importance of the matter and its
alignment with the principles of open government and public
accountability.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has reviewed your request and has
determined that there is insufficient information to action this request.

Clarification of your scope:

Upon review of your request, the department considers that we require
further clarity or direction as to what records you are seeking. This is
because it is not clear what documents you are seeking.

In consideration of clarifying your request, you may find it useful to
consult our [7]organisation chart and advise us which branch of the
department we should task your request to.

Consideration of withdrawing your request:

We also acknowledge that you do not authorise the transfer of this FOI
request to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, however, we believe that
the Department of Veterans' Affairs would be the most appropriate agency
to respond to your request. Considering the above circumstances, we would
like to provide you with an opportunity to withdraw your application. We
would be grateful for your reply by email should you wish to withdraw your
application.

We would be grateful for your reply on how to process your request by: COB
Wednesday 18 December 2024.

Kind Regards,

DFAT FOI Team

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

[8]dfat.gov.au | [9]X | [10]Facebook | [11]Instagram  | [12]LinkedIn

[13]undefined

© 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.

show quoted sections

OFFICIAL

DFAT FOI Reference: LEX 11874

Dear Mr Nosey

Please find attached letter from the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade regarding your FOI request.

Kind Regards

DFAT FOI Team

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

[1]dfat.gov.au | [2]X | [3]Facebook | [4]Instagram  | [5]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.

From: FOI FOI
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2024 10:17 AM
To: noseyrosey <[FOI #12600 email]>
Subject: RE: Your FOI Request - Clarification of Scope - LEX11874
[SEC=OFFICIAL]

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Nosey,

Please refer to the below email to clarify the scope of your request.

We could be grateful if you could provide a response by COB 20 December
2024.

Kind Regards,

DFAT FOI Team

_______________________________
Freedom of Information Section  
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Division

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[6]dfat.gov.au | [7]X | [8]Facebook | [9]Instagram  | [10]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.

From: FOI FOI
Sent: Monday, 16 December 2024 3:35 PM
To: noseyrosey <[11][FOI #12600 email]>
Subject: Your FOI Request - Clarification of Scope - LEX11874
[SEC=OFFICIAL]

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Nosey

Thank you for your email dated 16 December 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:

I seek access to any and all documents, records, data, and supporting
material held by [Name of Agency] concerning the sharing of personal
information originating from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
over the last ten years. This includes any data transfers from or to the
DVA, whether they were one-off exchanges or ongoing, systematic transfers
of DVA client information, including personal, medical, financial, or
service-related details concerning veterans or their dependents.

I am interested in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of what DVA
client information [Authority name] has received or accessed and for what
purposes. Specifically, I request:

All records of data sharing arrangements between DVA and [Authority name],
including but not limited to memoranda of understanding, service-level
agreements, emails, letters, meeting minutes, file transfer logs, internal
reports, and instructions that outline what data was shared, when it was
shared, and the format or system used for the transfer.

Any policies, procedures, guidelines, or frameworks that govern how
[Authority name] requests, obtains, stores, handles, or uses DVA client
information. This includes documents that detail the criteria for
approving access to such data, any consent or authorization processes,
security controls, and retention or destruction policies.

Copies of any ethics committee approvals, privacy impact assessments,
internal review board decisions, or other documents that reflect
deliberations or authorizations for obtaining DVA client information. This
includes records that show the agency considered the ethical, legal, or
privacy implications of receiving or using DVA client data.

Documents that outline the intended uses or practical applications of the
DVA client data, such as project proposals, business cases, internal
strategy papers, or briefings that explain why [Authority name] sought
access to this information, how it was intended to be integrated into the
agency’s operations, and any expected outcomes or benefits.

A representative sample (in a suitably de-identified or redacted form) of
the data or data fields received, so long as providing this sample does
not breach any exemption under the FOI Act. The purpose is to understand
the nature and granularity of the information shared, without disclosing
identifiable personal details.

If the only data [Authority name] received pertains solely to data linked
to the Centrelink Confirmation eServices (CCeS) arrangements as described
at
[12]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...,
and there were no other forms of DVA data shared, then no CCeS-related
data needs to be provided under this request.

I emphasize that I am not authorizing the transfer of this FOI request to
the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or any other agency. If [Authority
name] holds the requested information, it should provide it directly. If
there are parts of this request that [Name of Agency] does not understand
or believes are not held, I invite you to contact me to clarify or refine
the scope under section 24AB of the FOI Act, rather than initiating a
transfer. However, I do not consent to the transfer of this request to
another entity. The FOI Act places the onus on agencies to process
requests for documents they hold, and I expect [Authority name] to meet
its responsibilities in this regard.

I note that the statutory timeframe for processing FOI requests is 30 days
from the date of receipt. I do not consent to any extension of time due to
internal reduced activity periods, holiday stand-down periods, or other
internal operational issues. If [Authority name] considers that it cannot
meet the 30-day timeframe, it may seek an extension from the Office of the
Australian Information Commissioner as provided under section 15AB of the
FOI Act. I request to be notified if such an application is made.

If you consider any part of this request too broad or complex, please
contact me promptly to discuss refining its scope. I remain willing to
consider adjustments that will assist efficient processing, provided that
they occur within the statutory timeframe and do not undermine the
substance of what I am seeking.

I believe that disclosure of these documents is in the public interest, as
it promotes transparency and accountability in how government agencies
access and use sensitive personal information about veterans. Should you
consider charges applicable, I request that you exercise your discretion
to reduce or waive them, given the importance of the matter and its
alignment with the principles of open government and public
accountability.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has reviewed your request and has
determined that there is insufficient information to action this request.

Clarification of your scope:

Upon review of your request, the department considers that we require
further clarity or direction as to what records you are seeking. This is
because it is not clear what documents you are seeking.

In consideration of clarifying your request, you may find it useful to
consult our [13]organisation chart and advise us which branch of the
department we should task your request to.

Consideration of withdrawing your request:

We also acknowledge that you do not authorise the transfer of this FOI
request to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, however, we believe that
the Department of Veterans' Affairs would be the most appropriate agency
to respond to your request. Considering the above circumstances, we would
like to provide you with an opportunity to withdraw your application. We
would be grateful for your reply by email should you wish to withdraw your
application.

We would be grateful for your reply on how to process your request by: COB
Wednesday 18 December 2024.

Kind Regards,

DFAT FOI Team

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

[14]dfat.gov.au | [15]X | [16]Facebook | [17]Instagram  | [18]LinkedIn

[19]undefined

© 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.

show quoted sections

Thank you for your email to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Freedom of Information Section.

This mailbox is now unattended until 9am AEDT on Wednesday 2 Janaury 2025.
We will respond to your email upon our return.

Happy holidays, from the DFAT FOI team!

OFFICIAL

FOI Request: LEX11874

Dear Mr Nosey

Thank you for your email dated 30 December 2024 revising the scope of your
request.

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: 

I am seeking documents held by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(DFAT) concerning broad or systematic data-sharing arrangements involving
personal information originating from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
(DVA). Specifically, this includes:

Formal Agreements

Memoranda of understanding (MOUs), service-level agreements (SLAs), or
other documents formalising the sharing of DVA client data with DFAT.

Governance Documents

Policies, procedures, or guidelines that detail how DFAT handles, stores,
or uses personal information received from DVA.

Privacy and Ethical Deliberations

Any privacy impact assessments, internal reviews, or records discussing
the ethical, legal, or privacy implications of handling DVA client data.

Intended Uses and Applications

Documents such as internal strategy papers, project proposals, or reports
that explain why DVA client data was accessed or shared and its intended
outcomes.

Exclusions

To streamline processing, I exclude:

Individual complaint files or case-specific records involving veterans.

Any information solely related to Centrelink Confirmation eServices
(CCeS).

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:  

A decision is currently due to you by 27 January 2025. 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

David

DFAT FOI Team

_______________________________
Freedom of Information Section  
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal 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.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/corpora...
2. mailto:[DFAT request email]
3. https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/corpora...
4. https://www.dfat.gov.au/
5. https://x.com/DFAT
6. https://www.facebook.com/dfat.gov.au/
7. https://www.instagram.com/dfat/?hl=en
8. https://au.linkedin.com/company/departme...

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Nosey

Request to exclude foreign language material

The department seeks your agreement to exclude foreign language material
from the scope of your request.

Please note that inclusion of such material may give rise to a practical
refusal reason under section 24AB of the FOI Act, as translation of the
material may be required.

We would be grateful for your response to the above by: COB Thursday 7
March 2024.

Kind Regards,

David Wu

_______________________________
Graduate Policy Officer | Freedom of Information Section
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Division

T +61 8616 4704

E: [1][email address]  

From: FOI FOI
Sent: Thursday, 2 January 2025 12:01 PM
To: [FOI #12600 email]
Subject: Your FOI Request - Acknowledgement (LEX11874) [SEC=OFFICIAL]

OFFICIAL

FOI Request: LEX11874

Dear Mr Nosey

Thank you for your email dated 30 December 2024 revising the scope of your
request.

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: 

I am seeking documents held by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(DFAT) concerning broad or systematic data-sharing arrangements involving
personal information originating from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
(DVA). Specifically, this includes:

Formal Agreements

Memoranda of understanding (MOUs), service-level agreements (SLAs), or
other documents formalising the sharing of DVA client data with DFAT.

Governance Documents

Policies, procedures, or guidelines that detail how DFAT handles, stores,
or uses personal information received from DVA.

Privacy and Ethical Deliberations

Any privacy impact assessments, internal reviews, or records discussing
the ethical, legal, or privacy implications of handling DVA client data.

Intended Uses and Applications

Documents such as internal strategy papers, project proposals, or reports
that explain why DVA client data was accessed or shared and its intended
outcomes.

Exclusions

To streamline processing, I exclude:

Individual complaint files or case-specific records involving veterans.

Any information solely related to Centrelink Confirmation eServices
(CCeS).

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:  

A decision is currently due to you by 27 January 2025. 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 [2]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 [3][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 [4]privacy policy.  

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

Kind regards

David

DFAT FOI Team

_______________________________
Freedom of Information Section  
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Division

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[5]dfat.gov.au | [6]X | [7]Facebook | [8]Instagram  | [9]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.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/corpora...
3. mailto:[DFAT request email]
4. https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/corpora...
5. https://www.dfat.gov.au/
6. https://x.com/DFAT
7. https://www.facebook.com/dfat.gov.au/
8. https://www.instagram.com/dfat/?hl=en
9. https://au.linkedin.com/company/departme...

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Nosey

Please disregard the last email as it contained the incorrect date.

Request to exclude foreign language material

The department seeks your agreement to exclude foreign language material
from the scope of your request.

Please note that inclusion of such material may give rise to a practical
refusal reason under section 24AB of the FOI Act, as translation of the
material may be required.

We would be grateful for your response to the above by: COB Friday 9
January 2025.

Kind Regards,

DFAT FOI Team

______________________________
Freedom of Information Section  
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Division

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[1]dfat.gov.au | [2]X | [3]Facebook | [4]Instagram  | [5]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.

From: FOI FOI
Sent: Thursday, 2 January 2025 12:01 PM
To: [6][FOI #12600 email]
Subject: Your FOI Request - Acknowledgement (LEX11874) [SEC=OFFICIAL]

OFFICIAL

FOI Request: LEX11874

Dear Mr Nosey

Thank you for your email dated 30 December 2024 revising the scope of your
request.

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: 

I am seeking documents held by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(DFAT) concerning broad or systematic data-sharing arrangements involving
personal information originating from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
(DVA). Specifically, this includes:

Formal Agreements

Memoranda of understanding (MOUs), service-level agreements (SLAs), or
other documents formalising the sharing of DVA client data with DFAT.

Governance Documents

Policies, procedures, or guidelines that detail how DFAT handles, stores,
or uses personal information received from DVA.

Privacy and Ethical Deliberations

Any privacy impact assessments, internal reviews, or records discussing
the ethical, legal, or privacy implications of handling DVA client data.

Intended Uses and Applications

Documents such as internal strategy papers, project proposals, or reports
that explain why DVA client data was accessed or shared and its intended
outcomes.

Exclusions

To streamline processing, I exclude:

Individual complaint files or case-specific records involving veterans.

Any information solely related to Centrelink Confirmation eServices
(CCeS).

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:  

A decision is currently due to you by 27 January 2025. 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 [7]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 [8][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 [9]privacy policy.  

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

Kind regards

David

DFAT FOI Team

_______________________________
Freedom of Information Section  
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Division

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[10]dfat.gov.au | [11]X | [12]Facebook | [13]Instagram  | [14]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.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.dfat.gov.au/
2. https://x.com/DFAT
3. https://www.facebook.com/dfat.gov.au/
4. https://www.instagram.com/dfat/?hl=en
5. https://au.linkedin.com/company/departme...
6. mailto:[FOI #12600 email]
7. https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/corpora...
8. mailto:[DFAT request email]
9. https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/corpora...
10. https://www.dfat.gov.au/
11. https://x.com/DFAT
12. https://www.facebook.com/dfat.gov.au/
13. https://www.instagram.com/dfat/?hl=en
14. https://au.linkedin.com/company/departme...

OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Nosey,

The line area which may have documents relevant to your request is located in one of our overseas embassies/consulates. The documents they hold may contain foreign language material.

Please let us know if you agree to exclude foreign language material from your request. Inclusion of such material may give rise to a practical refusal under section 24AB of the FOI Act, as translation of the material would be required.

Kind Regards,

David
DFAT FOI Team
______________________________
Freedom of Information Section
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal 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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