OFFICIAL
FOI Request: LEX 11702
 
Dear Tyler,
 
Thank you for your email dated 28 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:  
 
'...copy of formal diplomatic or other statements or notes, which relate to Australia's recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations, that were exchanged between the government of Australia and Kosovo (around 2008)'
 
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 28 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 27 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

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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OFFICIAL

LEX11702

Dear Tyler,

On 28 October 2024, DFAT received your FOI request, under the Freedom of

Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) for access to:

‘copy of formal diplomatic or other statements or notes, which relate to

Australia's recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations, that

were exchanged between the government of Australia and Kosovo (around

2008)?’

Document searches have been completed by the Eastern and South Europe

Branch, the Protocol Branch, the Archives Unit, Zagreb and Vienna

Posts. Belgrade Post is also currently conducting searches.

Pursuant to Section 15AA of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, we

request your written agreement to a 21 day extension of time to complete

processing your request. If you agree, the decision will be due to you by

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

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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OFFICIAL
FOI Reference: LEX 11702

Dear Tyler

We are writing to you to seek your agreement to providing the department with an extension of 6 calendar days to process your FOI request in accordance with section 15AA of the FOI Act. This would mean that a decision would then be due to you by 24 December 2024.

Background

Document searches have been completed by the Eastern and South Europe Branch, the Protocol Branch, the Archives Unit, Zagreb, Vienna and Belgrade Post.

The additional time will enable the department to finalise its processes and provide you with an outcome.

Please be assured that we will continue to process your request as quickly as possible and will provide an outcome to you as soon as it is available.

Timeframe

We would be grateful if you could please reply to our request by COB 16 December 2024.

If we do not hear from you, we may apply to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner for an extension to the statutory timeframe.

Should you have any questions, please 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

dfat.gov.au | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

(c) 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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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

Good afternoon Tyler

The department was unable to meet the deadline of 24 December 2024, as
such, an application for an extension of time under s 15 AB was lodged
with OAIC on 18 December 2024. We are currently awaiting an outcome from
OAIC.

Apologies for an inconvenience this may have caused.

Kind regards,

Aaron

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OFFICIAL

Good afternoon Tyler

30 days has been requested under s 15 AB, however I anticipate that your
request will be resolved within this period of time.

Regards,

Aaron

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Our reference: RQ24/05873

Agency reference: LEX 11702

Respondent: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

By email: [DFAT request email]

Applicant: Tyler

By email: [1][FOI #12243 email]

Extension of time under s 15AB

Dear Parties,

Please find attached an extension of time decision relating to the above
referenced  Freedom of Information request.

Kind regards,            
[2][IMG]   Lakshmi Gopinath (she/her)      

Review Adviser | Freedom of
Information Branch

Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner

GPO Box 5288 Sydney NSW 2001

P 1300 363 992  E
[3][email address]

 
The OAIC acknowledges Traditional
Custodians of Country across Australia
and their continuing connection to land,
waters and communities. We pay our  
respect to First Nations people,
cultures and Elders past and present.

[4]Subscribe to Information Matters
     
      The OAIC
acknowledges
Traditional
Custodians of
Country across
Australia and
their continuing
connection to
land, waters and
communities. We
pay our respect  
to First Nations
people, cultures
and Elders past
and present.

[5]Subscribe to
Information
Matters

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