Our Ref: 1406-F872

Dear Mr Cairns

Re: Freedom of Information (FOI) Request

Thank you for your email dated 25 June in which you seek access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to:

'how much aid in monetary terms have we given to Egypt this year and how much is planned for next year.'

Searches are now being undertaken in relevant areas of the Department for documents relevant to your request. I will contact you again once the searches have been completed.

Timeframe for receiving your decision:
We received your request on 25 June and the 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date. You should therefore expect a decision from us by 25 July. The period of 30 days may be extended in certain circumstances. We will advise you if there is any extension of time.

Scope of request:
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.

Exclusion of officers’ names and contact details:
It is the Department’s policy to withhold the names and contact details of officers not in the Senior Executive Service (SES) within the Department and other agencies contained within documents that fall within scope of the request. If you require the names and contact details of non-SES officers please let us know at [DFAT request email] so the decision-maker may consider; otherwise we will take it that you agree to that information being excluded from the scope of your request.

Charges:
Please note that the Department issues charges for processing FOI requests. We will advise you of these charges when we are in a position to estimate the resources required to process your request.

Timing of release:
As the subject matter of your request will require DFAT to upload any documents released to you to the Department’s FOI Disclosure Log, I take this opportunity to advise you that the Department’s policy is to upload released documents within one business day of your receipt of the documents.

Your personal information has been collected by the Department as a result of your correspondence, and will be used in order to process your FOI request. Your personal information is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988. The Department’s privacy policy is available at www.dfat.gov.au and contains information about access to or correction of your personal information, and how you may complain about a breach of your privacy.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me on (02) 6261 3470, or by return email.

Please note a copy of this email has been sent to Ms Indra McCormick, Director, Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section.

Yours sincerely

Ada Cheung
Executive Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Corporate Law Branch
Legal Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Tel: +61 2 6261 3470
Fax: +61 2 6261 2144

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Dear Mr Cairns,

As you have also sound this information in ministerial correspondence, the Department will respond to your request outside FOI.

Yours sincerely,

Ada Cheung
Executive Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Corporate Law Branch
Legal Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Tel: +61 2 6261 3470
Fax: +61 2 6261 2144

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