Dear Department of Defence,

I am seeking the public release of the Joint Doctrine "Public Affairs 3-61" under the Freedom Of Information Act.

As other Five Eyes countries have their Doctrine available online - https://www.jcs.mil/Doctrine/Joint-Docti...

Why doesn't the Australian Defence Force have something similar where if people are interested in looking or obtaining ADF Doctrine can view and access it via a website similar to what the US Military has available, as above link is shown?

I look forward to hearing from Defence and Defence FOI, shortly.

Yours faithfully,

John Davis

FOI Case Management, Department of Defence

OFFICIAL

Dear John

 

Acknowledgement

I refer to your correspondence of 19 August 2024 seeking access to
documents held by the Department of Defence (Defence), under the Freedom
of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). This email is to advise you that your
request has been received and allocated for Case Management.

 

The scope of your request is:

 

I am seeking the public release of the Joint Doctrine "Public Affairs
3-61" under the Freedom Of Information Act.

 

Clarification of scope

The relevant Defence line area has undertaken a preliminary review of your
request and are seeking clarification regarding the document you are
seeking access to.

 

The title you have used in your request is a former title for the current
ADF-A(J)3 Military Public Affairs (MPA), Ed 1, 03 May 23. As such, I am
seeking your clarification regarding whether you are seeking the current
version of the doctrine, or a specific version that uses the title
referenced in your request.

 

It would assist in the management of your request if you could please
provide a response by 5:00pm 27 August 2024.

 

Disclaimer

Where staff details are captured in documents within the scope of your FOI
request, this information will be redacted; this includes private email
addresses, signatures, personnel (PMKeyS) numbers and mobile telephone
numbers, unless you specifically request such details. Defence excludes
duplicates of documents and any documents sent to or from you.
Furthermore, Defence only considers final versions of documents.

 

Charges

Defence may impose a charge for the work involved in providing access to
the documents in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Charges)
Regulations 2019. We will notify you if your request attracts a charge.
Please note that there is no charge for documents that contain the
personal information of the applicant.

 

Timeframe

The statutory timeframe to provide you with a decision on your request
ends on 12 September 2024. This period may be extended if we need to
consult with third parties, or for other reasons. We will advise you if
this happens.

 

Please note that where the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public
holiday, the timeframe will expire on the next working day. This is in
accordance with the FOI Guidelines issued by the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner under section 93A of the FOI Act.

 

Disclosure Log

Documents released under the FOI Act may be published on Defence’s
disclosure log, located on our website.

 

Contact Details

We will contact you via the email address you have provided. Please advise
if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

 

Should you have any questions relating to your request, please do not
hesitate to contact the FOI team via email:
[1][email address].

 

Kind regards

 

Freedom of Information Team

Media and Information Disclosure Branch

Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division

Department of Defence

 

[2]Freedom of information requests | About | Defence

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence.
Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email
may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in
error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email
immediately.

 

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessi...

FOI Case Management, Department of Defence

OFFICIAL

Good afternoon John

 

I am following up on my below correspondence.

 

I would be grateful if you could please provide clarification regarding
the scope of your request by 5:00pm Tomorrow, 28 August 2024.

 

Kind regards

 

Freedom of Information Team

Media and Information Disclosure Branch

Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division

Department of Defence

 

[1]Freedom of information requests | About | Defence

 

 

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence.
Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email
may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in
error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email
immediately.

 

 

From: FOI Case Management
Sent: Friday, 23 August 2024 6:58 PM
To: '[FOI #11902 email]'
<[FOI #11902 email]>
Subject: Defence FOI 141/24/25 - Acknowledgment, due date, disclaimer and
clarification of scope

 

OFFICIAL

Dear John

 

Acknowledgement

I refer to your correspondence of 19 August 2024 seeking access to
documents held by the Department of Defence (Defence), under the Freedom
of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). This email is to advise you that your
request has been received and allocated for Case Management.

 

The scope of your request is:

 

I am seeking the public release of the Joint Doctrine "Public Affairs
3-61" under the Freedom Of Information Act.

 

Clarification of scope

The relevant Defence line area has undertaken a preliminary review of your
request and are seeking clarification regarding the document you are
seeking access to.

 

The title you have used in your request is a former title for the current
ADF-A(J)3 Military Public Affairs (MPA), Ed 1, 03 May 23. As such, I am
seeking your clarification regarding whether you are seeking the current
version of the doctrine, or a specific version that uses the title
referenced in your request.

 

It would assist in the management of your request if you could please
provide a response by 5:00pm 27 August 2024.

 

Disclaimer

Where staff details are captured in documents within the scope of your FOI
request, this information will be redacted; this includes private email
addresses, signatures, personnel (PMKeyS) numbers and mobile telephone
numbers, unless you specifically request such details. Defence excludes
duplicates of documents and any documents sent to or from you.
Furthermore, Defence only considers final versions of documents.

 

Charges

Defence may impose a charge for the work involved in providing access to
the documents in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Charges)
Regulations 2019. We will notify you if your request attracts a charge.
Please note that there is no charge for documents that contain the
personal information of the applicant.

 

Timeframe

The statutory timeframe to provide you with a decision on your request
ends on 12 September 2024. This period may be extended if we need to
consult with third parties, or for other reasons. We will advise you if
this happens.

 

Please note that where the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public
holiday, the timeframe will expire on the next working day. This is in
accordance with the FOI Guidelines issued by the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner under section 93A of the FOI Act.

 

Disclosure Log

Documents released under the FOI Act may be published on Defence’s
disclosure log, located on our website.

 

Contact Details

We will contact you via the email address you have provided. Please advise
if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

 

Should you have any questions relating to your request, please do not
hesitate to contact the FOI team via email:
[2][email address].

 

Kind regards

 

Freedom of Information Team

Media and Information Disclosure Branch

Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division

Department of Defence

 

[3]Freedom of information requests | About | Defence

 

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence.
Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email
may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in
error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email
immediately.

 

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessi...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessi...

FOI Case Management, Department of Defence

2 Attachments

OFFICIAL

Dear John,

 

Please find attached the Decision relating to Defence FOI 141/24/25.

 

Under section 54 of the FOI Act, you are entitled to request a review of
this decision. Your review rights are attached.

 

Please contact this office should you require any further information.

 

Kind regards

 

Freedom of Information Team

Media and Information Disclosure Branch

Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division

Department of Defence

 

[1]Freedom of information requests | About | Defence

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence.
Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email
may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in
error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email
immediately.

 

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessi...

Dear Defence FOI Case Management,
I must appoligise for my delay in getting back to you sooner, as the report into the Defence and Veterans Suicide Royal Commission (DVSRC) derailed my focus on this matter.

As per email sent to me from FOI, 23AUG2024, I am more than happy with an older version of the Joint Doctrine "Public Affairs 3-61", as I would like to compare it with the US Military version to see how much was directly duplicated and pasted in to the ADF version, as it would be interesting to see if there was anything particularly different to which the ADF conducts itself with regards to this doctrine. It would also be interested to see how much the US Military version was plagiarized by the officer(s) who was tasked with creating this for the ADF?

I look forward to your reply shortly.

Yours sincerely,

John Davis