Meetings with pro Israeli groups

OFFICIAL
FOI Request: LEX 9614

Dear The FOI People

Thank you for your email dated 22 November 2023 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 am seeking any documents including but not limited to records, minutes, agendas, lists of attendees, correspondences, meeting invites, time, date and location of any meetings. Specifically, meetings held between organisations, individuals, foreign government representatives or any other representatives of groups acting in the interests of Israel and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and/or the ministers office. The timeframe for such meetings is between 7 October 2023 to the date of receipt of this FOI request [22 November 2023].

Request for assistance
Request 1 - Scope of your request
Your request is considered broad and preliminary advice from the relevant business area is that your request may give rise to a practical refusal reason. Accordingly we seek your assistance to narrow the scope of the request to the specific types of documents that you are seeking.

Some examples of ways you could reduce the scope of your request include:
- by the department or the Foreign Minister’s Office, and not entities
- by role or position of a departmental officer, rather than all departmental officers
- by subject matter, rather than by representative groups
- by a specific representative group, rather than all groups
- by agendas and minutes of meetings that occurred, rather than invites for meetings, administrative correspondence rescheduling meetings.

Based upon the scope of your request, we have drafted the propose revised scope of your request:
Documents:
- Agenda’s and minutes of meetings
Parties:
- between Senior Executive Staff (SES) level 2 (First Assistant Secretary) and/or SES level 3 (Associate/Deputy Secretary) from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and
- representatives of the Embassy of Israel
Subject matter:
- Hamas-Israel conflict
Dates:
- 7 October 2023 to 22 November 2023.

The above is a suggestion only, you are welcome to revise the scope of your request however best assists the department to identify the documents that you are seeking. You also can refuse to amend the scope of your request and seek to continue with the scope of your original request.

We kindly ask that you reply to this email with an amended scope, or confirmation that you seek to proceed with your original request.

Please note that section 24 of the FOI Act provides that the department can refuse a request for access to documents if a practical refusal reason exists. For example if the work involved in processing your request would substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of the department from its other operations. Should you choose not to revise the scope of your request, the department may consult you under section 24AB of the FOI Act.

Request 2 - Timeframe for receiving our decision:
We received your request on 22 November 2023, 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 Friday 22 December 2023.

The department is currently diverting staff to manage matters relating to the crisis and seek additional time to manage competing priorities whilst also processing your request.

In addition to the crisis, the upcoming holiday and government shutdown period over Christmas and the New Year, there will be staff on leave.

We request your assistance, pursuant to section 15AA of the FOI Act, to consent to grant the department with an extension of time of 28 calendar days to process your request. This would mean a decision would then be due to you by Friday 19 January 2023.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time of crisis. We will of course continue to process your request and finalise your matter as soon as possible.

We kindly ask that you reply to this email and either agree to an extension of time of 28 calendar days (or for a shorter period of time) or refuse the request for an extension of time.

If you agree to this extension, we are required to notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for their data collection purposes.

General FOI matters
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 mobile numbers of all government officials, and the names, gender pronouns, and contact details of government officials not in the Senior Executive Service (SES) or equivalent.  If you require the mobile numbers of all government officials, or the names and contact details of non-SES officials, 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.

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.  You can access on the department’s website a copy of the privacy policy.

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

Kind regards

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

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© Kim Hill, Among Women (2011)
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 Request: LEX 9615

Dear The FOI People

Thank you for your email dated 22 November 2023 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:
In line with the Freedom of Information Act, I am seeking any documents including but not limited to records, minutes, agendas, lists of attendees, correspondences, meeting invites, time, date and location of any meetings. Specifically, meetings held between organisations, individuals, foreign government representatives or any other representatives of groups acting in the interests of Israel and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and/or the ministers office. The timeframe for such meetings is between 7 October 2023 to the date of receipt of this FOI request [22 November 2023].

Request for assistance
Request 1 - Scope of your request
Your request is considered broad and preliminary advice from the relevant business area is that your request may give rise to a practical refusal reason. Accordingly we seek your assistance to narrow the scope of the request to the specific types of documents that you are seeking.

Some examples of ways you could reduce the scope of your request include:
- by the department or the Foreign Minister’s Office, and not entities
- by role or position of a departmental officer, rather than all departmental officers
- by subject matter, rather than by representative groups
- by a specific representative group, rather than all groups
- by agendas and minutes of meetings that occurred, rather than invites for meetings, administrative correspondence rescheduling meetings.

Based upon the scope of your request, we have drafted the propose revised scope of your request:
Documents:
- Agenda’s and minutes of meetings
Parties:
- between Senior Executive Staff (SES) level 2 (First Assistant Secretary) and/or SES level 3 (Associate/Deputy Secretary) from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and
- representatives of the Embassy of the State of Palestine
Subject matter:
- Hamas-Israel conflict
Dates:
- 7 October 2023 to 22 November 2023.