OFFICIAL

FOI Request: LEX 11554

Dear Tyler,

Thank you for your email dated 03 September 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:

On a matter reported in the media about security checks on the PNG's prime
minister at airports in Australia, is it possible to provide, to extent
possible subject to necessary redactions or omissions,

copy of formal correspondence between the governments of Australia and
Papua New Guinea on the matter, and copy of any written document stating
the formal legal or diplomatic position of the Australian government on
the matter? (if possible, covering the period from 2005 to 2006 inclusive)

The matter was reported in SMH

'Airport security incident upsets PNG PM', 29 March 2005

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 03 September 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 03 October 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 [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. If you require this information, please let us know at
[2][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. 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,

FOI Section

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

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[4]dfat.gov.au | [5]Twitter | [6]Facebook | [7]Instagram  | [8]LinkedIn

© Brooke Rigney-Lively (2024)

[9]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

Dear Tyler 

We are writing to you to seek your agreement to providing the department
with an extension of 16 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 19 October. 

Background 

The department has experienced delays in searching for and retrieving
documents potentially relevant to the scope of your request primarily due
to the age of the documents. We have now located documents relevant to
your request and are in the process of consulting internally for
sensitivities. 

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 3
October 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 

Daniel

Daniel Hamilton

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

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[4]dfat.gov.au | [5]Twitter | [6]Facebook | [7]Instagram  | [8]LinkedIn

© Brooke Rigney-Lively (2024)

[9]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 11554
 
Dear Tyler 
 
We are writing to you to seek your agreement to providing the department
with an extension of 14 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 2 November 2024. 
 
Background 
 
The department has experienced delays in reviewing the documents due to
staffing reprioritisation as a result of events in the Middle East. The
formal activation of the Crisis Centre has meant the reallocation of some
staff to assist with critical government functions.
 
I sincerely apologise for this additional delay, and can assure you we are
working as quickly as possible to finalise this matter and provide you
with an outcome. 
 
Timeframe 
 
We would be grateful for your consideration, and if you could please reply
to our request by COB 21 October 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 
Daniel
 
 

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OFFICIAL

FOI Request: LEX 11554 
 
Dear Tyler
Please find attached a letter notifying you of the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade’s decision on your FOI request.
To assist you in relation to other requests, the department notes that
where the deadline for a decision falls on a weekend or public holiday the
time for a decision will be the first working day following those days
(section 36(2) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901).
Kind regards   
Daniel

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From: Tyler <[FOI #11999 email]>
Sent: Monday, 4 November 2024 10:05 AM
To: FOI FOI <[DFAT request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Your FOI request – Request for additional time
(LEX 11554) [SEC=OFFICIAL]
 
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the organisation. Do not click
links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender.

Dear FOI,

Given that the extended deadline, as suggested by your office, ended on 2
November 2024, do you have updates on the above request 'PNG prime
minister and privileges/immunities at airport in 2005'? Is the information
sought available to be provided? Alternatively, is more time needed?

Is it possible to have some updates by 6 November 2024? Thank you

Yours faithfully,

Tyler

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