OFFICIAL

Dear James

 

Acknowledgement

I refer to your correspondence of 30 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:

 

1. the document setting out the Chief of Defence Force's recommendations
regarding medals made to the Defence Minister in about mid May 2023; and

2. subsequent correspondence or materials relating to the same topic.

 

Clarification of scope

The relevant Defence line area has undertaken preliminary searches
corresponding to your request and are seeking clarification in relation to
Item 2.

 

It has been identified that in its current form, reasons of practical
refusal may exist in relation to Item 2 of your request. This is because
as it is currently written, this Item is particularly broad and can be
interpreted or constructed in several ways. Of concern, the term
‘material’ is very vague and broad, and therefore we seek clarification on
the type of documents you are seeking access to in addition to
‘correspondence’. Further, the sought material covers an undisclosed
period of time, therefore we ask that you provide a date range for
documents.

 

As such, I am seeking additional context regarding the specific document/s
you are seeking access to, so that a more targeted search criteria may be
applied.

 

In your consideration of revising the scope of your request, we ask that
you:

·       provide a date range for documents (i.e. a period of 6 months);

·       nominate the specific correspondence sought, involving specific
addressees on the subject; and

·       identify the type of documents you are seeking access to.

 

It would assist in the management of your request if you could please
provide a response by 5:00pm 12 September 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 29 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...

OFFICIAL

Dear James Smith,

 

Please find attached a letter in relation to Defence FOI 171/24/25.

 

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...

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Smith,

 

Please find attached the Decision and documents relating to Defence FOI
171/24/25. 

 

Review Rights

If you disagree with the decision made by the Department of Defence under
the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act), you can ask for the
decision to be reviewed.

 

You must apply in writing and should include a copy of the notice of the
decision provided and the points to which you are objecting and why. You
may apply directly to the Information Commissioner, within 60 days of
receiving your decision.

 

Further information about the external review process or how to make a
complaint to the Information Commissioner is available:

Online: [1]www.oaic.gov.au

Post: GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2000

Email: [2][email address]

 

 

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. http://www.oaic.gov.au/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessi...