Special Purpose Aircraft
Dear Department of Defence,
I write to request access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
I seek access to the following documents relating to the Prime Minister's SPA travel to Alice Springs on 24 January 2023.
1. Catering requests received by the VIP Operations Cell in connection with these flights.
2. Any documents which reference tennis, the Australian Open, television or streaming services or a commitment in Melbourne.
These documents would likely have already been identified through FOI 520/22/23.
Thank you,
MBV
OFFICIAL
Dear MBV
Acknowledgement
I refer to your correspondence of 23 May 2023 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:
…the following documents relating to the Prime Minister's SPA travel to
Alice Springs on 24 January 2023.
1. Catering requests received by the VIP Operations Cell in connection
with these flights.
2. Any documents which reference tennis, the Australian Open, television
or streaming services or a commitment in Melbourne.
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 22 June 2023. 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. If you have any concerns about the
publication of documents you have requested, please contact us.
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.
I am the Case Manager for this request. Should you have any questions
relating to your request, please do not hesitate to contact me via email:
[1][email address].
Kind regards
Erin
FOI Case Manager
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
Good afternoon MBV,
The current statutory deadline for you to receive a response to your
Defence FOI request is 22 June 2023.
Due to the processing demands associated with your request our office is
seeking your agreement to a 14 day extension of the statutory deadline
under section 15AA [extension with agreement] of the FOI Act. We will
endeavour to process your request as soon as we can.
Should you agree, the statutory deadline for you to receive a response to
your request will expire on 6 July 2023.
It would be much appreciated if you could confirm your agreement to this
extension of time via e-mail by close of business 5:00pm Wednesday 21 June
2023.
I am the Case Manager for your request and should you have any questions
regarding this matter please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
Erin
FOI Case Manager
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 MBV
Thank you for previously agreeing to an extension of time until 6 July
2023.
Defence is continuing to process your request, however we require
additional time to be able to ensure a robust decision is made.
Accordingly, we are seeking your agreement under section 15AA of the FOI
Act to further extend the processing period for 16-days. Should you
agree, the statutory deadline for you to receive a response will be 22
July 2023. This will ensure sufficient time to finalise a decision on
access.
If possible, we will endeavour to notify you of the decision prior to this
extended date.
It would be much appreciated if you could confirm your agreement to this
extension of time via e-mail by 5:00pm Wednesday 5 July 2023.
Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards
Erin
FOI Case Manager
Media and Information Disclosure Branch
Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division
Department of Defence
Tel: 02 5108 6147
[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 FOI Case Management,
Can I please have an update on the status of my request.
Yours sincerely,
MBV
OFFICIAL
Dear MBV
I confirm your request continues to be processed and will be provided to you as soon as possible.
The Department has sought an additional 21 day extension from the Office of the Information Commissioner (OAIC) which will bring the due date to 12 August 2023. The response from OAIC has not yet been received.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Media and Information Disclosure Branch
Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division
Department of 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.
Our reference: RQ23/04142
Agency reference: FOI 743/22/23
MBV
By email: [1][FOI #10335 email]
CC: [2][email address]
FOI Extension of Time decision
Dear FOI Applicant,
Please find attached an FOI Extension of time decision relating to your
FOI request with the Department of Defence. A copy of this decision has
been provided to the Department today.
Kind regards,
[3][IMG] Thomas Hanaee <he/him>
Assistant Review Adviser
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Sydney | GPO Box 5288 Sydney NSW 2001
P +1300 363 992 E [email address]
The OAIC acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country across
Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and
communities. We pay our respect to First Nations people, cultures
and Elders past and present.
[4]Subscribe to Information Matters
Notice:
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #10335 email]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.oaic.gov.au/
4. https://www.oaic.gov.au/engage-with-us/n...
Dear Defence FOI,
The OAIC has informed me that they have refused the Department's request for a further extension, and provided me with a copy of the decision letter. The letter is quite unambiguous.
I have been patient and agreed to multiple time extensions in good faith.
When can I expect to receive the requested documents?
Yours faithfully,
MBV
Dear FOI Case Management,
Can I please have an update on when I will receive the documents?
As I stated in my previous email to the FOI inbox, the OAIC has provided me with a copy of its decision declining Defence's request for an extension.
Yours sincerely,
MBV
OFFICIAL
Dear MBV
Please find attached the Decision and documents relating to Defence FOI
743/22/23.
In accordance with the requirements of section 11C of the FOI Act, Defence
is required to publish details of information released under the FOI Act.
Defence publishes identified documents relating to finalised requests
within ten working days of receipt by the applicant. Defence will also
publish the statement of reasons with privacy deletions.
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.
Regards
Erin
FOI Case Manager
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...