Information Management  
and Access Branch 
Department of Defence 
 
 
 
CP1-6-001 
PO Box 7910 
 
CANBERRA BC  ACT  2610 
 
Tel: 02 626 62200 
 
Fax: 02 626 62112 
xxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
 
 
 
 
Our reference:   FOI 390/14/15 
 
 
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx  
 
 
Dear Sir 
NOTICE OF DECISION ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST 
1. 
I refer to your email, dated 4 June 2015, in which you requested access, under the 
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), to: 
“…all written documentation such as, but not limited to; letters, emails, notes, press 
releases, statements and faxes held by the "Department of Defence" that refer to 
arrangements and or contracts between the Department of Defence & Microsoft to 
extend Windows XP support beyond April 2014.” 
Background 
2. 
On 4 June 15, our office notified you that your request in its current form was 
considered too broad to be processed and would therefore likely attract a practical refusal 
under section 24 of the FOI Act. 
3. 
By email, on 4 June 15, you provided the following revised scope: 
“…all documents between December 2013 to present, held by Defence Intelligence 
and Security Group that refer to arrangements and or contracts between the 
Department of Defence &  Microsoft to extend Windows XP support beyond April 
2014". 
4. 
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with the decision relating to the documents 
that are the subject of your request. 
FOI decision maker 
5. 
I, Ms Linda McCann, Director Freedom of Information, am the authorised officer 
pursuant to section 23 of the FOI Act to make a decision on this FOI request. 
Defending Australia and its National Interests 
 

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The document identified is exempt from the operation of the FOI Act  
6. 
Subsection 7(2A) of the FOI Act provides that agencies that are otherwise subject to 
the FOI Act are exempt from the operations of the FOI Act in relation to documents that 
originated with, or that have been received from, specific intelligence agencies, including the 
Australian Signals Directorate (ASD).  When a person makes a request under section 15 of 
the FOI Act for access to any document in the possession of ASD, Defence is not required to 
treat it as a ‘request’. 
7. 
ASD is the shared service provider of top secret ICT capability and the only body in 
Intelligence and Security Group able to enter into a software related contract. 
8. 
In light of the above, access to the requested documents are refused on the grounds 
that the documents originated in an intelligence agency which is exempt under section 7 of 
the FOI Act. 
Rights of review 
12. 
The FOI Act provides for rights of review of decisions. A copy of the fact sheet, 
“Freedom of Information – Your Review Rights”, setting out your rights of review is at 
Enclosure 1. 
Further information 
13. 
The FOI Act may be accessed at: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2015C00013. 
14. 
All departmental action on your request is now complete. Should you have any 
questions in regard to this matter please contact this office. 
Yours sincerely 
 
Linda McCann 
Director 
Freedom of Information 
 
18  June 2015 
 
Enclosure: 
1. 
Fact Sheet: Freedom of Information – Your Review Rights 

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