15 MAY 2020 Communications to Foreign Minister

Francis Unmeopa made this Freedom of Information request to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

The request was refused by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Dear Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

On the 11th of January 2022, I submitted a request for information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) act. I received a reply on the 4th of February stating no documents could be found or exist. I realise now that I provided the incorrect date/ time period for the search parameter in my initial request.

Therefore, I would like to respectfully request the following in accordance with the FOI act.
“In 2020, a colleague of mine submitted a document to the Foreign Minister in which he requested her personal support and endorsement regarding the Humanitarian Overseas
Service Medal. My colleague submitted the document and supporting letters to the Minister via email on the 15th of May 2020. I would like to request a copy of that document and any following correspondence related to that same document.”

Yours faithfully,

Francis Unmeopa

FOI, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

1 Attachment

OFFICIAL

 

Dear Applicant,

 

Thank you for your email dated 21 February 2022, seeking access to
documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

 

This email sets out some information about how your request will be
processed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

 

Scope of request:

You have sought access to:

 

“On the 11th of January 2022, I submitted a request for information under
the Freedom of Information (FOI) act. I received a reply on the 4th of
February stating no documents could be found or exist. I realise now that
I provided the incorrect date/ time period for the search parameter in my
initial request.

Therefore, I would like to respectfully request the following in
accordance with the FOI act.

“In 2020, a colleague of mine submitted a document to the Foreign Minister
in which he requested her personal support and endorsement regarding the
Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal. My colleague submitted the document
and supporting letters to the Minister via email on the 15th of May 2020.
I would like to request a copy of that document and any following
correspondence related to that same document.”

 

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 21 February 2022 and the 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date.
The period of 30 days may be extended in certain circumstances. 

 

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:
[1]https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/corpora....

 

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 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
[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.

 

Charges:

Please note that the Department may issue charges for processing FOI
requests.  In the event that charges are relevant to your request, we will
advise you when we are in a position to estimate the resources required to
process 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.  The Department’s privacy policy is available
at dfat.gov.au/privacy.html.

 

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us by return e-mail at [3][DFAT request email]

 

Kind regards,

 

 

DFAT FOI Team

Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Legal Division | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
[4]DFAT.GOV.AU | [5]Twitter | [6]Facebook | [7]Flickr | [8]YouTube

 

 

References

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FOI, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

2 Attachments

Dear Applicant,

 

Please find attached correspondence relating to your FOI request.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

DFAT FOI Team

Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Legal Division | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
[1]DFAT.GOV.AU | [2]Twitter | [3]Facebook | [4]Flickr | [5]YouTube

 

References

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Shelley Napper,

6 Attachments

Our reference: RQ22/01008

Agency reference: LEX5096

Mr Francis Unmeopa

Sent by email: [FOI #8492 email]

Extension of time under s 15AC

Dear Mr Unmeopa

Please find attached a decision of today’s date in relation to an
extension of time application from the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade.

 

Kind regards

 

[1][IMG]   Shelley Napper  |  Assistant
Director

Investigations and Compliance

Freedom of Information
Regulatory Group

Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner

GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001  |
 [2]oaic.gov.au
[6]Subscribe [7]Subscribe to
[3]Facebook | [4]LinkedIn | [5]Twitter |   icon Information
Matters

 

 

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