FOI Reference: LEX7071
File No: 22/25249
February 2023
Mr Alex Pentland
By email: foi+request‐9790‐xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Mr Pentland
Re. Freedom of Information Request
I am writing to give you a decision regarding your request to access documents under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act).
On 11 January 2023, you requested access to:
(1) Any departmental talking points prepared in relation to this issue between December 1,
2022, to today regarding the recognition of the President of Venezuela
(2) Any Whole of Government talking points provided by DFAT to other agencies between
December 1, 2022, to today regarding the recognition of the President of Venezuela
(3) Any talking points provided to Ministers or Ministerial offices (including the Prime
Minister or PMO) in relation to this decision between December 1, 2022, to today
regarding the recognition of the President of Venezuela
I am authorised under section 23 of the FOI Act to make decisions in relation to FOI requests, and
I have been appointed to be the decision‐maker on your request.
Searches conducted by the department found no documents relevant to your request. I am
therefore unable to meet your request in accordance with the provisions of section 24A(1)(b)(ii)
of the FOI Act, as the department holds no documents relevant to it.
Please find attached your review rights for your reference.
Should you have any queries regarding this matter please contact the FOI and Privacy Law Section
by email to: xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
Yours sincerely
Amanda Riethmuller
A/g Director
FOI Law Section
R G Casey Building John McEwen Cres Barton 0221
Telephone: 02 6261 1111 Facsimile: 02 6261 3111
Attachment
Your review rights
Internal review
You may apply for internal review of the decision (section 54 of the FOI Act). The internal review
application must be made within 30 days of the date of receipt of this letter.
Where possible, please attach reasons why you believe review of the decision is necessary.
The internal review will be carried out by another officer within 30 days.
Any request for internal review should be directed via email to xxx@xxxx.xxx.xx or addressed to:
Freedom of Information Law Section
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
R G Casey Building
John McEwen Crescent
Barton ACT 0221
Australia
Australian Information Commissioner
You may apply within 60 days of the date of receipt of this letter to the Australian Information
Commissioner to review my decision (section 54L of the FOI Act).
You may also make a complaint to the Australian Information Commissioner about the
Department’s actions in relation to this decision (section 70 of the FOI Act). Making such a
complaint about the way the Department has handled your FOI request is a separate process to
seeking review of my decision.
Further information on applying for an Australian Information Commissioner review is available at:
https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom‐of‐information/foi‐review‐process
Further information about how to make a complaint is available at:
http://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom‐of‐information/foi‐complaints