ABC FOI 202425-134

Good afternoon Mr Otieno

Thank you for your emails

Our apologies for not responding to you sooner. After we received your
second email, there was a miscommunication internally such that we
discussed your matter but our reply was not sent to you within time

In order to make a request for documents under the Commonwealth Freedom of
Information Act (1982), the legislation specifies that you need to state
in writing that you are making a FOI request pursuant to the Commonwealth
Freedom of Information Act (1982)

Whilst your emails were received at the ABC’s nominated FOI email inbox,
this confirmation sentence was missing from each email. This language is
required to ensure a request can be considered valid.

Kindly confirm if your 2 separate emails of 27 and 30 May meant to be read
as a single request and if they are meant to be a formal FOI request?

Email 1

An interview with anti-genocide activist Nasser Mashni, broadcast on the
26th, was removed, as was an article based on the interview, on the orders
of the zionists. The URLs for the interview and the article based on it
are as follows:

[1]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-26/p...

[2]https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-s...

Please disclose:

* all communications regarding the video and/or article from external
parties and from the ABC to external parties

* all communications within the ABC regarding the video and article up to
the point earlier today [27 May] when these were removed. As a PDF is
fine.

Email 2

As there has subsequently been a statement issued to Daanyal Saeed of
Crikey ludicrously claiming that "The original content was done as a
live-to-air interview as part of broader coverage and was not intended to
be published as a stand-alone clip. It was mistakenly uploaded and when
that was noticed it was taken down" I am additionally requesting all
communications within the ABC that lead to that panicked statement being
made to Crikey.

You have the option of submitting a new request with wording for the scope
in a single email (allowing the statutory timeframe to start again such
that a valid decision can be issued. If so, please make sure you state are
applying under the Commonwealth FOI Act). Alternatively, if you wish to
progress a request for an internal review, it will depend on whether the
delegate considers your initial request was validly made. If the initial
request is not taken as valid, the right to internal review would not
exist. This decision would not be up to our team - we are letting you know
for information only.

Should you wish to submit a new request, the FOI team will priritise
processing it as soon as the new email is received.

We would be happy to discuss by phone if you have any questions – 13 9994

Many thanks,

ABC FOI team

This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee.
It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not
read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of
the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you
have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know
by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.

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References

Visible links
1. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-26/p...
2. https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-s...

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Good afternoon Mr Otieno

ABC FOI 202425-134- CLOSED

Thank you for your understanding and for your revised FOI request received
today, 15 July 2025

We understand that you have submitted a new request to replace the earlier
request. As such, we propose to allocate a new file number to the new
scope which is due in 30 days (14 August)

If you could please confirm you are happy with this, by return email,
stating you have withdrawn the earlier request/s emailed on 27 and 30 May,
and we will procedurally close that file as withdrawn

Shortly, we will send you a separate email acknowledging the new scope
which will have a new file number

We do apologise for the delay in responding to you.

We confirm that the email address for sending FOI requests to the ABC is
the one you have been using, and that these requests should not be
directed to any individual’s email address.

Many thanks,

ABC FOI team

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ABC FOI 202526-003

Good afternoon Mt Otieno

The ABC acknowledges receipt of your emailed request sent on 15 July 2025,
seeking access, under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act to:

An interview with anti-genocide activist Nasser Mashni, broadcast on the
26^th [of May 2025], was removed, as was an article based on the
interview, on the orders of the zionists. The URLs for the interview and
the article based on it are as follows:

[1]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-26/p...

[2]https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-s...

Please disclose:

* [1] all communications regarding the video and/or article from external
parties and from the ABC to external parties, between 2025-05-25 and
2025-05-36 (including those dates)

* [2] all communications within the ABC regarding the video and article up
to the point on 2025-05-26 when these were removed

* [3] all communications within the ABC that lead to the subsequent
statement made to Daanyal Saeed of Crikey about the removal of the video
and article

We have numbered your dot points for ease of processing. There is a typo
in your email with a date noted as 36 May – please confirm if you are
happy with the corrected wording below. In addition we have added some
words in brackets to assist with processing the file and for clarity for
our colleagues who will be conducting searches:

An interview with anti-genocide activist Nasser Mashni, broadcast on the
26^th [of May 2025], was removed, as was an article based on the
interview, on the orders of the zionists. The URLs for the interview and
the article based on it are as follows:

[3]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-26/p...

[4]https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-s...

Please disclose:

* [1] all communications regarding the video [interview] and/or article
from external parties [sent to ABC News and or Communications’ teams] and
from the ABC to external parties, between 25 and 26 May 2025 inclusive

* [2] all communications within the ABC [News and or Communications’
teams] regarding the video and article up to the point on 26 May 2025 when
these were removed

* [3] all communications within the ABC [News and or Communications’
teams] that lead to the subsequent statement made to Daanyal Saeed of
Crikey [in May] about the removal of the video and article

So that searches can be effectively targetted, can you please confirm if
you are happy for searches to be conducted within ABC News and the
Communications teams as to search any and all ABC email boxes would result
in the file to be too large to process given the size of the ABC.

A decision on the request received today is due to be made by Thursday 14
August 2025, subject to any extensions of time for consultation or by
agreement.

By making a FOI request, you are providing personal information to the
ABC. The ABC manages personal information in accordance with its Privacy
Policy - available at [5]ABC Privacy Policy – ABC Help - Australian
Broadcasting Corporation Help Centre. Personal information may be
disclosed in the course of processing this request, such as for the
purposes of consultation or internal reporting.

Many thanks,

ABC FOI team

13 9994

This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee.
It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not
read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of
the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you
have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know
by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.

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Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

The information contained in this email and any attachment is confidential
and may contain legally privileged or copyright material. It is intended
only for the use of the addressee(s). If you are not the intended
recipient of this email, you are not permitted to disseminate, distribute
or copy this email or any attachments. If you have received this message
in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this email from
your system. The ABC does not represent or warrant that this transmission
is secure or virus free. Before opening any attachment you should check
for viruses. The ABC's liability is limited to resupplying any email and
attachments.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-26/p...
2. https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-s...
3. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-26/p...
4. https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-s...
5. https://help.abc.net.au/hc/en-us/article...

hide quoted sections

ABC FOI 202526-003

Good afternoon Mt Otieno

Thank you for confiming the new scope in your email of 4.40pm 15 July, below. The FOI team will start searches for this scope.

Would you kindly respond to the email about the previous scope (sent in May) that was numbered ABC FOI 202425-134. Kindly confirm whether this has been withdrawn so that we can procedurally close that file, meaning we will not referit for assessment by the internal review team. We note the the orginal FOI team is looking for the same documents under FOI 003, and we have taken your new scope as a replacement file. However the FOI Act is process driven and requires you to confirm in writing you have withdrawn the earlier request. That way we will be processing one request for you at this time.

Many thanks,
ABC FOI team 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians
and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.

This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee. It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.

-----Original Message-----
From: Christian Otieno <[FOI #13222 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 15 July 2025 4:40 PM
To: FOI ABC <[ABC request email]>
Subject: Re: FOI 003 - Acknowledgment of request

Dear FOI ABC,

My apologies for the mistyped date. The requests should read:
* [1] all communications regarding the video and/or article from external parties and from the ABC to external parties, between 2025-05-25 and
2025-05-27 (including those dates)

* [2] all communications within the ABC regarding the video and article up to the point on 2025-05-26 when these were removed

* [3] all communications within the ABC that lead to the subsequent statement made to Daanyal Saeed of Crikey about the removal of the video and article

I am happy to restrict the search to the ABC News and Communications teams and the ABC board.

Yours sincerely,
Christian Otieno

-----Original Message-----

ABC FOI 202526-003

Good afternoon Mt Otieno

The ABC acknowledges receipt of your emailed request sent on 15 July 2025, seeking access, under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act to:

An interview with anti-genocide activist Nasser Mashni, broadcast on the 26^th [of May 2025], was removed, as was an article based on the interview, on the orders of the zionists. The URLs for the interview and the article based on it are as follows:

[1]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-26/p...

[2]https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-s...

Please disclose:

* [1] all communications regarding the video and/or article from external parties and from the ABC to external parties, between 2025-05-25 and
2025-05-36 (including those dates)

* [2] all communications within the ABC regarding the video and article up to the point on 2025-05-26 when these were removed

* [3] all communications within the ABC that lead to the subsequent statement made to Daanyal Saeed of Crikey about the removal of the video and article

We have numbered your dot points for ease of processing. There is a typo in your email with a date noted as 36 May – please confirm if you are happy with the corrected wording below. In addition we have added some words in brackets to assist with processing the file and for clarity for our colleagues who will be conducting searches:

An interview with anti-genocide activist Nasser Mashni, broadcast on the 26^th [of May 2025], was removed, as was an article based on the interview, on the orders of the zionists. The URLs for the interview and the article based on it are as follows:

[3]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-26/p...

[4]https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-s...

Please disclose:

* [1] all communications regarding the video [interview] and/or article from external parties [sent to ABC News and or Communications’ teams] and from the ABC to external parties, between 25 and 26 May 2025 inclusive

* [2] all communications within the ABC [News and or Communications’
teams] regarding the video and article up to the point on 26 May 2025 when these were removed

* [3] all communications within the ABC [News and or Communications’
teams] that lead to the subsequent statement made to Daanyal Saeed of Crikey [in May] about the removal of the video and article

So that searches can be effectively targetted, can you please confirm if you are happy for searches to be conducted within ABC News and the Communications teams as to search any and all ABC email boxes would result in the file to be too large to process given the size of the ABC.

A decision on the request received today is due to be made by Thursday 14 August 2025, subject to any extensions of time for consultation or by agreement.

By making a FOI request, you are providing personal information to the ABC. The ABC manages personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy - available at [5]ABC Privacy Policy – ABC Help - Australian Broadcasting Corporation Help Centre. Personal information may be disclosed in the course of processing this request, such as for the purposes of consultation or internal reporting.

Many thanks,

ABC FOI team

13 9994

This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee.
It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #13222 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

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The information contained in this email and any attachment is confidential and may contain legally privileged or copyright material. It is intended only for the use of the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are not permitted to disseminate, distribute or copy this email or any attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this email from your system. The ABC does not represent or warrant that this transmission is secure or virus free. Before opening any attachment you should check for viruses. The ABC's liability is limited to resupplying any email and attachments.

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ABC FOI 202526-003

Good evening Mr Otieno

The ABC is required to consult with an affected third party under s 15(6) of the FOI Act. Accordingly, the timeframe for processing your request is automatically extended by 30 days with a decision due by Monday 15 September 2025.

We will not identify you as the FOI applicant for the purposes of third-party consultation. If you prefer to be identified, please let us know by return email. It is optional.

The ABC has closed your file ABC FOI 202425-134 as you have submitted the new (valid) scope instead (being processed as ABC FOI 202526-003). If you have a different view about this, please email as soon as possible.

Many thanks,

ABC FOI team

13 9994 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians
and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.

This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee. It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.

-----Original Message-----
From: FOI ABC <[ABC request email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 16 July 2025 5:20 PM
To: Christian Otieno <[FOI #13222 email]>
Subject: RE: FOI 003 - Acknowledgment of request

ABC FOI 202526-003

Good afternoon Mt Otieno

Thank you for confirming the new scope in your email of 4.40pm 15 July, below. The FOI team will start searches for this scope.

Would you kindly respond to the email about the previous scope (sent in May) that was numbered ABC FOI 202425-134. Kindly confirm whether this has been withdrawn so that we can procedurally close that file, meaning we will not refer it for assessment by the internal review team. We note the the orginal FOI team is looking for the same documents under FOI 003, and we have taken your new scope as a replacement file. However the FOI Act is process driven and requires you to confirm in writing you have withdrawn the earlier request. That way we will be processing one request for you at this time.

Many thanks,
ABC FOI team 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.

This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee. It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.

-----Original Message-----
From: Christian Otieno <[FOI #13222 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 15 July 2025 4:40 PM
To: FOI ABC <[ABC request email]>
Subject: Re: FOI 003 - Acknowledgment of request

Dear FOI ABC,

My apologies for the mistyped date. The requests should read:
* [1] all communications regarding the video and/or article from external parties and from the ABC to external parties, between 2025-05-25 and
2025-05-27 (including those dates)

* [2] all communications within the ABC regarding the video and article up to the point on 2025-05-26 when these were removed

* [3] all communications within the ABC that lead to the subsequent statement made to Daanyal Saeed of Crikey about the removal of the video and article

I am happy to restrict the search to the ABC News and Communications teams and the ABC board.

Yours sincerely,
Christian Otieno

-----Original Message-----

ABC FOI 202526-003

Good afternoon Mt Otieno

The ABC acknowledges receipt of your emailed request sent on 15 July 2025, seeking access, under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act to:

An interview with anti-genocide activist Nasser Mashni, broadcast on the 26^th [of May 2025], was removed, as was an article based on the interview, on the orders of the zionists. The URLs for the interview and the article based on it are as follows:

[1]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-26/p...

[2]https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-s...

Please disclose:

* [1] all communications regarding the video and/or article from external parties and from the ABC to external parties, between 2025-05-25 and
2025-05-36 (including those dates)

* [2] all communications within the ABC regarding the video and article up to the point on 2025-05-26 when these were removed

* [3] all communications within the ABC that lead to the subsequent statement made to Daanyal Saeed of Crikey about the removal of the video and article

We have numbered your dot points for ease of processing. There is a typo in your email with a date noted as 36 May – please confirm if you are happy with the corrected wording below. In addition we have added some words in brackets to assist with processing the file and for clarity for our colleagues who will be conducting searches:

An interview with anti-genocide activist Nasser Mashni, broadcast on the 26^th [of May 2025], was removed, as was an article based on the interview, on the orders of the zionists. The URLs for the interview and the article based on it are as follows:

[3]https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-26/p...

[4]https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-s...

Please disclose:

* [1] all communications regarding the video [interview] and/or article from external parties [sent to ABC News and or Communications’ teams] and from the ABC to external parties, between 25 and 26 May 2025 inclusive

* [2] all communications within the ABC [News and or Communications’
teams] regarding the video and article up to the point on 26 May 2025 when these were removed

* [3] all communications within the ABC [News and or Communications’
teams] that lead to the subsequent statement made to Daanyal Saeed of Crikey [in May] about the removal of the video and article

So that searches can be effectively targetted, can you please confirm if you are happy for searches to be conducted within ABC News and the Communications teams as to search any and all ABC email boxes would result in the file to be too large to process given the size of the ABC.

A decision on the request received today is due to be made by Thursday 14 August 2025, subject to any extensions of time for consultation or by agreement.

By making a FOI request, you are providing personal information to the ABC. The ABC manages personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy - available at [5]ABC Privacy Policy – ABC Help - Australian Broadcasting Corporation Help Centre. Personal information may be disclosed in the course of processing this request, such as for the purposes of consultation or internal reporting.

Many thanks,

ABC FOI team

13 9994

This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee.
It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #13222 email]

This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

The information contained in this email and any attachment is confidential and may contain legally privileged or copyright material. It is intended only for the use of the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient of this email, you are not permitted to disseminate, distribute or copy this email or any attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this email from your system. The ABC does not represent or warrant that this transmission is secure or virus free. Before opening any attachment you should check for viruses. The ABC's liability is limited to resupplying any email and attachments.

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