Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2020 15:45:57 +0000
Subject: 200612 0145 - [Scott McCormick]-[FOI] Freedom of Information request - Approval of Chloroquine trials for Covid-19
From: Scott McCormick <[FOI #6394 email]>
To: FOI <[email address]>

Dear Australian Defence Human Research Ethics Committee,

I would like to view all emails, minutes and conversations, internally within the ADF and also externally (foreign governments and those in consultant roles) relating to the decision to approve the antimalarial Chloroquine for trial use on service personnel infected with Covid-19.

I also request that all fees for this request be waived, as the request is in the public interest and Chloroquine has never been used in this particular manner.

Yours faithfully,

Scott Grahame McCormick

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UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Scott,

Can you please contact me on the phone number below, pertaining to the scope of your FOI inquiry?

Kind Regards,

Chris

Chris Simon | Freedom of Information
Enterprise Reform Branch | Governance and Reform Division | Department of Defence
a CP1-6-005 Campbell Park Offices ACT 2600
t (02) 6266 3532| e [email address]

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.

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UNCLASSIFIED

Good morning Scott,

Can you please provide your contact number, I would like to discuss your FOI request?

Unfortunately I have not received your message.

Regards,
Chris

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.

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UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Scott,

Your current scope for FOI inquiry 596/19/20 is as follows:

"I request all ADHREC and Defence meeting minutes relating to the consideration of and the use of Chloroquine on COVID-19 infected service personnel from the 14th of February 2020 to the 11th of June 2020."

Please clarify if you are specifically interested in information pertaining to the use of Chloroquine on COVID-19 infected service personnel?

I have discussed your inquiry with the subject matter experts and would like to know if you are happy for the below revised scope?

"I request Australian Defence Human Research Ethics Committee (ADHREC) and Defence meeting minutes relating to the consideration of and the use of Chloroquine as a preventative for COVID 19, on service personnel from the 14th of February 2020 to the 11th of June 2020."

If you would like to discuss further please contact me on 02 62663532.

Kind Regards

Chris Simon | Freedom of Information
Enterprise Reform Branch | Governance and Reform Division | Department of Defence
a CP1-6-005 Campbell Park Offices ACT 2600
t (02) 6266 3532| e [email address]

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.

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UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Mr McCormick,

I refer to your FOI request:

"I request all ADHREC and Defence meeting minutes relating to the
consideration of and the use of Chloroquine on COVID-19 infected service
personnel from the 14th of February 2020 to the 11th of June 2020."

The documents you have requested are still in draft and Defence only deals
with final versions of documents.  I am seeking your agreement to place
your request on hold until Thursday 25 June 2020 when we anticipate the
document will be finalised. I will then recommence the processing your
request.

Please inform this office by COB 22 Jun 2020, if you agree to the above
request.

Should you have any questions relating to your request, please do not
hesitate to contact me on 02 6266 3532.

Regards,

Chris Simon | Freedom of Information
Enterprise Reform Branch | Governance and Reform Division | Department of
Defence
a CP1-6-005 Campbell Park Offices ACT 2600
t (02) 6266 3532| e [1][email address]

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]

UNCLASSIFIED

Good morning Mr McCormick,

I refer to your Freedom Of Information (FOI) request submitted on the 12
June 2020, current scope for FOI inquiry is as follows:

"I request Australian Defence Human Research Ethics Committee (ADHREC) and
Defence meeting minutes relating to the consideration of and the use of
Chloroquine as a preventative for COVID 19, on service personnel from the
14th of February 2020 to the 11th of June 2020."

The documents you have requested were still in draft during the above date
range and Defence only deals with final versions of documents.  Can you
please consider the below revised scope for your FOI inquiry?

"I request Australian Defence Human Research Ethics Committee (ADHREC) and
Defence meeting minutes relating to the consideration of and the use of
Chloroquine as a preventative for COVID 19, on service personnel from the
14th of February 2020 to the 25th of June 2020."

Please inform this office by COB 26 Jun 2020, if you agree to the above
request. I will then recommence the processing your request.

Do not hesitate to contact me on the phone number below should the need
arise.

Regards,

Chris Simon | Freedom of Information
Enterprise Reform Branch | Governance and Reform Division | Department of
Defence
a CP1-6-005 Campbell Park Offices ACT 2600
t (02) 6266 2577| e [1][email address]

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]

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Mr McCormick

I refer to your correspondence dated 12 Jun 20, in which you sought
access, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), to:

“ I would like to view all emails, minutes and conversations, internally
within the ADF and also externally (foreign governments and those in
consultant roles) relating to the decision to approve the antimalarial
Chloroquine for trial use on service personnel infected with Covid-19. I
also request that all fees for this request be waived, as the request is
in the public interest and Chloroquine has never been used in this
particular manner. ”

Revised scope

On 25 Jun 20, following further discussion you agreed to proceed with the
following revised scope:

"I request Australian Defence Human Research Ethics Committee (ADHREC) and
Defence meeting minutes relating to the consideration of and the use of
Chloroquine as a preventative for COVID 19, on service personnel from the
14th of February 2020 to the 25th of June 2020."

The Department of Defence does not release private email addresses,
signatures, personnel (PMKeyS) numbers and mobile telephone numbers
contained in documents that fall within the scope of a FOI request unless
you specifically request such details. Defence also excludes duplicates of
documents and documents sent to or from you. Furthermore, Defence only
considers final versions of documents.

If you are seeking personal details, please inform this office by 30 June
2020 so that the decision maker can consider your request.

Defence may impose a charge for the work involved in providing access to
the documents in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Charges)
Regulations. You will be notified in writing if your request attracts a
charge. Please note that there is no charge for documents that contain the
personal information of the applicant.

The statutory deadline for you to receive a response to your request is:
25 July 2020.

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 Australian Information
Commissioner.

Due to the impacts of  the COVID-19 pandemic on Defence’s ability to
process FOI requests, we may seek your agreement for an extension of time
under section 15AA of the FOI Act. I am the case manager will liaise with
you in relation to this.

Should you have any questions relating to your request, please do not
hesitate to contact our office via email to
[1][email address].

Regards

Chris Simon | Freedom of Information
Enterprise Reform Branch | Governance and Reform Division | Department of
Defence
a CP1-6-005 Campbell Park Offices ACT 2600
t (02) 6266 2577| e [2][email address]

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. mailto:[email address]

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Mr McCormick,

As per the acknowledgement below.

The statutory deadline for you to receive a response to your request is:
25 July 2020.

Regards,

Chris Simon | Freedom of Information
Enterprise Reform Branch | Governance and Reform Division | Department of Defence
a CP1-6-005 Campbell Park Offices ACT 2600
t (02) 6266 2577| e [email address]

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.

show quoted sections

UNCLASSIFIED

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.

Dear Mr McCormick

Please find attached the Decision and documents relating to Defence FOI
596/19/20. 

FOI Disclosure Log

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 five working days of receipt by the applicant or immediately
following any publication of the released material. Defence will also
publish the statement of reasons with privacy deletions.  This request
will be published on 03 August 2020 or immediately following publication.

Rights of Review

Under section 54 of the FOI Act, you are entitled to request a review of
this decision. Your review rights are attached.

Should you have any questions in regard to this matter please contact this
office.

Regards

Case Management

Freedom of Information

Information Management and Access

Governance and Reform Division

Department of Defence

PO Box 7910 Canberra ACT 2610

email: [1][email address]

References

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1. mailto:[email address]