OFFICIAL

 

 

FOI Request: LEX 12772 

  

Dear Applicant

  

Thank you for your email dated 22 August 2025 seeking access to documents
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).  

  

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

  

Scope of request:  

You have sought access to: 

  

‘Any documents requested, received, drafted or obtained by DFAT including
communications about Australian nationals joining IDF operations in Gaza
and possible liability under international law.

Documents are limited to all document from January 2024 onwards.’

  

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 22 August 2025, and the 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date.
A decision is currently due to you by 22 September 2025. The period of 30
days may be extended in certain circumstances.    

    

Charges:   

Please note that the department may issue charges for processing FOI
requests.  If applicable, we will advise you of any relevant charges when
we are in a position to estimate the resources required to process your
request.   

   

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 [1]disclosure log.   

  

Exclusion of officials’ names and contact details:  

It is the department’s policy to withhold the personal information of
junior staff from ministerial offices and government officials not in the
Senior Executive Service (SES) or equivalent, including their email
addresses and contact numbers, together with all signatures, mobile phone
numbers, departmental inboxes and technical transmission details including
reference numbers.  

   

Duplicate documents and incomplete email chains:  

Your request will be processed on the basis that you did not intend to
capture duplicate documents or duplicate emails within email chains.  

 

If you require the excluded information or documents, please let us know
at [2][DFAT request email] so the decision-maker may consider; otherwise, we
will take it that you agree to the information and documents being
excluded from the scope of 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. Further information on the way the department
handles personal information is accessible via our [3]privacy policy.  

  

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us by reply email.  

  

Kind regards  

  

Aaron

_______________________________
Freedom of Information Section
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Policy Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[4]dfat.gov.au | [5]X | [6]Facebook | [7]Instagram  | [8]LinkedIn

 

© Brooke Rigney-Lively (2024)

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Australia, and their continuing connection to land, waters and community.
We pay our respects to all First Nations peoples, their cultures and to
their Elders, past, present and emerging.

 

This email and any attachments may contain confidential information or
legal advice over which legal professional privilege can be claimed. Such
privilege is not waived and you should ensure that, in your handling of
the advice, you avoid waiving privilege. Please consult the author of the
advice if unsure about appropriate handling.

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: justice4all <[FOI #13536 email]>
Sent: Friday, 22 August 2025 2:48 PM
To: FOI <[DFAT request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Freedom of Information request - Communications about
Australian nationals joining IDF operations in Gaza and possible liability
under international law

 

CAUTION: This email originated from outside the organisation. Do not click
links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender.

 

Dear Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

 

Any documents requested, received, drafted or obtained by DFAT including
communications about Australian nationals joining IDF operations in Gaza
and possible liability under international law.

 

Documents are limited to all document from January 2024 onwards.

 

I consider all (draft) versions of these documents relevant. I also
consider the name of all departmental employees and employees of the
ministers office including their positions and roles relevant to this
request.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

justice4all

 

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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #13536 email]

 

Is [DFAT request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade? If so, please contact us using
this form:

https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

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://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

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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References

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