Correspondence between DFAT Canberra and Australian High Commission to Malaysia

Anthony Brewster 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.

This request has been withdrawn by the person who made it. There may be an explanation in the correspondence below.

Anthony Brewster

Dear Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

This request for information is made under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

This is an application for correspondence between the DFAT in Canberra and the Australian High Commission to Malaysia between February 15, 2013 and April 19, 2013 in relation to the subject of Senator Nick Xenephon and his deportation from Malaysia in February 2013.

Based upon the above parameters, I am requesting the following :

1. All correspondence and briefs prepared for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Bob Carr MP;

2. All correspondence and briefs prepared for the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Mr Miles Kupa;

3. All correspondence between the Hon Bob Carr and Mr. Miles Kupa;

4. Any documents, advice, reports or emails received by DFAT Canberra from the Australian High Commission to Malaysia;

5. Any documents, advice, reports or emails received by the High Commisioner to Malaysia from the Malaysian Government or any agency of the Malaysian Government.

Yours faithfully,

Anthony Brewster

Scott, John, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Our Ref: 1304-F538

Dear Mr Brewster

Re: Freedom of Information (FOI) Request

Thank you for your email below in which you seek access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to certain documents relating to Senator Xenephon's deportation from Malaysia in February 2013.

Searches are now being undertaken in relevant areas of the Department for documents relevant to your request. I will contact you again once the searches have been completed.

I take this opportunity to inform you that the FOI Act provides that an agency is obliged to consult with third parties on the release of their personal information and to give him/her the opportunity to voice their concerns on the release of such information. This does not confer the right of veto on the release of that information. The Department’s decision-maker will, however, take into consideration those concerns when making his/her decision.

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. Please note that the statutory timeframe for the processing of requests begins at the point that an agreed scope for your request is reached. A maximum of two attempts at revising the scope of a request to make it able to be processed will be undertaken.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Department by email at [DFAT request email]

Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Domestic Law Branch
International Law Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony Brewster [mailto:[FOI #97 email]]
Sent: Saturday, 20 April 2013 1:13 PM
To: FOI
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Correspondence between DFAT Canberra and Australian High Commission to Malaysia

Dear Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

This request for information is made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982.

This is an application for correspondence between the DFAT in
Canberra and the Australian High Commission to Malaysia between
February 15, 2013 and April 19, 2013 in relation to the subject of
Senator Nick Xenephon and his deportation from Malaysia in February
2013.

Based upon the above parameters, I am requesting the following :

1. All correspondence and briefs prepared for the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, the Hon Bob Carr MP;

2. All correspondence and briefs prepared for the Australian High
Commissioner to Malaysia, Mr Miles Kupa;

3. All correspondence between the Hon Bob Carr and Mr. Miles Kupa;

4. Any documents, advice, reports or emails received by DFAT
Canberra from the Australian High Commission to Malaysia;

5. Any documents, advice, reports or emails received by the High
Commisioner to Malaysia from the Malaysian Government or any agency
of the Malaysian Government.

Yours faithfully,

Anthony Brewster

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

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #97 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:
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Write your response as plain text. Only send PDF documents as a
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Anthony Brewster

Dear Scott, John,

Thank you for your recent reply.

How is the search going and is there anything else you require from at the moment?

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Brewster

Scott, John, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Dear Mr Brewster

Thank you for your email.
Searches for relevant material are being conducted in two areas of the Department and our mission in Kuala Lumpur. I expect returns from all areas to be submitted this week following which we will be in a position to assess and notify you of costs to process the request . No further action is required from your end at this stage. I shall be in touch.
Kind regards
John

John Scott
Executive Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Domestic Law Branch

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony Brewster [mailto:[FOI #97 email]]
Sent: Tuesday, 30 April 2013 10:50 AM
To: Scott, John
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Correspondence between DFAT Canberra and Australian High Commission to Malaysia [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Dear Scott, John,

Thank you for your recent reply.

How is the search going and is there anything else you require from
at the moment?

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Brewster

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

Our Ref: 1304-F538

Dear Mr Brewster

Re: Freedom of Information (FOI) Request

Thank you for your email below in which you seek access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 to certain documents relating to
Senator Xenephon's deportation from Malaysia in February 2013.

Searches are now being undertaken in relevant areas of the
Department for documents relevant to your request. I will contact
you again once the searches have been completed.

I take this opportunity to inform you that the FOI Act provides
that an agency is obliged to consult with third parties on the
release of their personal information and to give him/her the
opportunity to voice their concerns on the release of such
information. This does not confer the right of veto on the release
of that information. The Department’s decision-maker will, however,
take into consideration those concerns when making his/her
decision.

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. Please note that the statutory timeframe
for the processing of requests begins at the point that an agreed
scope for your request is reached. A maximum of two attempts at
revising the scope of a request to make it able to be processed
will be undertaken.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate
to contact the Department by email at [DFAT request email]

Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Domestic Law Branch
International Law Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #97 email]

Write your response as plain text. Only send PDF documents as a
last resort. Government guidelines make it clear that PDF is not an
acceptable format for you to use in the delivery of government
information.
http://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offic...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
http://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offic...

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.

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

hide quoted sections

Scott, John, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Brewster

Please find attached our charges letter in relation to your recent FOI request.

Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Domestic Law Branch

Anthony Brewster

Dear Scott, John,

Thank you for assistance on this matter.

Based on consultation with yourself and in reply to the letter dated 6 May, 2013, I elect to narrow the scope of my request.

Specifically, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, I request information relating to the following:

All documents held in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)in Canberra relating to the deportation of Senator Nick Xenephon from Malaysia in February this year.

All correspondence between the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysian Government relating to the deportation of Senator Nick Xenephon from Malaysia in February this year.

Any or all ministerial submissions generated for the Hon. Bob Carr, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by DFAT relating to the deportation of Senator Nick Xenephon from Malaysia in February this year.

All of the above requests are defined by and within the date range of February 15, 2013 to April 19, 2013.

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Brewster

Scott, John, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Hi Anthony
Please call the undersigned at your convenience to discuss your FOI
request.
Regards
John Scott
Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Domestic Law Branch
 
 
 

Scott, John, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Brewster

Our recent discussions on the above matter refer.
The attached charges letter provides our cost to process your re-scoped request. It is self-explanatory.
Please contact me if you wish to discuss

John Scott
Executive Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Domestic Law Branch

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony Brewster [mailto:[FOI #97 email]]
Sent: Wednesday, 15 May 2013 10:10 AM
To: Scott, John
Subject: Re: FOI Request re Xenophon - Charges letter [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Dear Scott, John,

Thank you for assistance on this matter.

Based on consultation with yourself and in reply to the letter
dated 6 May, 2013, I elect to narrow the scope of my request.

Specifically, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, I request
information relating to the following:

All documents held in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(DFAT)in Canberra relating to the deportation of Senator Nick
Xenephon from Malaysia in February this year.

All correspondence between the Australian High Commission in Kuala
Lumpur and the Malaysian Government relating to the deportation of
Senator Nick Xenephon from Malaysia in February this year.

Any or all ministerial submissions generated for the Hon. Bob Carr,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, by DFAT relating to the deportation
of Senator Nick Xenephon from Malaysia in February this year.

All of the above requests are defined by and within the date range
of February 15, 2013 to April 19, 2013.

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Brewster

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

Dear Mr Brewster

Please find attached our charges letter in relation to your recent
FOI request.

Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Domestic Law Branch

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #97 email]

Write your response as plain text. Only send PDF documents as a
last resort. Government guidelines make it clear that PDF is not an
acceptable format for you to use in the delivery of government
information.
http://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offic...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
http://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offic...

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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Cheung, Ada, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Brewster,

As there has been no response to this charges letter issued on 30 May 2013, your request has been deemed to be withdrawn, in accordance with section 29(2) of the FOI Act.

Yours sincerely,

Ada Cheung
a/g Director
Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Domestic Law Branch
International Law Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Tel: +61 2 6261 3470
Fax: +61 2 6261 2144

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott, John
Sent: Thursday, 30 May 2013 4:42 PM
To: 'Anthony Brewster'
Cc: McCormick, Indra
Subject: RE: FOI Request re Xenophon - Charges letter [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Dear Mr Brewster

Our recent discussions on the above matter refer.
The attached charges letter provides our cost to process your re-scoped request. It is self-explanatory.
Please contact me if you wish to discuss

John Scott
Executive Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section Domestic Law Branch

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony Brewster [mailto:[FOI #97 email]]
Sent: Wednesday, 15 May 2013 10:10 AM
To: Scott, John
Subject: Re: FOI Request re Xenophon - Charges letter [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Dear Scott, John,

Thank you for assistance on this matter.

Based on consultation with yourself and in reply to the letter
dated 6 May, 2013, I elect to narrow the scope of my request.

Specifically, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, I request
information relating to the following:

All documents held in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(DFAT)in Canberra relating to the deportation of Senator Nick
Xenephon from Malaysia in February this year.

All correspondence between the Australian High Commission in Kuala
Lumpur and the Malaysian Government relating to the deportation of
Senator Nick Xenephon from Malaysia in February this year.

Any or all ministerial submissions generated for the Hon. Bob Carr,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, by DFAT relating to the deportation
of Senator Nick Xenephon from Malaysia in February this year.

All of the above requests are defined by and within the date range
of February 15, 2013 to April 19, 2013.

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Brewster

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

Dear Mr Brewster

Please find attached our charges letter in relation to your recent
FOI request.

Freedom of Information and Privacy Law Section
Domestic Law Branch

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #97 email]

Write your response as plain text. Only send PDF documents as a
last resort. Government guidelines make it clear that PDF is not an
acceptable format for you to use in the delivery of government
information.
http://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offic...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
http://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offic...

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.

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

hide quoted sections