Documents containing "NDIS" and "AUKUS" (2022–24)
Dear Department of Defence,
Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982, I request access to:
1. Any briefs, submissions, talking points, issues notes or options papers prepared by the Department of Defence between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 where the text of the document contains both of the words “NDIS” and “AUKUS”.
2. Any emails (including attachments) sent to or from SES Band 1 and Band 2 officers in the Department’s Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Defence People Group or any equivalent division between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 where the body of the email or any attachment contains both of the words “NDIS” and “AUKUS”.
I am not seeking duplicate copies of the same document, routine administrative emails (for example, diary requests or purely logistical correspondence), or drafts that differ only in trivial formatting.
If you consider that processing this request in full would involve a substantial and unreasonable diversion of resources, I ask that you first provide me with a practical refusal consultation and a schedule of documents (for example, a keyword hit list) so that I can refine the scope.
Yours faithfully,
Mark Pietsch
OFFICIAL
Dear Mark
Acknowledgement
I refer to your correspondence of 10 December 2025, seeking access to
documents held by the Department of Defence (Defence) under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). This email is to advise you that your
request has been received and allocated for Case Management.
The scope of your request is:
1. Any briefs, submissions, talking points, issues notes or options papers
prepared by the Department of Defence between 1 January 2022 and 31
December 2024 where the text of the document contains both of the words
“NDIS” and “AUKUS”.
2. Any emails (including attachments) sent to or from SES Band 1 and Band
2 officers in the Department’s Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group,
Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Defence People Group or any
equivalent division between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2024 where the
body of the email or any attachment contains both of the words “NDIS” and
“AUKUS”.
I am not seeking duplicate copies of the same document, routine
administrative emails (for example, diary requests or purely logistical
correspondence), or drafts that differ only in trivial formatting.
Disclaimer
Where staff details are captured in documents within the scope of your FOI
request, this information will be redacted; this includes private email
addresses, signatures, personnel (PMKeyS) numbers and mobile telephone
numbers, unless you specifically request such details. Defence excludes
duplicates of documents and any documents sent to or from you.
Furthermore, Defence only considers final versions of documents.
Charges
Defence may impose a charge for the work involved in providing access to
the documents in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Charges)
Regulations 2019. We will notify you if your request attracts a charge.
Please note that there is no charge for documents that contain the
personal information of the applicant.
Timeframe
The statutory timeframe to provide you with a decision on your request
ends on 9 January 2026. This period may be extended if we need to consult
with third parties, or for other reasons. We will advise you if this
happens.
Please note that Defence is subject to a reduced work period during
December and January. We seek your agreement to a 30-day extension of time
under section 15AA of the FOI Act. If you agree to the extension, the new
statutory timeframe to provide you with a decision will end on 8 February
2026.
It would be much appreciated if you could confirm your agreement to this
extension of time via e-mail by close of business 19 December 2025.
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 Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner under section 93A of the FOI Act.
Disclosure Log
Documents released under the FOI Act may be published on Defence’s
disclosure log, located on our website.
Contact Details
We will contact you via the email address you have provided. Please advise
if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
Should you have any questions relating to your request, please contact:
[1][email address].
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Team
Media and Information Disclosure Branch
Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division
Department of Defence
[2]Freedom of information requests | About | Defence
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. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessi...
Dear FOI Case Management,
I am happy to agree to an extension of time, though I would like to request a scoping meeting as soon as practicable to discuss the request after initial searches have been conducted, to help refine the direction of the investigation in order to reduce any administrative burden or voluminous document releases.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Pietsch
OFFICIAL
Dear Mark,
Please find attached a letter in relation to Defence FOI 913/25/26.
Kind regards,
Freedom of Information Team
Media and Information Disclosure Branch
Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division
Department of Defence
[1]Freedom of information requests | About | Defence
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. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessi...