Documents regarding Australian involvement in 1973 Chillean Coup
Dear Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
I am writing to request access to documents under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) pertaining specifically to Australian involvement in the 1973 coup in Chile. I am interested in obtaining records and documents related to any Australian government activities, policies, or interactions with Chile during the time leading up to and immediately following the 1973 coup that resulted in the overthrow of President Salvador Allende. The purpose of this request is to gain insights into Australia's historical involvement in this critical event in Chilean history.
To assist you in locating the relevant documents, I have outlined the specific categories of information and documents I am interested in below:
1. Any correspondence, memos, reports, emails, or other forms of communication between Australian government officials, departments, or agencies and Chilean government officials, departments, or agencies from 1970 to 1974, specifically related to the political situation in Chile and the 1973 coup.
2. Records related to Australian diplomatic efforts, statements, or positions concerning the events leading up to and following the 1973 coup in Chile.
3. Any intelligence reports or assessments produced by Australian government entities regarding the political climate in Chile in the years leading up to the coup and its aftermath.
4. Documents related to Australian aid, assistance, or humanitarian efforts in Chile during the period surrounding the 1973 coup, including details of any changes in Australian policy or actions in response to the coup.
5. Any records of Australian media coverage, public statements, or parliamentary discussions related to the 1973 coup in Chile.
6. Reports or assessments of the human rights situation in Chile as viewed by Australian government entities, especially concerning any reports of human rights abuses following the coup.
I understand that there may be sensitive or classified information, and I am open to receiving redacted versions of documents if necessary to protect national security or privacy concerns.
Please provide the requested documents in digital format via email, or if that is not feasible, on a CD or USB drive. I am willing to cover any reasonable costs associated with copying and delivering these documents.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Lachlan Mackenzie
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr McKenzie
I refer to your below email received by the Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade on 12 September 2023 requesting access to the following
documents:
"... documents under the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) pertaining specifically to Australian
involvement in the 1973 coup in Chile. I am interested in obtaining
records and documents related to any Australian government
activities, policies, or interactions with Chile during the time leading
up to and immediately following the 1973 coup that resulted in the
overthrow of President Salvador Allende. The purpose of
this request is to gain insights into Australia's historical involvement
in this critical event in Chilean history.
To assist you in locating the relevant documents, I have
outlined the specific categories of information and documents I am
interested in below:
1. Any correspondence, memos, reports, emails, or other
forms of communication between Australian government officials,
departments, or agencies and Chilean government officials, departments, or
agencies from 1970 to 1974, specifically related to the
political situation in Chile and the 1973 coup.
2. Records related to Australian diplomatic efforts,
statements, or positions concerning the events leading up to and following
the 1973 coup in Chile.
3. Any intelligence reports or assessments produced by
Australian government entities regarding the political climate in Chile in
the years leading up to the coup and its aftermath.
4. Documents related to Australian aid, assistance, or
humanitarian efforts in Chile during the period surrounding the 1973 coup,
including details of any changes in Australian policy or actions in
response to the coup.
5. Any records of Australian media coverage, public
statements, or parliamentary discussions related to the 1973 coup in
Chile.
6. Reports or assessments of the human rights situation in
Chile as viewed by Australian government entities, especially concerning
any reports of human rights abuses following the coup."
In accordance with section 12(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act
1982, a person is not entitled to obtain access to a document, or a copy
of a document, which is, under the Archives Act 1983, within the open
access period within the meaning of that Act unless the document contains
personal information (including personal information about a deceased
person).
Your request seeks access to documents from 1973. These documents fall
within the open access period and should therefore be requested from the
National Archives of Australia.
More information on submitting an access application to the National
Archives of Australia can be found here:
As this is not a valid FOI request no further action will be taken by DFAT
at this time.
[1]https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-researc...
-
:~:text=To%20submit%20an%20access%20application,online%20copy%20of%20the%20item.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us by return email at [DFAT request email].
Kind regards
DFAT FOI Team
_______________________________
Freedom of Information Section
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Policy Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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