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Documents related to meetings with Israeli Government

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Dear Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

I would like to request under the FOI Act. All documents (including but not limited to meeting minutes, talking points, ministerial briefs) related to meetings (physical, phone and virtual) the Australian Government (including but not limited to members of parliment, cabinet and public servants) had with the Government Israel and/or representative or the Government of Israel the decision that the Australian Goverment made to recognise Palestine as a state.

The time frame for this request is documents that related to meeting that occured in the past 6 months.

Yours faithfully,

John Smith

FOI, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

FOI Request No: LEX 12792

 

Dear Justice4All

 

Thank you for your email dated 28 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:

 

All documents (including but not limited to meeting minutes, talking
points, ministerial briefs) related to meetings (physical, phone and
virtual) the Australian Government (including but not limited to members
of parliament, cabinet and public servants) had with the Government Israel
and/or representative or the Government of Israel the decision that the
Australian Government made to recognise Palestine as a state.

 

The time frame for this request is documents that related to meeting that
occurred in the past 6 months.

 

 

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 28 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 29 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 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 [1][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 privacy policy. 

 

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

 

 

Kind regards   

 

DFAT FOI Team

_____________________________________________________
FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Policy Division

 

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

 

[2]dfat.gov.au | [3]X | [4]Facebook | [5]Instagram  | [6]LinkedIn

 

© Brooke Rigney-Lively (2024)

 

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout 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.

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

FOI, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

1 Attachment

OFFICIAL

 

FOI Reference: LEX 12792

 

We are writing to you to seek your agreement to providing the department
with an extension to process your FOI request in accordance with section
15AA of the FOI Act. This would mean that a decision would then be due to
you by 20 October 2025.  

 

Background 

 

The department has experienced delays with processing your request.
Unfortunately, several FOI officers have fallen ill and have had to take
unexpected sick leave. This has significantly reduced the department’s
capacity to process FOI requests.

 

The additional time will enable the department to finalise its processes
and provide you with an outcome without your request becoming a ‘deemed
access refusal’ under the FOI Act.

 

Please be assured that we will continue to process your request as quickly
as possible and will provide an outcome to you as soon as it is
available.  

 

Timeframe 

 

We would be grateful if you could please reply to our request by COB 25
September 2025.

 

If we do not hear from you, we may apply to the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner for an extension to the statutory timeframe. 
 
Should you have any questions, please to contact us by reply email. 

 

Kind regards 

 

 

DFAT FOI Team

show quoted sections

OAIC - FOI DR,

4 Attachments

Our reference:            RQ25/05983

Agency reference:    LEX 12792

Agency name              Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
By Email:                        [DFAT request email]

Name                              John Smith
By Email:                       
[FOI #13551 email]

Extension of time under s 15AB

Dear Parties,

Please find attached an extension of time decision relating to the above
referenced FOI request.

 

Regards,

[1][IMG]   Andriana DeIeso

Review Adviser

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

GPO Box 5288 Sydney NSW 2001

E [2][email address]
 
 
The OAIC acknowledges Traditional Custodians of Country across
Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and
communities. We pay our respect to First Nations people,
cultures and Elders past and present.  

 

[3]Subscribe to Information Matters

 

 

Notice:

The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.oaic.gov.au/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.oaic.gov.au/engage-with-us/n...

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