OFFICIAL Sensitive - Personal Privacy

ATTN: Christian Otieno
Our ref: 2526-0035

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST - Department of Education

Dear Christian,

Thank you for your recent FOI request.

The Department of Education - FOI Unit has received your request and have allocated the following reference number for your awareness and future use when communicating with our office on this request - FOI: 2526-0035.

If you have not yet paid the application fee or provided evidence for a fee waiver, please see the below:

Application Fee
Section 17(2A) of the Act requires a request to be accompanied by the payment of the application fee, which is currently $33.60.
Payment can be made as follows:
- through the Victorian government FOI portal at the following link: https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/; or
- via EFT using the account details below:

Account name: DET Revenue Account
BSB: 033-222
Account number: 190007
Reference: FOI 2526-0035

If paying by EFT, please note that we will be unable to provide you with a payment receipt and you must provide evidence of payment (i.e. screen shot/receipt), including your FOI reference number, to [Victorian Department of Education request email]

The application fee may be waived or reduced if you can provide the department with evidence that payment of the fee would cause financial hardship. We will accept a current health care card or other documentation that shows government social security benefits are being received. Please provide any evidence of financial hardship by email to [Victorian Department of Education request email] and include the FOI reference number allocated above.

Delays expected
Your request is currently in queue for preassessment, which will identify whether clarifications are required. We will contact you as soon as possible to advise of next steps.

Please note that we are currently experiencing a significant backlog with FOI requests. During this challenging time, in order to focus our resources on processing requests, we are unable to respond to any requests for an update on the status of your application. Should you have an urgent query or additional information about your request, please call our office directly on 70220856 - quoting your reference number.

While the legislated time frame for processing requests is 30 days from the date it is 'valid', we are currently unable to meet this target due to our resourcing challenges. We apologise sincerely for the inconvenience that this may cause and appreciate your patience while we work though the backlog. Should you require documents for an upcoming court date, you may wish to consider the option of a subpoena.

We appreciate that your request is important to you and thank you for your understanding and patience. We will contact you as this matter progresses.

Kind regards,

Gillian

Freedom of Information Unit
Department of Education
2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne VIC 3002

T: 03 7022 0856
E: [Victorian Department of Education request email]
W: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/

show quoted sections

Thank you for your email.
Please note that we are currently experiencing a significant backlog with
FOI requests. We are endeavouring to process requests in order of receipt.
During this challenging time, to focus our resources on processing
requests, we are unable to respond to any requests for an update on the
status of your application. Should you have an urgent query or additional
information about your request, please call our office directly on
70220856 – quoting your FOI reference number.
We apologise sincerely for the inconvenience that this may cause and
appreciate your patience while we work though the backlog. Should you
require documents for an upcoming court date, you may wish to consider the
option of a subpoena.
The Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) is aware of
our circumstance. Please note however, you have the right to complain to
OVIC if you are concerned with the delay. OVIC can be contacted by email
at [email address]
We appreciate that your request is important to you and thank you for your
understanding and patience.
We will contact you as your matter progresses.
Freedom of Information Unit
Department of Education
2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne VIC 3002
 
T: 03 7022 0856
E: [1][Victorian Department of Education request email]
W: [2]www.education.vic.gov.au
 
IMPORTANT - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If
received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening
or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any
loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the
sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any
attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected
attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the
individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of
Education.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Victorian Department of Education request email]
2. http://www.education.vic.gov.au/

OFFICIAL

Hi Christian,

Thank you for your email. I apologise for the delay in responding.

You should be able to log back in to the portal even after a request is submitted. Please see the webpage linked below for more information on accessing the portal and troubleshooting issues.

https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/freedom-o...

I apologise for the inconvenience caused by any access problems. If you continue to have issues, please note that we can accept amendments via email and payment via EFT.

Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any further questions or concerns.

Kind regards,

Gillian

Freedom of Information Unit
Department of Education
2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne VIC 3002

T: 03 7022 0856
E: [Victorian Department of Education request email]
W: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/

show quoted sections

Dear Christian  

YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST 2526-0035 – APPLICATION FEE
OUTSTANDING

I refer to your request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act), received by the Department of Education on 9 July 2025, in
which you seek access to:

“I understand that Coburg High School suspended a year 11 student for
asking Peter Khalil on 2025-06-30 why he, and the Albanese regime, support
the zionist genocide being carried out against the human population of
Palestine.

I am requesting:

1) All records regarding the decision to suspend this boy.

2) All email and other electronic communications regarding Khalil's visit
with outside parties, including Khalil and his office, between 2025-06-01
and 2025-07-09.

3) All phone records related to calls between school officials, and Peter
Khalil or his office or his co-conspirators in the Victorian and Federal
Labor parties, between 2025-06-30 (inclusive) and 2025-07-09.”

Under section 17(2A) of the FOI Act, you are required to pay an
application fee of $33.60. As yet, you have not yet paid this fee. Your
application cannot be processed until payment is received.

The application fee may be waived or reduced if you can provide the
department with evidence that payment of the fee would cause you/your
client financial hardship. We will accept a current health care card or
other documentation that shows you are in receipt of a government social
security benefit. Please provide any evidence of financial hardship by
email to [1][Victorian Department of Education request email]. Please include the reference
contained in the subject line of this email.

If you would like to proceed with your request, please make payment of
$33.60. Alternatively, please set out in writing any hardship grounds on
which you rely in support of a fee waiver.

Application Fee

Payment can be made as follows:

o through the Victorian government FOI portal at the following link:
[2]https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/ ; or

·         via EFT using the account details below:

Account name: DET Revenue Account

BSB: 033-222

Account number: 190007

Reference: FOI 2526-0035

If paying by EFT, please note that we will be unable to provide you with a
payment receipt and you must provide evidence of payment (i.e. screen
shot/receipt), including your FOI reference number, to
[3][Victorian Department of Education request email]

Please respond to the issues raised above by 19 September 2025 so that the
department can commence processing your request. If we do not hear from
you by this date, we will assume you do not wish to proceed with your
request and no further action will be taken by the department.

If you have any questions, please contact me by email at
[4][Victorian Department of Education request email]

Kind Regards

Terry

Freedom of Information Unit
Department of Education
2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne VIC 3002

E: [5][Victorian Department of Education request email]
W: [6]www.education.vic.gov.au

IMPORTANT - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If
received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening
or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any
loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the
sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any
attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected
attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the
individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of
Education.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Victorian Department of Education request email]
mailto:[Victorian Department of Education request email]
2. https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/
3. mailto:[Victorian Department of Education request email]
4. mailto:[Victorian Department of Education request email]
5. mailto:[Victorian Department of Education request email]
6. http://www.education.vic.gov.au/