Funding agreements with Rio Tinto
Dear Australian National University,
Under the FOI ACT I would like to request the following documents: Any agreements, MOUs, contracts, or other records documenting an understanding between the ANU and Rio Tinto regarding the funding of a research centre at ANU. Limit your search to the period 1 January 2024 to present. I agree to the redaction of names and contact details of junior staff.
Yours faithfully,
Delilah Hamel
Good morning
On 23 September 2025, the Australian National University (the University)
received your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
The University has taken your request to be as follows:
‘Under the FOI ACT I would like to request the following documents: Any
agreements, MOUs, contracts, or other records documenting an understanding
between the ANU and Rio Tinto regarding the funding of a research centre
at ANU. Limit your search to the period 1 January 2024 to present’
Your request has been assigned the case number 202500237.
Processing Timeframe
The statutory time frame for processing your request is 30 calendar days
from day after the date your request was received by the University. You
should therefore expect a decision from us by 23 October 2025.
This period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third
parties, impose a charge or for other reasons. We will advise you in
writing if this happens.
We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact. If you have
any questions regarding your request, please feel free to contact the FOI
Team via the functional email [1][ANU request email].
The FOI Team’s workload is currently at very high levels due the
unprecedented volume of FOI requests.
We are using our best endeavors to process all requests expeditiously
however there may be some slippage due to the current workload. We will
keep in touch with you and advise if there are any significant delays,
and, will, if necessary, seek extensions as permitted by the Act.
Yours sincerely
FOI Team
University Governance Office
The Australian National University
Email: [2][ANU request email]
Web: [3]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[ANU request email]
2. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
3. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
Good afternoon
On 23 September 2025, the Australian National University (the University)
received your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
The University has taken your request to be as follows:
‘Under the FOI ACT I would like to request the following documents: Any
agreements, MOUs, contracts, or other records documenting an understanding
between the ANU and Rio Tinto regarding the funding of a research centre
at ANU. Limit your search to the period 1 January 2024 to present’
Your request has been assigned the case number 202500237.
Processing Timeframe
The statutory time frame for processing your request is 30 calendar days
from day after the date your request was received by the University. You
should therefore expect a decision from us by 23 October 2025.
This period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third
parties, impose a charge or for other reasons. We will advise you in
writing if this happens.
We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact. If you have
any questions regarding your request, please feel free to contact the FOI
Team via the functional email [1][ANU request email].
The FOI Team’s workload is currently at very high levels due the
unprecedented volume of FOI requests.
We are using our best endeavors to process all requests expeditiously
however there may be some slippage due to the current workload. We will
keep in touch with you and advise if there are any significant delays,
and, will, if necessary, seek extensions as permitted by the Act.
Yours sincerely
FOI Team
University Governance Office
The Australian National University
Email: [2][ANU request email]
Web: [3]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[ANU request email]
2. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
3. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
Good afternoon Delilah,
I refer to your request for access to documents received by the Australian
National University (the University) under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (the FOI Act) as follows:
“Under the FOI ACT I would like to request the following documents: Any
agreements, MOUs, contracts, or other records documenting an understanding
between the ANU and Rio Tinto regarding the funding of a research centre
at ANU. Limit your search to the period 1 January 2024 to present. I agree
to the redaction of names and contact details of junior staff.”
As a result of searches conducted a number of documents have been
identified as relevant to your request. On review of the documents, it has
been determined that they contain information concerning the business,
commercial or financial affairs of a number of third party organisations,
the University is required to consult with the person or organisation
concerned (under section 27 of the FOI Act) before making a decision on
the release of those documents.
The consultation mechanism under section 27 applies when we believe a
person or organisation concerned may wish to contend that the requested
documents are exempt because their release would disclose trade secrets or
commercially valuable information, or may adversely affect their business
or financial affairs. We will take into account any comments we receive
from the person or organisation but the final decision about whether to
grant you access to the documents you requested rests with the University.
For this reason the period for processing your request has been extended
by 30 days in order to allow our agency time to consult with that person
or organisation (section 15(6) of the FOI Act). The processing period for
your request will now end on Monday 24 November 2025.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Team
University Governance Office
The Australian National University
Email: [1][ANU request email]
Web: [2]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Thursday, 2 October 2025 11:14 AM
To: [FOI #13699 email]
Subject: FOI Request- 202500237- Acknowledgement
Good morning
On 23 September 2025, the Australian National University (the University)
received your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
The University has taken your request to be as follows:
‘Under the FOI ACT I would like to request the following documents: Any
agreements, MOUs, contracts, or other records documenting an understanding
between the ANU and Rio Tinto regarding the funding of a research centre
at ANU. Limit your search to the period 1 January 2024 to present’
Your request has been assigned the case number 202500237.
Processing Timeframe
The statutory time frame for processing your request is 30 calendar days
from day after the date your request was received by the University. You
should therefore expect a decision from us by 23 October 2025.
This period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third
parties, impose a charge or for other reasons. We will advise you in
writing if this happens.
We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact. If you have
any questions regarding your request, please feel free to contact the FOI
Team via the functional email [3][ANU request email].
The FOI Team’s workload is currently at very high levels due the
unprecedented volume of FOI requests.
We are using our best endeavors to process all requests expeditiously
however there may be some slippage due to the current workload. We will
keep in touch with you and advise if there are any significant delays,
and, will, if necessary, seek extensions as permitted by the Act.
Yours sincerely
FOI Team
University Governance Office
The Australian National University
Email: [4][ANU request email]
Web: [5]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
2. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
3. mailto:[ANU request email]
4. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
5. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...