Internal Reviews Related to 5 November 2025 Guardian Article

Dear Brynn,

On 1 December 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:

“… all documents created between 1 November 2025 and the date of this request that relate to any internal reviews, audits, compliance checks or assessments started by or for ANU in response to the 5 November 2025 Guardian article about ANUs investment in Elbit Systems.

I am seeking

1) any internal reports or reviews, email correspodence including attachments, briefing notes or materials for senior executives, the ANU Council or the Investment Committee, and

2) any documents about consideration of changes to investment screening processes or other relevant ANU policies.”

Your request has been assigned the case number 202500309.

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 – which is Wednesday 31 December 2025.

FOI Team Volumes & University Christmas Shutdown Period

Volumes

To manage your expectations, the FOI Team’s workload is currently at very high levels due to the unprecedented volume of FOI requests.

We are using our best endeavours 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.

University Christmas Shutdown Period – Option for an Agreed Section 15AA Extension

Over the Christmas and New Year 2025-2026 period, the University will be shut down from Thursday 25 December 2025, re-opening on Monday 5 January 2026.

Taking the above into account, you are therefore welcome to agree to an extension of up to 30 days under s 15AA of the FOI Act until Friday 30 January 2026.

If you do agree, please let us know by way of reply email; we will notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner as required.

This extension (only upon agreement with you) would allow us to complete any final actions and considerations on the case and provide you with a comprehensive decision within statutory timeframes.

If you do not agree, that’s fine – we will continue processing your request and issue a decision as soon as practicable – just know that our decision will likely be technically late / a deemed refusal, and be aware of your review rights under our email signature below.

In short, your request is being and will be processed regardless – whether you agree to an extension or not.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss this further, please contact us by way of reply email.

The processing period may also 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 [ANU request email].

Yours sincerely,

FOI Team
University Governance Office
The Australian National University

Email: [ANU request email]
Web: https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906

Your review rights
If you are dissatisfied with the technical deemed access refusal, you may apply for internal review or Information Commissioner review of the decision. We encourage you to seek internal review as a first step as it may provide a more rapid resolution of your concerns.

Application for Internal Review of Decision
Section 54A of the Act, gives you the right to apply for an internal review of any decision – including deemed access refusals.

It must be made in writing within 30 days of receipt of the decision; no particular form is required but it is desirable to set out in the application the grounds on which you consider the decision should be reviewed.

The application should be addressed to Freedom of Information at [ANU request email].

Application for Information Commissioner Review of decision
Under section 54L of the FOI Act, you may apply to the Australian Information Commissioner to review any decision – including deemed access refusals. An application must be made in writing within 60 days of the date of this email, and be lodged in one of the following ways:

Form: either online form or downloadable form available at https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...
Email: [email address]
Post: Director of FOI Dispute Resolution, GPO Box 5288, Sydney NSW 2001

More information is available on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website. https://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-infor...

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Dear Brynn,

Just following up to manage your expectations about when you can receive a response to this freedom of information (FOI) request, and remind you of your option to agree to an extension until Friday 30 January 2026 if you so wish.

Please keep in mind that, regardless of whether you agree to an extension or not, your request will still be processed – although may be technically be considered a ‘deemed refusal’ if we do not meet deadline. Your rights in that regard are pasted below this email’s signature.

Update on your request

- Multiple areas of the University were contacted in a search for relevant documents.
- We believe a number of documents fall in scope of your request, however these documents are still being compiled so exact numbers have not yet been confirmed.
- Upon reception of these documents internally, they will be reviewed and progressed to a decision; or we will engage with you if the volumen of documents is objectively high.

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 – which is currently Wednesday 31 December 2025.

FOI Team Volumes & University Christmas Shutdown Period

Volumes

To manage your expectations, the FOI Team’s workload is currently at very high levels due to the unprecedented volume of FOI requests.

We are using our best endeavours 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.

There will also be absences of key staff, not just in the FOI team but across the wider business (e.g. subject matter experts), during this time.