OFFICIAL

Dear James

Acknowledgement

I refer to your correspondence of 1 July 2024, seeking access to
documents held by the Department of Defence (Defence) under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) for access to:

Please provide a copy of any video recording, transcript or other released
materials or documents relating to the Australian Army’s Special
Operations Task Group (SOTG) Rotation XII media round table at Army
Headquarters, Canberra, on Thursday, 9 May 2013, regarding the awarding of
the Battle Honour Eastern Shah Wali Kot.

Disclaimer

Where staff details are captured in documents within the scope of your FOI
request, this information will be redacted; this includes private email
addresses, signatures, personnel (PMKeyS) numbers and mobile telephone
numbers, unless you specifically request such details. Defence excludes
duplicates of documents and any documents sent to or from you.
Furthermore, Defence only considers final versions of documents.

Charges

Defence may impose a charge for the work involved in providing access to
the documents in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Charges)
Regulations 2019. We will notify you if your request attracts a charge.
Please note that there is no charge for documents that contain the
personal information of the applicant.

Timeframe

The statutory timeframe to provide you with a decision on your request
ends on 30 July 2024. This period may be extended if we need to consult
with third parties, or for other reasons. We will advise you if this
happens.

Disclosure Log

Documents released under the FOI Act may be published on Defence’s
disclosure log, located on our website.

Contact Details

We will contact you via the email address you have provided. Please advise
if you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.

Should you have any questions relating to your request, please do not
hesitate to contact via email: [1][email address].

Kind regards

Freedom of Information Team

Media and Information Disclosure Branch

Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division

Department of Defence

[2]Freedom of information requests | About | Defence

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence.
Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email
may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in
error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email
immediately.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessi...

OFFICIAL

Good morning James,

I refer to your Freedom of Information (FOI) request seeking access to:

Please provide a copy of any video recording, transcript or other released
materials or documents relating to the Australian Army’s Special
Operations Task Group (SOTG) Rotation XII media round table at Army
Headquarters, Canberra, on Thursday, 9 May 2013, regarding the awarding of
the Battle Honour Eastern Shah Wali Kot.

The current statutory deadline for you to receive a response to your
Defence FOI request is 31 July 2024.

Your request is progressing however due to competing priorities additional
time is required to finalise your FOI request. Our office is seeking your
agreement to a 30 day extension of the statutory deadline under
section 15AA [extension with agreement] of the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act). We will endeavour to process your request as soon as we
can.

Should you agree, the statutory deadline for you to receive a response to
your request will expire on 30 August 2024.

It would be much appreciated if you could confirm your agreement to this
extension of time today, 31 July 2024 via e-mail.

Should you have any questions regarding this matter please do not hesitate
to contact me.

Thank you and regards,

Freedom of Information Team

Media and Information Disclosure Branch

Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division

Department of Defence

[1]Freedom of information requests | About | Defence

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence.
Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email
may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in
error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email
immediately.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessi...

OFFICIAL
Dear James

Thank you for your today and also on 1 August 2024 (attached).

I confirm Defence is working to provide you a decision to FOI 001/24/25 by 16 August 2024.

Thank you and regards

Freedom of Information Team
Media and Information Disclosure Branch
Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division
Department of Defence

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence. Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email immediately.

show quoted sections

OFFICIAL
Dear James

I refer to Defence FOI 001/24/25 which you requested the response by 16 August 2024.

As an update, due to the continued competing priorities Defence was unable to provide the decision by the requested timeframe. Defence continues to process your request and will provide the decision as soon as possible.

Apologies for the delay in providing the response.

Kind regards

Freedom of Information Team
Media and Information Disclosure Branch
Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division
Department of Defence

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence. Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email immediately.

show quoted sections

OFFICIAL
Dear James

Thank you for your email below. The decision in relation to your Freedom of Information request continues to be considered.

We anticipate having this finalised in the few weeks and apologise for the delay, the decision will be sent to as soon as possible.

Kind regards

Freedom of Information Team
Media and Information Disclosure Branch
Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division
Department of Defence

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence. Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email immediately.

show quoted sections

OFFICIAL

Dear James

Please find attached the Decision and documents relating to Defence FOI
001/24/25.  A schedule of documents is also attached.

We note that two of the documents are video files which Defence is unable
to email, due to size.

The documents have been uploaded to a USB device and Defence requires a
address so that the device may be mailed to you. You may provide an
address by:

1.       responding directly to this email, noting that the correspondence
may be published on the Right to Know website;

2.       email foi.casemanagement.gov.au using an different email address
and FOI reference 001/24/25; or

3.       send your mailing address to:

Department of Defence

c/o Freedom of Information Team

Russell Offices

R1-05-A PO Box 7910

Canberra BC ACT 2610

FOI Disclosure Log

In accordance with the requirements of section 11C of the FOI Act, Defence
is required to publish details of information released under the FOI Act.
Defence publishes identified documents relating to finalised requests
within ten working days of receipt by the applicant. Defence will also
publish the statement of reasons with privacy deletions. 

Review Rights

If you disagree with the decision made by the Department of Defence or the
Minister under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act), you can
ask for the decision to be reviewed.

You must apply in writing and should include a copy of the notice of the
decision provided and the points to which you are objecting and why. You
may apply directly to the Information Commissioner, within 60 days of
receiving your decision.

Further information about the external review process or how to make a
complaint to the Information Commissioner is available:

Online: [1]www.oaic.gov.au

Post: GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2000

Email: [2][email address]

Regards

Freedom of Information Team

Media and Information Disclosure Branch

Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division

Department of Defence

[3]Freedom of information requests | About | Defence

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence.
Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email
may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in
error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email
immediately.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.oaic.gov.au/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessi...

OFFICIAL

Our reference: MR24/01480

Agency reference: 001/24/25

Dear James Smith

A decision on this matter was issued to you on 3 October 2024 (see
below). 

Can you please advise us whether you are satisfied with the decision and
wish to withdraw your request for IC review or whether you wish to keep
your review on foot.

If you do wish to keep your review open, please note that the OAIC have
recently issued a Practice Directions that requires Defence to have an
conversation with you to get a better understanding of your concerns in
the hope that it may be possible to work together to resolve your review.
Can you please provide us with a phone number and advise a good time to
contact you so that we can have a discussion about your matter. If you do
not wish to provide your phone number, please let us know and we will try
to resolve your concerns via email.

If you are happy to close your review, we would be grateful for
confirmation of that.

Thank you.

Regards

FOI Review Team

Media and Information Disclosure Branch

Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division

Department of Defence

PO Box 7910 Canberra BC ACT 2610

Email:  [1][email address]

[2]http://www.defence.gov.au/FOI/privacy.asp

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence.
Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email
may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in
error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email
immediately.

From: FOI Case Management
Sent: Thursday, 3 October 2024 6:55 PM
To: '[FOI #11587 email]'
<[3][FOI #11587 email]>
Subject: 20241003 18:54 - Email - FOI Case
Management/'[FOI #11587 email]' - Defence FOI
Request 001/24/25 – Decision and Documents

OFFICIAL

Dear James

Please find attached the Decision and documents relating to Defence FOI
001/24/25.  A schedule of documents is also attached.

We note that two of the documents are video files which Defence is unable
to email, due to size.

The documents have been uploaded to a USB device and Defence requires a
address so that the device may be mailed to you. You may provide an
address by:

1.       responding directly to this email, noting that the correspondence
may be published on the Right to Know website;

2.       email foi.casemanagement.gov.au using an different email address
and FOI reference 001/24/25; or

3.       send your mailing address to:

Department of Defence

c/o Freedom of Information Team

Russell Offices

R1-05-A PO Box 7910

Canberra BC ACT 2610

FOI Disclosure Log

In accordance with the requirements of section 11C of the FOI Act, Defence
is required to publish details of information released under the FOI Act.
Defence publishes identified documents relating to finalised requests
within ten working days of receipt by the applicant. Defence will also
publish the statement of reasons with privacy deletions. 

Review Rights

If you disagree with the decision made by the Department of Defence or the
Minister under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act), you can
ask for the decision to be reviewed.

You must apply in writing and should include a copy of the notice of the
decision provided and the points to which you are objecting and why. You
may apply directly to the Information Commissioner, within 60 days of
receiving your decision.

Further information about the external review process or how to make a
complaint to the Information Commissioner is available:

Online: [4]www.oaic.gov.au

Post: GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2000

Email: [5][email address]

Regards

Freedom of Information Team

Media and Information Disclosure Branch

Ministerial & Executive Coordination and Communication Division

Department of Defence

[6]Freedom of information requests | About | Defence

IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Department of Defence.
Unauthorised communication and dealing with the information in the email
may be a serious criminal offence. If you have received this email in
error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email
immediately.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.defence.gov.au/FOI/privacy.asp
3. mailto:[FOI #11587 email]
4. http://www.oaic.gov.au/
5. mailto:[email address]
6. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/accessi...