UNCLASSIFIED

 

File No: 17/23031

Our Ref: 1708-F1749

 

Dear Mr Smith

 

Re: Freedom of Information (FOI) Request

 

Thank you for your e-mail dated 8 August 2017 in which you seek access
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to:

 

“I request documents related to the ten most recent instances where an
employee has sought information, advice, guidance, or opinion on their
social media use in a private capacity.

 

I limit the scope of documents to:

- the original request from the employee

- the agency/department's response

- any follow-up questions and response

- only those sent to a relevant HR / conduct / social media (or similar)
team (rather than managers across all areas of the organisation)

- where the original request was created in the last 2 years.”

 

This e-mail sets out some information about how your request will be
processed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

 

Searches are now being undertaken in relevant areas of the Department for
documents relevant to your request.

 

Scope of request:

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 8 August 2017 and the 30-day statutory period
for processing your request commenced from the day after that date.  You
should therefore expect a decision from us by 8 September 2017. The period
of 30 days may be extended in certain circumstances.  We will advise you
if any extension of time is required.

 

Charges:

Please note that the Department issues charges for processing FOI
requests.  We will advise you of these charges when we are in a position
to estimate the resources required to process your request.

 

Timing of release:

As the subject matter of your request will require DFAT to upload any
documents released to you to the Department’s FOI Disclosure Log, we take
this opportunity to advise you that the Department’s policy is to upload
documents to the disclosure log on the same day as the documents are
released to you.

 

Exclusion of officials’ names and contact details:

It is the Department’s policy to withhold the mobile numbers of all
government officials, and the names and contact details of government
officials not in the Senior Executive Service (SES) or equivalent.  If you
require the mobile numbers of all government officials, or the names and
contact details of non-SES officials, please let us know at
[DFAT request email] so the decision-maker may consider; otherwise we will take
it that you agree to that information 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.  The Department’s privacy policy is available
at dfat.gov.au/privacy.html.

 

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us by return e-mail at [DFAT request email].

 

Yours sincerely

 

DFAT FOI Team

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

 

 

show quoted sections

UNCLASSIFIED

 

Dear Mr Smith,

 

Please find attached a letter information you of the processing charges
associated with your current FOI Request.

 

Regards,

 

DFAT FOI TEAM