FOI Request No: LEX 12791

Dear Justice4All

Thank you for your email dated 28 August 2025 seeking access to documents
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).

This email sets out some information about how your request will be
processed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (the department).

Scope of request:

…documents related to the Australian government’s attempts/plans to
protect humanitarian workers (including but not limited to journalists,
paramedics, doctors and nurses) from being targeted the IDF in Gaza and
Westbank.

…documents from 01 September 2023, but particularly in light of the recent
targeting of journalists and paramedics by the IDF.

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 28 August 2025, and the 30-day statutory
period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date.
A decision is currently due to you by 29 September 2025. The period of 30
days may be extended in certain circumstances.       

Charges:  

Please note that the department may issue charges for processing FOI
requests.  If applicable, we will advise you of any relevant charges when
we are in a position to estimate the resources required to process your
request.  

Disclosure log:  

Please note that, with some exceptions (such as personal information),
documents released under the FOI Act may later be published on the
department’s disclosure log.  

Exclusion of officials’ names and contact details: 

It is the department’s policy to withhold the personal information of
junior staff from ministerial offices and government officials not in the
Senior Executive Service (SES) or equivalent, including their email
addresses and contact numbers, together with all signatures, mobile phone
numbers, departmental inboxes and technical transmission details including
reference numbers. 

Duplicate documents and incomplete email chains: 

Your request will be processed on the basis that you did not intend to
capture duplicate documents or duplicate emails within email chains. 

If you require the excluded information or documents, please let us know
at [1][DFAT request email] so the decision-maker may consider; otherwise, we
will take it that you agree to the information and documents 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. Further information on the way the department
handles personal information is accessible via our privacy policy. 

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us by reply email. 

Kind regards   

DFAT FOI Team

_____________________________________________________
FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Policy Division

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[2]dfat.gov.au | [3]X | [4]Facebook | [5]Instagram  | [6]LinkedIn

© Brooke Rigney-Lively (2024)

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia,
and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our
respects to all First Nations peoples, their cultures and to their Elders,
past, present and emerging.

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OFFICIAL

FOI Reference: LEX 12791

We are writing to you to seek your agreement to providing the department
with an extension to process your FOI request in accordance with section
15AA of the FOI Act. This would mean that a decision would then be due to
you by 20 October 2025.  

Background 

The department has experienced delays with processing your request.
Unfortunately, several FOI officers have fallen ill and have had to take
unexpected sick leave. This has significantly reduced the department’s
capacity to process FOI requests.

The additional time will enable the department to finalise its processes
and provide you with an outcome without your request becoming a ‘deemed
access refusal’ under the FOI Act.

Please be assured that we will continue to process your request as quickly
as possible and will provide an outcome to you as soon as it is
available.  

Timeframe 

We would be grateful if you could please reply to our request by COB 25
September 2025.

If we do not hear from you, we may apply to the Office of the Australian
Information Commissioner for an extension to the statutory timeframe. 
 
Should you have any questions, please to contact us by reply email. 

Kind regards 

DFAT FOI Team

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OFFICIAL

FOI Reference: LEX 12791

Dear applicant,

Please find attach a decision relating to your FOI request.

Kind regards,

DFAT FOI Team

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Freedom of Information Section
Public Interest Law Branch | Regulatory and Legal Policy Division

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

[6]dfat.gov.au | [7]X | [8]Facebook | [9]Instagram  | [10]LinkedIn

© Brooke Rigney-Lively (2024)

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia,
and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our
respects to all First Nations peoples, their cultures and to their Elders,
past, present and emerging.

This email and any attachments may contain confidential information or
legal advice over which legal professional privilege can be claimed. Such
privilege is not waived and you should ensure that, in your handling of
the advice, you avoid waiving privilege. Please consult the author of the
advice if unsure about appropriate handling

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