Watson Report
Dear Department of Employment and Workplace Relations,
Under the FOI Act 1982, I request all documents, including emails, electronic messages, briefing notes referring to Geoffrey Watson SC's report (Report into Violence in the Queensland CFMEU) to the CFMEU Administrator. This includes references to the report by other names, such as the Watson Report or the Watson Review.
I seek all documents created between 23 August 2024 and today.
Thank you,
Yours faithfully,
MBV
Dear MBV
Your Freedom of Information request - Acknowledgement
We refer to your request, received by the Department of Employment and
Workplace Relations (department) on 18 July 2025, for access under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) to the following documents:
“I request all documents, including emails, electronic messages, briefing
notes referring to Geoffrey Watson SC's report (Report into Violence in
the Queensland CFMEU) to the CFMEU Administrator. This includes references
to the report by other names, such as the Watson Report or the Watson
Review.
I seek all documents created between 23 August 2024 and today.”
Your reference number for this request is LEX 1675. Please include this
reference number in all correspondence relating to your request.
Interpretation of request
The department has interpreted your request to be seeking access to the
following:
“all documents, including emails, electronic messages and briefing notes
about Geoffrey Watson SC's report (Report into Violence in the Queensland
CFMEU) to the CFMEU Administrator. This includes references to the report
by other names, such as the Watson Report or the Watson Review.
I seek all documents created between 23 August 2024 and 18 July 2025.”
If we have misinterpreted your request, please let us know by 3pm,
Thursday 31 July 2025.
Timeframe
The 30-day statutory period for processing your request commenced from the
day after the department received your request. You should therefore
expect to receive a decision from us by 18 August 2025.
The 30-day timeframe may be extended with your agreement or where
otherwise permitted under the FOI Act (for example, if the department is
required to undertake third party consultation). We will notify you if
this happens.
Charges
The department will advise you if a charge is payable to process your
request and the amount of any such charge as soon as practicable.
Your address
The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address that we can send
notices to. You have advised your electronic address is
[1][FOI #13428 email]. Unless you tell us
otherwise, we will send all notices and correspondence to this address.
Disclosure log
Information released under the FOI Act may be published on a disclosure
log on our website, subject to certain exceptions. These exceptions
include where publication of personal, business, professional or
commercial information would be unreasonable.
Proposed irrelevant material (such as staff details) and material that is
out of scope
Could you please confirm your agreement for the department to treat the
following material as irrelevant under section 22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI
Act:
• the names, signatures, identification numbers and direct
contact details of Commonwealth staff and Ministerial Office staff
• internal group email addresses of Commonwealth agencies
• security classifications (dissemination limiting markers)
that are no longer applicable or potentially misleading.
The department would also like to seek your agreement to treat any
duplicate documents, email chains other than the final version of the
chain, drafts where there is a final version available, and documents that
are publicly available as out of scope of your request.
We would appreciate your response by 3pm, Thursday 31 July 2025.
Further assistance
If you have any questions about your request, please email
[2][email address].
Yours sincerely,
Claudia
Information Law Team
Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
dewr.gov.au
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations acknowledges the
traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and
their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and Elders past, present and
emerging.
-----Original Message-----
From: MBV <[3][FOI #13428 email]>
Sent: Friday, 18 July 2025 2:19 PM
To: DEWR - FOI <[4][DEWR request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Watson Report
**************************************************************************
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organisation. Do not
click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know
the content is safe.
**************************************************************************
Dear Department of Employment and Workplace Relations,
Under the FOI Act 1982, I request all documents, including emails,
electronic messages, briefing notes referring to Geoffrey Watson SC's
report (Report into Violence in the Queensland CFMEU) to the CFMEU
Administrator. This includes references to the report by other names, such
as the Watson Report or the Watson Review.
I seek all documents created between 23 August 2024 and today.
Thank you,
Yours faithfully,
MBV
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[5][FOI #13428 email]
Is [6][DEWR request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Department of Employment and Workplace Relations? If so,
please contact us using this form:
[7]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[8]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice:
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #13428 email]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[FOI #13428 email]
4. mailto:[DEWR request email]
5. mailto:[FOI #13428 email]
6. mailto:[DEWR request email]
7. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
8. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Our reference: LEX 1675
Dear MBV
Your Freedom of Information request - Notification of extended timeframe
I refer to your request for access under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act).
Your request covers documents that contain information concerning the
business, commercial or financial affairs of an organisation and the
personal information of individuals in that organisation. As such, the
department is required to consult with the affected third party under
sections 27 and 27A of the FOI Act before making a decision on the release
of their information.
Affected third party consultation
The affected third party will be asked if they object to the disclosure
and invited to provide reasons and evidence for their submissions. While
any comments made by the affected third party will be taken into account,
the department is obliged to form its own views in making a decision about
whether to grant you access to the documents you requested.
Extended timeframe
The period for processing your request has been extended by 30 days in
order to allow the department sufficient time to consult with the affected
third party in accordance with section 15(6) of the FOI Act.
The new decision date for your request is 16 September 2025.
Further assistance
If you have any questions about your request, please email
[1][email address].
Yours sincerely
Claudia
Information Law Team
Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
[2]dewr.gov.au
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations acknowledges the
traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and
their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our
respects to them and their cultures, and Elders past, present and
emerging.
Notice:
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.dewr.gov.au/
Dear MBV
Please find attached correspondence in relation to your current FOI
request.
Yours sincerely
Claudia
Information Law Team
Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
Notice:
The information contained in this email message and any attached files may
be confidential information, and may also be the subject of legal
professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use,
disclosure or copying of this email is unauthorised. If you received this
email in error, please notify the sender by contacting the department's
switchboard on 1300 488 064 during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Canberra
time) and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.