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Freedom of information

FOI disclosure log 2016

  • 1 Date that the FOI applicant was given access to a document under s11A.
  • 2 A short summary of the FOI access request.
  • 3 A short summary of the information provided under s11A.

     
FOI reference number Date of access1 FOI request2 Information published in the disclosure log3 Other information
16/26074 17 November 2016

Documents, photos and video footage, produced since 1 October 2015 to 12 September 2016, relating to:

  1. Traffic infringements, including speeding, drink driving and parking fines for diplomats in Canberra.

Documents, photos and video footage, produced since 1 October 2015 to 12 September 2016, relating to:

  1. Traffic infringements, including speeding, drink driving and parking fines for diplomats in Canberra.

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
16/23201 24 October 2016

The eight most recent "Representation Funds Expenditure" reports for the head of Mission in Washington D.C. This should capture all the quarterly reports for the financial years 2014-15 and 2015-16.

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
16/16996 7 October 2016

Access to the following documents (excluding drafts of documents and documents that are publicly available):

  1. Submissions to the minister concerning the debate and resolutions on nuclear weapons in the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in 2015;
  2. Media talking points and policy/position papers concerning the 2016 UN open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament;
  3. Submissions to the minister concerning the 2016 UN open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament;
  4. Diplomatic cables between Canberra and Australia's permanent mission to the UN in Geneva concerning the 2016 UN open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament - We would be happy to limit this item to:
    • The report from Geneva to Canberra following the conclusion of the February session of the OEWG.
    • The report from Geneva to Canberra following the conclusion of the May session of the OEWG.
    • Instructions from Canberra to Geneva concerning the caretaker government during the May session of the OEWG; and
  5. Correspondence from Australia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Geneva, to members of the "broadly like-minded group" concerning the 2016 UN open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament.
  • Media talking points and policy/position papers concerning the 2016 UN open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament;
  • Diplomatic cables between Canberra and Australia's permanent mission to the UN in Geneva concerning the 2016 UN open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament - We would be happy to limit this item to:
    • The report from Geneva to Canberra following the conclusion of the February session of the OEWG.
    • The report from Geneva to Canberra following the conclusion of the May session of the OEWG.
    • Instructions from Canberra to Geneva concerning the caretaker government during the May session of the OEWG; and
  • Correspondence from Australia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Geneva, to members of the "broadly like-minded group" concerning the 2016 UN open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament.

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
16/13985 19 September 2016

In the light of Australia's current candidacy for membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council, I request copies of all cables, emails, ministerial submissions, briefs, talking points and other correspondence covering discussions on the death penalty with officials from the following countries in the period from 1 January 2015 to 30 April 2016:

  • Peoples Republic of China
  • United States of America (Federal/State).

Excluding representations made on behalf of individual consular clients potentially subject to the death penalty.

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au  
16/22942 9 September 2016
  1. Any text messages, emails or memos in January 2016 and from the 25th, 26th, 27th or 28th of May 2016 between DFAT public servants and public servants in any other government department, which was in any way related to a UNESCO report about world heritage sites, climate change and tourism. That includes discussions of the contents of the report, government actions in relation to it, or media inquiries surrounding it. For your information, the draft report that was circulated between government departments at the time was titled "Destinations at risk: World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate" and was later simply called "World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate".
  2. Any text messages, emails or memos in January 2016 or from the 25th, 26th, 27th or 28th of May 2016 between the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and any public servant, which was in any way related to a UNESCO report about world heritage sites, climate change and tourism. That includes discussions of the contents of the report, government actions in relation to it, or media inquiries surrounding it. For your information, the draft report that was circulated between government departments at the time was titled "Destinations at risk: World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate" and was later simply called "World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate".
For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au  
16/9219 29 August 2016

A) Any communications mentioning and/or detailing and/or alluding to deaths and/or injuries (confirmed and/or suspected and/or possible) to asylum seekers and/or migrants and/or illegal immigrants and/or illegal maritime arrivals (or any other individual travelling on an asylum seeker vessel and/or suspected asylum seeker vessel) after September 14 2013 within Australian waters. This includes, but is not limited to, boats not spotted by Australian authorities, boats before being intercepted by Australian authorities and/or boats that had been turned back by Australian authorities. This includes, but is not limited to, communications and/or information from overseas governments and/or officials, including, but not limited to, from Indonesia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

B) Any communications mentioning and/or detailing and/or alluding to deaths and/or injuries (confirmed and/or suspected and/or possible) to asylum seekers and/or migrants and/or illegal immigrants and/or illegal maritime arrivals (or any other individual travelling on an asylum seeker vessel and/or suspected asylum seeker vessel) after September 14 2013 outside Australian waters on vessels believed and/or suspected to be travelling to Australia and/or Australian territories and/or Australian waters. This includes, but is not limited to, boats not spotted by Australian authorities, boats before being intercepted by Australian authorities and/or boats that had been turned back by Australian authorities. This includes, but is not limited to, communications and/or information from overseas governments and/or officials, including, but not limited to, from Indonesia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au  
16/20785 29 August 2016

The current incoming Foreign Minister's brief

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
16/15105 25 August 2016

"The following job positions will hereinafter be referred to collectively as "Senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Officials:"

  • Julie Bishop, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
  • Andrew Robb, Minister for Trade and Investment;
  • Scott Dawson, First Assistant Secretary, Contracting & Aid Management Division;
  • Jamie Isbister, First Assistant Secretary, Humanitarian, NGOs and Partnerships Division;
  • Kim Beazley, Ambassador to the United States;
  • and Caroline Millar, Deputy Head of Mission to the United States.

I seek any and all emails and supporting attachments that mention, reference, or relate to the contribution to or participation with the Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton Foundation. The scope of my request includes, but is not limited to, any and all records concerning internal deliberations and the subsequent decision to donate to the Clinton Foundation that were sent to, or received by, the above referenced Senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Officials.

The time frame of this request is from April 1, 2015 and July 1, 2015. My request is inclusive of any common variations of the names provided above. Further, my request applies to all individuals that held any of the aforementioned positions designated as Senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Officials during the timeframe of my request, limited to the time period each individual held said position."

You subsequently clarified your request as follows:

"Please modify my request to only reference 'email correspondence and supporting attachments that mention, reference, or relate to the contribution to or participating with the Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton Foundation' only exchanged among or maintained by Senior DFAT Officials listed in my FOI modification."

Information published 16/15105 [PDF 1 MB]

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
16/21732 22 August 2016 "any letters from January 2014 onwards that Australia has sent to a foreign government around the issue of same-sex marriage and/or redefining marriage in that country; and the minutes from any DFAT NGO Human Rights Forums in that same timeframe relating to the issue of same-sex marriage and/or redefining marriage". For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au  
16/16723 11 August 2016

Any documents or correspondence, including (but not limited to) briefs, emails, file notes and analysis developed or sent within the Department in relation to the discussion/analysis of the Great Barrier Reef or other World Heritage Sites within the UNESCO Report titled 'World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate'.

  • Any correspondence, including emails, briefs and file notes, between the department, the Department if the Environment, the Ministers Office and/or the office of the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Australia to UNESCO in relation to the UNESCO Report titled 'World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate'.
  • Any documents that contain Senior Executive Service authorisation, including emails, briefs or file notes, in relation to engaging with UNESCO on the Report titled 'World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate' and/or authorisations relating to the removal of references of Australia, Great Barrier Reef, or other World Heritage Sites within said report.
For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au  
16/13778 19 July 2016

"Documents relating to the "Dinner at the Museum of Old and New Art" event that Julie Bishop hosted in Hobart last night (Thursday 28 April 2016). Scope refined to cover:

  1. Menu.
  2. Guest list.
  3. Itemised list of costs"

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
16/11331 4 July 2016

"Documents including reports, briefing notes, invoices, receipts and correspondence such as emails and photos – relating to requests made by Ambassador Joe Hockey, or staff from his office on his behalf, since 1 January 2016 for:

  1. Renovations worth more than $1000 of his overseas residence; and
  2. Any requests for a purchase/acquisition that is outside the normal provision for his office".

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
16/13493 4 July 2016 "Any and all emails sent by, or sent to, Alexander Downer, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mark Vaile, Minister for Trade and Investment, or Dennis Richardson, Ambassador to the United States, that mention, reference, or otherwise relate to the contribution to, or participation with, the William J. Clinton Foundation. The time frame of this request is from November 1, 2005 to March 1, 2006". For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au  
16/940 3 June 2016 Correspondence between DFAT officials including Tony Barlow, Luke Williams and others, and Matthew Anderson, Ambassador to Afghanistan, relating to additional money requested or provided between the original tender (regarding the Aegis Defence Services tender for security work at the Australian Embassy in Kabul) and the value of the tender now sent in those two months (September and October 2015), not including the contract document itself.

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
16/8719 9 May 2016 The total expenditure on entertaining at Australia's 100 diplomatic posts internationally. Specifically, would like the total for 2014-15 and also a breakdown by post. It does not need to be anymore detailed than this. We do not need itemised costs for each.

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
16/2144 16 March 2016 Information relating to external (aid) fraud detections and investigations as included in the Annual Report to the Minister for Foreign Affairs for financial year 2014-15.

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
15/42622 25 February 2016 "My research relates to the Joint Prime Ministerial Taskforce on Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations over the period 1999-2001, and to the negotiations over social security arrangements between Australia and New Zealand, over the same period. Specifically ministerial briefings and submissions" For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au  
15/46222 12 February 2016 Copies of all cables, documents, briefs, advices, talking points and correspondence to and from the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop MP, in relation to the Government's decision to participate in the aerial bombing of Syria. For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au  
15/42265 8 February 2016 Information on Australia's negotiations with New Zealand over social security arrangements, contained in cables. The period of the request is 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2001. For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au  
15/45211 10 February 2016 Copies of any e-mails, final versions of reporting cables, final versions of briefs, Ministerial submissions or general correspondence recording the formulation, expression or implementation of Australian government policy beginning September 1, 2013 regarding accusations of abuses of human rights or other criminal acts by the government of the Republic of Nauru and/or its officials or those acting on its behalf, where the documents draw a link between the accusations in question and the operations of the Regional Processing Centre. In particular, I seek records expressing concerns on the part of the Australian government that publicly or privately criticising the government of Nauru, or placing diplomatic pressure upon it, may negatively impact the continued operation of the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru. Release documents 15/45211  
15/38610 8 February 2016
  1. An accounting of how much money DFAT has disbursed to the Clinton Foundation since Jan. 1, 2002.
  2. A breakdown of what money went to which arm of the Clinton Foundation.
  3. A copy of any memoranda of understanding (MOUs) agreed between DFAT and the Clinton Foundation during that time period.
  4. The current Senate Estimates briefing on Clinton Foundation projects.
  5. A list of all meetings between DFAT officials and the Clinton Foundation since Jan. 1, 2008.
For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au  
15/42614 8 February 2016

"(i)... did the Australian High Commission in London exchange correspondence and communications including emails with His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. If the answer is yes can you please supply copies of this correspondence and communication including emails. Please note that I am interested in receiving both sides of the correspondence and communication.

(ii)... did the Australian High Commission in London exchange correspondence and communications including emails with the private office of His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and or anyone else acting on his behalf. If the answer is yes can you please supply both sides of the correspondence and communication including emails. Please note that I am interested in receiving both sides of the correspondence and communication.

(iii)... did the High Commissioner hold face to face talks with His Royal Highness on a particular issue (s). If the answer is yes can you please provide the following details. In the case of each meeting can you state the date, the time and the venue. In the case of each meeting can you please provide a list of all those present. In the case of each meeting can you please provide an outline of the topics under discussion. Please do include details of meetings conducted by official representatives of the High Commissioner and or the Prince of Wales."

"(i)... did the Australian High Commission in London exchange correspondence and communications including emails with His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. If the answer is yes can you please supply copies of this correspondence and communication including emails. Please note that I am interested in receiving both sides of the correspondence and communication.

(ii)... did the Australian High Commission in London exchange correspondence and communications including emails with the private office of His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and or anyone else acting on his behalf. If the answer is yes can you please supply both sides of the correspondence and communication including emails. Please note that I am interested in receiving both sides of the correspondence and communication.

(iii)... did the High Commissioner hold face to face talks with His Royal Highness on a particular issue (s). If the answer is yes can you please provide the following details. In the case of each meeting can you state the date, the time and the venue. In the case of each meeting can you please provide a list of all those present. In the case of each meeting can you please provide an outline of the topics under discussion. Please do include details of meetings conducted by official representatives of the High Commissioner and or the Prince of Wales."

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
15/45088 3 February 2016

"Documents, photos and video footage, produced between 30 January 2015 and 21 October 2015, relating to:

a) Traffic infringements, including speeding, drink driving and parking fines for diplomats in Canberra.

Without limiting my application, I would expect it to include the date of the offence, details of the offence, the penalty incurred, where the diplomats were from, the outcome of any court proceeding (if relevant) and their current job status (ie. was their employment suspended or terminated?)

Please exclude third party personal details such as names and addresses."

"Documents, photos and video footage, produced between 30 January 2015 and 21 October 2015, relating to:

a) Traffic infringements, including speeding, drink driving and parking fines for diplomats in Canberra.

Without limiting my application, I would expect it to include the date of the offence, details of the offence, the penalty incurred, where the diplomats were from, the outcome of any court proceeding (if relevant) and their current job status (ie. was their employment suspended or terminated?)

Please exclude third party personal details such as names and addresses."

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
15/46405 2 February 2016

"documents in the possession of the Department relating to:

1. Dinner at Stoke Lodge on 01.07.14 costing £1,299.25

2. Dinner at Stoke Lodge in honour of the Prime Minister on 12.08.14 costing £1,261.00

3. Dinner at Stoke Lodge on 13.10.14 for Joe Hockey MP costing £452.95

4. Lunch at Australia House for Michael Keenan MP on 05.11.14 costing £639.60

5. Staff Christmas Party on 5.12.14 costing £1,875.25

In particular, the final:

  • Menu
  • Guest List (except for item 5 which can be limited to numerical number of guests)
  • Itemised list of costings"

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
15/49292 14 January 2016

A list of the sources which were relied on for the preparation and drafting of the following reports:

  • DFAT Country Report, Iraq, 13 February 2015; and
  • DFAT Country Information Report, Afghanistan, 18 September 2015.

A list of the documentary sources which were relied on for the preparation and drafting of the following reports:

  • DFAT Country Report, Iraq, 13 February 2015; and
  • DFAT Country Information Report, Afghanistan, 18 September 2015.

For further information contact foi@dfat.gov.au

 
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