DFAT was due to respond to me by cob yesterday, 16 July.

There's been nothing.  Just crickets and tumbleweeds.

Here's their 19 June 2018 email acknowledging my application and setting out the timeline for their response.  Some of my articles on this matter are in the links at the tail end of this post.

UNCLASSIFIED

Our Ref: 1806-F1985

Dear Ms Smith

Re: Freedom of Information (FOI) Request

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

I seek all documents associated with the "numerous representations" made by Minister Bishop to "the North Koreans" on the issue of Australian servicemen Missing In Action in North Korea or the DMZ after the Korean War.

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 15 June 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 16 July.  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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].

Yours sincerely

DFAT FOI TEAM

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

From: Michael Smith <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, 15 June 2018 1:11 PM
To: FOI <[email protected]>
Subject: Application under the FOI Act 1982

Dear FOI Officer,

I seek all documents associated with the "numerous representations" made by Minister Bishop to "the North Koreans" on the issue of Australian servicemen Missing In Action in North Korea or the DMZ after the Korean War.

Michael Smith

ENDS