Defence's Hot Issue Briefs provide initial and early advice to the Minister and Defence’s senior leaders on sensitive or complex matters or incidents that may require the immediate attention of Defence’s senior leadership.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, and in response to requests from media outlets, Defence has progressively made public its Hot Issue Briefs, most recently through the release this month of 142 Briefs covering the period July 1, 2010 to November 8, 2011.
Last week Defence Minister Stephen Smith released a further 245 Hot Issue Briefs from the 248 received by him for the period September 14, 2010, (when he was appointed Defence Minister) to their January 20, 2012 release date.
Three of the 248 are not being released at this time as they would prejudice ongoing matters.
They will be released subsequently.
Mr Smith has also asked Defence to ensure the regular and ongoing release of Hot Issue Briefs, as a general proposition, no later than one week after their submission to him.
Exceptions to this rule will be individually and personally approved by the Secretary of Defence or the Chief of the Defence Force and be based solely on the criteria that any public release would:
- endanger operational outcomes;
- prejudice legal proceedings; or
- impede or prejudice ADF Investigate Service (ADFIS) or civil police investigations.
The released Hot Issue Briefs can be found at: www.defence.gov.au/publications/HotIssueBriefs/default.htm