Corruption engaged in by the Prime Minister / Prime Minister’s Department
Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,
Last month, the Information Commissioner found that the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet engaged in corruption by illegally withholding access to documents that are in the public interest. See here:
http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewd...
Under the FOI Act, I seek access to the document referred to in paragraph 1 (being ‘the remaining material (part 2)’) of the above decision made by the Information Commissioner and that the Information Commissioner ordered (in paragraph 2 of the above decision) the corrupt officials at the Prime Minister’s Department to provide to the applicant in that FOI matter by yesterday.
Yours faithfully,
BW
Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,
Is there a reason the Department hasn’t acknowledged my FOI request in accordance with the clear legal obligation imposed on it by paragraph 15(5)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982? Or are you guys just generally corrupt?
Yours faithfully,
BW
OFFICIAL
Dear BW
We write in relation to your email of 24 March 2021, to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (the Department), in which you made a request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) for access to the following:
Last month, the Information Commissioner found that the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet engaged in corruption by illegally withholding access to documents that are in the public interest. See here: http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewd.... Under the FOI Act, I seek access to the document referred to in paragraph 1 (being ‘the remaining material (part 2)’) of the above decision made by the Information Commissioner and that the Information Commissioner ordered (in paragraph 2 of the above decision) the corrupt officials at the Prime Minister’s Department to provide to the applicant in that FOI matter by yesterday.
The documents you refer to are already available on the Department's Freedom of Information Disclosure Log at: https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/fil....
In the circumstances, we would appreciate it if you could withdraw your FOI request.
Kind regards
FOI Advisor
FOI and Privacy Section | Legal Policy Branch
Government Division | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(02) 6271 6050 | FOI Team (02) 6271 5849
[email address] | [DPMC request email]
www.pmc.gov.au
One National Circuit Barton ACT 2600 | PO Box 6500 CANBERRA ACT 2600
Dear FOI,
Thanks for that. I'd like to lodge a public interest disclosure in respect of the relevant Deparmental officer's failure to comply with s.15(5)(b) of the FOI Act and ss.13(4) and 13(11) of the Public Service Act. I assume that Phil Gaetjens, as the Secretary of the Department, is ultimately responsible for illegal conduct engaged in by the Department and so I'll need to lodge a public interest disclosure against him in relation to that corruption. Can you confirm that Phil is responsible or otherwise provide me with the name of the corrupt officer concerned for the purpose of the PID Act.
Yours sincerely,
BW
OFFICIAL
Dear BW
Thank you for your email below.
Under section 15(5)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act), we are required to take all reasonable steps to notify the applicant that the request has been received. We apologise for acknowledging your request one day late.
Under section 15(5)(b) of the Act, we have 30 days after the day on which your request is received to take all reasonable steps to enable the applicant to be notified of a decision for the request. Your request was received on 24 March 2021, and the due date for providing you with a decision on your request is 23 April 2021. In any event, we have provided you with access to the documents you requested. Please could you therefore agree to withdraw your request. If we do not hear back from you by COB Monday 12 April 2021, your request will be deemed to be withdrawn.
If you wish to make a public interest disclosure, you may wish to have regard to the attached Guide to the Public Interest Disclosure Act entitled 'Speaking Up About Wrongdoing: A Guide to Making a Disclosure Under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013'.
Kind regards
Senior FOI Advisor
FOI and Privacy Section | Legal Policy Branch
Government Division | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[DPMC request email]
www.pmc.gov.au
One National Circuit Barton ACT 2600 | PO Box 6500 CANBERRA ACT 2600
Dear FOI,
Happy to withdraw, but it’s important I put the following on record.
That senior management at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, when faced with the prospect of having to release the results of a taxpayer funded survey that indicates that a majority of Australians think public servants are dishonest and untrustworthy, as if to prove the results of the taxpayer funded survey, decided to behave dishonestly and deceitfully by illegally refusing access to a document that not only was paid for by taxpayers but that was clearly in the public interest, because it wasn’t in the Department’s political interests to release the document.
And then when faced with another FOI request requesting access to the same document, the Department’s senior management group again acted illegally by failing to acknowledge that request.
Corruption – thy name is the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
There needs to be a serious flushing out of the Department’s senior management group by an incoming government.
Yours sincerely,
BW