Green Army 2013 'election commitment' projects
Dear Department of the Environment,
The Green Army Round 1, guidelines state:
The Australian Government has committed 150 Projects identified during the 2013 Federal
election campaign. If your Project was a 2013 election commitment you will be contacted
separately.
See https://www.environment.gov.au/system/fi...
Can you please provide all details of the selection criteria for these projects identified as 'election commitment' projects and correspondence with the successful applicants notifying them why they were selected. Please provide details of who made the commitment, how it was made (ie the correspondence involved) and the electorate of the relevant representative making the election commitment. Please also provide details on whether all these election commitment projects have been allocated and any outstanding election commitment projects.
Yours faithfully,
Revelly Robinson
Dear Mr Robinson
Freedom of Information Request no. 160511
I refer to your request in the email below for access to the documents
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 relating to the Green Army 2013
‘election commitments’ projects.
We received your request on 23 May 2016. The 30 day statutory period for
processing your request commences from the day after that date. The period
of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third parties or for
other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
It is the usual practice of the Department to not release the names and
contact details of junior officers of the Department and other government
agencies and contact details of senior officers, where that personal
information is contained in documents within scope of a request. The
names of senior officers will generally be released. We will take it that
you agree to the removal of junior officers’ personal information and
contact information of senior officers unless you advise that you would
like us to consider releasing that information as part of the documents
you have requested.
It is also the usual practice of the Department to only release final
versions of documents. We will take it that you agree to receive only the
final versions of documents unless you advise us that you do not agree.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log, subject to certain exceptions.
(For example, personal information will not be published where this would
be unreasonable).
We will contact you using the email you provided. Please advise if you
would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
If you have any questions, please contact me on (02) 6274 2098.
Regards,
Nicole Hedley
FOI and Legislation Contact Officer | Climate Change, Science and
Corporate Legal Section |General Counsel Branch
Department of the Environment
a: GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2600
t: (02) 6274 2098
e: [1][Department of the Environment and Energy request email]
-----Original Message-----
From: Revelly Robinson
[mailto:[FOI #1961 email]]
Sent: Monday, 23 May 2016 4:14 PM
To: FOI Contact Officer
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Green Army 2013 'election
commitment' projects
Dear Department of the Environment,
The Green Army Round 1, guidelines state:
The Australian Government has committed 150 Projects identified during the
2013 Federal election campaign. If your Project was a 2013 election
commitment you will be contacted separately.
See
[2]https://www.environment.gov.au/system/fi...
Can you please provide all details of the selection criteria for these
projects identified as 'election commitment' projects and correspondence
with the successful applicants notifying them why they were selected.
Please provide details of who made the commitment, how it was made (ie the
correspondence involved) and the electorate of the relevant representative
making the election commitment. Please also provide details on whether all
these election commitment projects have been allocated and any outstanding
election commitment projects.
Yours faithfully,
Revelly Robinson
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References
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1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.environment.gov.au/system/fi...
3. mailto:[FOI #1961 email]
4. mailto:[Department of the Environment and Energy request email]
5. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
6. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Hi Revelly,
I am currently reviewing your request below and note that, with the exception of the identified correspondence, your request is for information rather than identifiable documents. As per section section 15(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, a valid request requires that it provide sufficient information concerning the documents so that they may be identified.
The Department's searches to date have not been sufficiently able to identify the documents you seek. There are a number of documents which may provide components of the information you seek. There are also some documents, in particular Departmental briefing to the Minister's Office, that provide a more consolidated picture of the information you seek.
Can you please give me a call by cob tomorrow or provide an appropriate contact number so that I may discuss your request with you and determine the documents you are seeking?
Best regards,
Alex Vaughan
Legal Officer | Climate Change, Science and Corporate Legal Section
General Counsel Branch | Department of the Environment
a: GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2600
t: (02) 6274 2603 |e: [email address]
Save paper. Do you really need to print this email?
Note: The contents of any legal advice provided by the General Counsel Branch is subject to legal professional privilege. Do not disclose the contents of any such legal advice more broadly within the Department (i.e. outside the scope of persons to whom the legal advice is (or was) directed), via the intranet or outside the Department without first consulting General Counsel Branch.
-----Original Message-----
From: Revelly Robinson [mailto:[FOI #1961 email]]
Sent: Monday, 23 May 2016 4:14 PM
To: FOI Contact Officer
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Green Army 2013 'election commitment' projects
Dear Department of the Environment,
The Green Army Round 1, guidelines state:
The Australian Government has committed 150 Projects identified during the 2013 Federal election campaign. If your Project was a 2013 election commitment you will be contacted separately.
See https://www.environment.gov.au/system/fi...
Can you please provide all details of the selection criteria for these projects identified as 'election commitment' projects and correspondence with the successful applicants notifying them why they were selected. Please provide details of who made the commitment, how it was made (ie the correspondence involved) and the electorate of the relevant representative making the election commitment. Please also provide details on whether all these election commitment projects have been allocated and any outstanding election commitment projects.
Yours faithfully,
Revelly Robinson
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #1961 email]
Is [Department of the Environment and Energy request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Department of the Environment? If so, please contact us using this form:
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:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
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.
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Dear FOI Contact Officer,
Can you please provide copies of:
- the list of the 'election commitment projects';
- the departmental briefing to the Minister's office on the Green Army 'election commitment' projects referred to in your email; and
- a copy of the applicable guidelines and selection criteria for the 'election commitment' projects (section 4.4 of the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Guidelines state that officials must develop grant guidelines for all new granting activities. The published guidelines for Green Army exclude application to 'election commitment' projects, presumably in lieu of a different set of applicable guidelines. Please produce this set of guidelines required under the Commonwealth Grants Rules).
Yours sincerely,
Revelly Robinson
Hi Revelly,
Following up on your refined scope below, I wanted to clarify whether you are still seeking access to:
"correspondence with the successful applicants notifying them why they were selected".
I have been advised that correspondence to successful applicants did not set out the basis on which they were successful, just that they had been approved. This was a standard template of which there are over 200. Would you be happy with one example of the standard correspondence to approved applicants?
Best regards,
Alex Vaughan
Legal Officer | Climate Change, Science and Corporate Legal Section
General Counsel Branch | Department of the Environment
a: GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2600
t: (02) 6274 2603 |e: [email address]
Save paper. Do you really need to print this email?
Note: The contents of any legal advice provided by the General Counsel Branch is subject to legal professional privilege. Do not disclose the contents of any such legal advice more broadly within the Department (i.e. outside the scope of persons to whom the legal advice is (or was) directed), via the intranet or outside the Department without first consulting General Counsel Branch.
-----Original Message-----
From: Revelly Robinson [mailto:[FOI #1961 email]]
Sent: Friday, 3 June 2016 10:17 AM
To: FOI Contact Officer
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Green Army 2013 'election commitment' projects [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Dear FOI Contact Officer,
Can you please provide copies of:
- the list of the 'election commitment projects';
- the departmental briefing to the Minister's office on the Green Army 'election commitment' projects referred to in your email; and
- a copy of the applicable guidelines and selection criteria for the 'election commitment' projects (section 4.4 of the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Guidelines state that officials must develop grant guidelines for all new granting activities. The published guidelines for Green Army exclude application to 'election commitment' projects, presumably in lieu of a different set of applicable guidelines. Please produce this set of guidelines required under the Commonwealth Grants Rules).
Yours sincerely,
Revelly Robinson
-----Original Message-----
Hi Revelly,
I am currently reviewing your request below and note that, with the exception of the identified correspondence, your request is for information rather than identifiable documents. As per section section 15(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, a valid request requires that it provide sufficient information concerning the documents so that they may be identified.
The Department's searches to date have not been sufficiently able to identify the documents you seek. There are a number of documents which may provide components of the information you seek. There are also some documents, in particular Departmental briefing to the Minister's Office, that provide a more consolidated picture of the information you seek.
Can you please give me a call by cob tomorrow or provide an appropriate contact number so that I may discuss your request with you and determine the documents you are seeking?
Best regards,
Alex Vaughan
Legal Officer | Climate Change, Science and Corporate Legal Section General Counsel Branch | Department of the Environment
a: GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2600
t: (02) 6274 2603 |e: [email address]
P Save paper. Do you really need to print this email?
Note: The contents of any legal advice provided by the General Counsel Branch is subject to legal professional privilege. Do not disclose the contents of any such legal advice more broadly within the Department (i.e. outside the scope of persons to whom the legal advice is (or was) directed), via the intranet or outside the Department without first consulting General Counsel Branch.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #1961 email]
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:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
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.
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Dear Ms Robinson
Please see the attached correspondence regarding FOI 160511.
Regards
FOI Contact Officer | Climate Change, Science and Corporate Legal
Section |General Counsel Branch
Department of the Environment
a: GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2600
t: (02) 6274 2098
e: [1][Department of the Environment and Energy request email]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of the Environment and Energy request email]
Dear Mr Robinson
Please see the attached correspondence.
Regards
FOI Contact Officer | Climate Change, Science and Corporate Legal
Section |General Counsel Branch
Department of the Environment
a: GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2600
t: (02) 6274 2098
e: [1][Department of the Environment and Energy request email]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Department of the Environment and Energy request email]