Information regarding Scientific Advice relating to water quality and reef protection provided to Minister of Environment & Energy in period 1 January 2017 to 30th April 2018
Richard Smith made this Freedom of Information request to Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.
Dear Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority,
I refer to the grant by the Commonwealth of monies of approximately $443 million to the privately run Great Barrier Reef Foundation in April 2018.
The Minister for the Environment and Energy at the time was quoted in the ABC (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-29/gr...) as saying:
"Millions of dollars will go into science and to better data management and to be able to test the impacts on the reef," Mr Frydenberg said.
"We are looking at a whole range of new initiatives, taking best advice of the experts, working closely with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to ensure that the reef has its best chance into the future."
Most Australian's would consider the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to be the organisation harbouring the foremost experts on not only the Great Barrier Reef but also it's protection, conservation and restoration.
Considering the Minister has mentioned publically that he was taking the best advice of the "experts" and that he had worked closely with the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority, there is great public interest in what form that "best advice of the experts" was.
I therefore request the following Government Information documents:
a) Documents relating to advice provided by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in the period 1 January 2017 to 30th April 2018 to the Minister of Environment and Energy, or representatives of the Minister's office regarding initiatives to protect the Great Barrier Reef; and
b) Documents relating to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority's scientific and conservation management policy in regards to the Great Barrier Reef in force as at 1st March 2018; and
c) Documents relating to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority's policy in force as at 1st March 2018 on funding scientific, conservation or restoration activities, research and grants specifically focused on the Great Barrier Reef; and
d) Documents relating to any request for information from the Minister of Environment and Energy, or representatives of the Minister's office to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority regarding scientific, conservation, restoration or management in the period 1 January 2017 to 30th April 2018.
If this can be answered as informal request, please do so.
Otherwise, please proceed with this as a formal request under the Freedom of Information principles & framework, i.e. the Freedom of Information Act 1982 & other associated guidelines and regulations.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Smith
Good afternoon,
Please find attached an Acknowledgement Letter in relation to your below FOI request.
Sincerely,
Laura Purcell, Legal Project Officer
Legal Services
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
280 Flinders St Townsville | PO Box 1379 Townsville QLD 4810
Phone: (07) 4750 0880 Fax: (07) 4724 2263
Email: [email address]
Visit us at http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au
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-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Smith [mailto:[FOI #4862 email]]
Sent: Friday, 5 October 2018 7:27 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Information regarding Scientific Advice relating to water quality and reef protection provided to Minister of Environment & Energy in period 1 January 2017 to 30th April 2018
Dear Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority,
I refer to the grant by the Commonwealth of monies of approximately $443 million to the privately run Great Barrier Reef Foundation in April 2018.
The Minister for the Environment and Energy at the time was quoted in the ABC (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-29/gr...) as saying:
"Millions of dollars will go into science and to better data management and to be able to test the impacts on the reef," Mr Frydenberg said.
"We are looking at a whole range of new initiatives, taking best advice of the experts, working closely with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to ensure that the reef has its best chance into the future."
Most Australian's would consider the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to be the organisation harbouring the foremost experts on not only the Great Barrier Reef but also it's protection, conservation and restoration.
Considering the Minister has mentioned publically that he was taking the best advice of the "experts" and that he had worked closely with the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority, there is great public interest in what form that "best advice of the experts" was.
I therefore request the following Government Information documents:
a) Documents relating to advice provided by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in the period 1 January 2017 to 30th April 2018 to the Minister of Environment and Energy, or representatives of the Minister's office regarding initiatives to protect the Great Barrier Reef; and
b) Documents relating to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority's scientific and conservation management policy in regards to the Great Barrier Reef in force as at 1st March 2018; and
c) Documents relating to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority's policy in force as at 1st March 2018 on funding scientific, conservation or restoration activities, research and grants specifically focused on the Great Barrier Reef; and
d) Documents relating to any request for information from the Minister of Environment and Energy, or representatives of the Minister's office to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority regarding scientific, conservation, restoration or management in the period 1 January 2017 to 30th April 2018.
If this can be answered as informal request, please do so.
Otherwise, please proceed with this as a formal request under the Freedom of Information principles & framework, i.e. the Freedom of Information Act 1982 & other associated guidelines and regulations.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Smith
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Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #4862 email]
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Our ref: 18/198
Dear Richard
I refer to your FOI request below. Please find attached:
- my decision on your request
- Attachment A - schedule of documents
- Document released pursuant to my decision.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Regards
Leisa Pendle
Senior Legal Officer
Legal Services
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
280 Flinders Street Townsville | PO Box 1379 Townsville QLD 4810
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Smith [mailto:[FOI #4862 email]]
Sent: Friday, 5 October 2018 7:27 PM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Information regarding Scientific Advice relating to water quality and reef protection provided to Minister of Environment & Energy in period 1 January 2017 to 30th April 2018
Dear Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority,
I refer to the grant by the Commonwealth of monies of approximately $443 million to the privately run Great Barrier Reef Foundation in April 2018.
The Minister for the Environment and Energy at the time was quoted in the ABC (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-29/gr...) as saying:
"Millions of dollars will go into science and to better data management and to be able to test the impacts on the reef," Mr Frydenberg said.
"We are looking at a whole range of new initiatives, taking best advice of the experts, working closely with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to ensure that the reef has its best chance into the future."
Most Australian's would consider the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to be the organisation harbouring the foremost experts on not only the Great Barrier Reef but also it's protection, conservation and restoration.
Considering the Minister has mentioned publically that he was taking the best advice of the "experts" and that he had worked closely with the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority, there is great public interest in what form that "best advice of the experts" was.
I therefore request the following Government Information documents:
a) Documents relating to advice provided by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in the period 1 January 2017 to 30th April 2018 to the Minister of Environment and Energy, or representatives of the Minister's office regarding initiatives to protect the Great Barrier Reef; and
b) Documents relating to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority's scientific and conservation management policy in regards to the Great Barrier Reef in force as at 1st March 2018; and
c) Documents relating to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority's policy in force as at 1st March 2018 on funding scientific, conservation or restoration activities, research and grants specifically focused on the Great Barrier Reef; and
d) Documents relating to any request for information from the Minister of Environment and Energy, or representatives of the Minister's office to the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority regarding scientific, conservation, restoration or management in the period 1 January 2017 to 30th April 2018.
If this can be answered as informal request, please do so.
Otherwise, please proceed with this as a formal request under the Freedom of Information principles & framework, i.e. the Freedom of Information Act 1982 & other associated guidelines and regulations.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Smith
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #4862 email]
Is [GBRMPA request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority? 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 Ms Pendle,
Thank you for your reply of 5th November.
I appreciate the efforts you have gone to in order to respond to my request for government information.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Smith