John Lloyd emails
Dear Australian Public Service Commission,
When the Merit Protection Commissioner found that John Lloyd breached the APS Code it confirmed what most of us in the APSC already knew – that John Lloyd is corrupt.
As soon John’s corrupt conduct came to light in Senate Estimates last year, there were communications between John and his friend, Senator Eric Abetz. Indeed, Eric Abetz and his office had a role in preparing John’s submissions to the MPC’s inquiry into John’s corruption, attacking the character of the person conducting the investigation (John Macmillan) and then attacking MPC for daring to find what everyone already knew, that John Lloyd is corrupt.
Noting that these actions point towards further corrupt activity engaged in by Lloyd and possibly Abetz, and the growing public interest in increasing levels of corruption in the APS, under the FOI Act, I seek copies of any emails contained in all of John’s outlook items that fall between the inclusive date range of 23 October 2017 (when Lloyd’s corruption was raised in the Senate) and 8 August 2018 (when Lloyd quit) and that contain (in the body of an email and/or in the addressee field of an email) any of the following words/terms:
- “abetz.com.au”
- “Manuatu”
- “[email address]”
I’m happy for the APSC to redact the personal information of any person other than John Lloyd from emails.
Regards
EE
FOI Reference C18/2234
Acknowledgement of FOI request
The Australian Public Service Commission (the Commission) acknowledges
receipt of your request dated 28 November 2018, under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act), seeking access to the following
documents:
‘…any emails contained in all of John’s outlook items that fall between
the inclusive date range of 23 October 2017 (when Lloyd’s corruption was
raised in the Senate) and 8 August 2018 (when Lloyd quit) and that contain
(in the body of an email and/or in the addressee field of an email) any of
the following words/terms:
- “abetz.com.au”
- “Manuatu”
- “[1][email address]”…’
Timeframe
The statutory timeframe for responding to your request under the FOI Act
is 30 days from the date of receipt. This timeframe may be extended in
certain circumstances, and we will advise you if such circumstances arise.
An extension to the timeframe may occur if there is a need to conduct
formal consultation with affected third parties. Such consultation may
extend the processing time by an additional 30 days, in accordance with
sections 27 and 27A [Consultation – business documents and personal
privacy] of the FOI Act.
Charges
Section 29 of the FOI Act provides that agencies may apply a processing
charge for access to documents which do not concern your personal
information. I will write to you and inform you if it is decided that a
processing charge will apply.
Irrelevant material
Section 22 of the FOI Act, provides that agencies may redact certain
material from documents, if it is deemed that the material is irrelevant
to the scope of a request. The Commission’s policy is to redact the
personal information and contact details of Commission or APSC officers,
who are employed below Senior Executive Officers (SES) level, including
mobile telephone numbers and signatures.
Should you have any questions relating to your request, please do not
hesitate to contact our office via email to [2][email address]
Kind regards,
Karen
FOI Coordinator
Legal Services
Australian Public Service Commission
Treasury Building, Parkes Place West, Parkes ACT 2600
GPO Box 3176, Canberra ACT 2601
Email: [email address]
FOI Reference C18/2234
Good afternoon EE
I refer to your FOI request to the Australian Public Service Commission
(the Commission), lodged on 28 November 2018, seeking access to documents
relating to any emails contained in John Lloyd’s outlook account.
The Commission has determined there is a need to conduct formal
consultation with affected third parties as required by sections 27 and or
27A [Consultation –documents affecting personal privacy] of the FOI Act.
As such, in accordance with section 15(6)(a) of the FOI Act, the
processing time for responding to your request has been extended by 30
days. The statutory due date for you to receive a decision will now fall
on 27 January 2019.
Kind regards
Karen
FOI Coordinator
Australian Public Service Commission
Level 4, B Block, Treasury Building
Parkes Place West, Parkes ACT 2600
Email: [1][email address]
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear FOI,
Further to my FOI request of 28 November 2018, there is a strong public interest in the documents I’ve requested because
(a) Noting the APSC’s statutory role in upholding high standards of integrity and conduct in the APS, if there are documents indicating that former Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd was corresponding with Eric Abetz and/or his staff, then those documents will provide important APSC led guidance on what constitutes acceptable communications between public servants and members of parliament for the purposes of the APS Code. In other words, if it’s ok (and not a breach of the APS Code) for the Australian Public Service Commissioner to use Commonwealth resources to fraternise with, provide information/advice to, and receive information/advice from, members of parliament who are not relevant Ministers (whatever their political persuasion), then it must be ok for any other public servant to do the same.
[2] Alternatively, if such conduct is not allowable under the Public Service Act, then the documents will indicate further corruption engaged in by the former Public Service Commissioner.
In either case, there is strong public interest (including at least, for all of the APS, who would benefit from that guidance) in the documents the subject of my request.
Yours sincerely,
EE
FOI Reference: C18/2234
Good afternoon EE,
I refer to your request for access to documents under the FOI Act,
received on 28^th November 2018, in which you are seeking access to any
emails contained in all of John’s outlook items that fall between the
inclusive date range of 23 October 2017 (when Lloyd’s corruption was
raised in the Senate) and 8 August 2018 (when Lloyd quit) and that contain
(in the body of an email and/or in the addressee field of an email) any of
the following words/terms:
- “abetz.com.au”
- “Manuatu”
- [1][email address].
Please find attached a copy of your decision.
Regards,
Karen
FOI Coordinator
Australian Public Service Commission
Level 4, B Block, Treasury Building
Parkes Place West, Parkes ACT 2600
P: 02 6202 3500 l E: [2][email address]
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