Letters Patent 1984 with the Queens Signature
Dear Attorney-General's Department,
I wish to make a Freedom of Information Request.
I would like a copy of "Letters Patent Relating to the Office of Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia" 1984 with the Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II in the letter head and the signature of Her Royal Highness authorizing the document. It is claimed in this document that the Letters Patent are issued "By Her Majesty's Command".
If a copy of the Letters Patent with the Queen's Signature does not exist, please send me a copy of the document, signed by Her Majesty, that command's the issuing of the "Letters Patent Relating to the Office of Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia" 1984
Failing the existence of that document, please send me copy of any document that commands the issuing of "Letters Patent Relating to the Office of Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia" 1984 signed by the Governor-General.
Yours faithfully,
Jim Gray
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UNCLASSIFIED
13/11638
17 July 2013
Jim Gray
Email: [FOI #307 email]
Dear Mr Gray
Freedom of Information Request no. FOI13/095
I refer to your request for access to documents relating to a copy of "Letters Patent Relating to the Office of Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia" 1984 with the Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II in the letter head and the signature of Her Royal Highness authorizing the document under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. I have taken your request to be for:
A copy of "Letters Patent Relating to the Office of Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia" 1984 with the Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II in the letter head and the signature of Her Royal Highness authorizing the document. It is claimed in this document that the Letters Patent are issued "By Her Majesty's Command".
If a copy of the Letters Patent with the Queen's Signature does not exist, please send me a copy of the document, signed by Her Majesty, that command's the issuing of the "Letters Patent Relating to the Office of Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia" 1984
Failing the existence of that document, please send me copy of any document that commands the issuing of "Letters Patent Relating to the Office of Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia" 1984 signed by the Governor-General.
We received your request on 16 July 2013 and the 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced from the day after that date. You should therefore expect a decision from us by 15 August 2013. 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.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be published online on our disclosure log http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtection..., subject to certain exceptions. (For example, personal information will not be published where this would be unreasonable.)
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If you have any questions, please contact the following officer:
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Kind Regards
FOI Contact Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Section | Office of Corporate Counsel Attorney-General's Department | 3 - 5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
Email: [AGD request email]
UNCLASSIFIED
Good afternoon Mr Gray
Referring to your FOI request of 17 July 2013 with this Department, the
FOI decision maker's determination is attached.
Kind Regards
FOI Contact Officer
Freedom of Information and Privacy Section | Office of Corporate Counsel
Attorney-General's Department
3 - 5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
A: [1][AGD request email]
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Locutus Sum left an annotation ()
Problems arise from excessive attempts at preceision in the specification of a document; e.g., here the excess has resulted in the request to be inconsistent internally. The request could have been improved by making it simpler. The correct document could then match the request.
Here the applicant requests a document "with the Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II in the letter head and the signature of Her Royal Highness authorizing the document." But such a document cannot exist (note, not "does not exist", but "cannot exist"). "Her Royal Highness" is a title, authorized by the sovereign to style lesser members of royalty. For example, prior to her divorce, Diana was styled "Her Royal Highness, Princess of Wales" but after the divorce, by order of letters patent, was styled "Diana, Princess of Wales".
A similar error caused both amusement (among those who do not care) and anger (among those who care deeply) during the celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee; see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvand....
Also worth a look is the document at
http://www.statusquo.org/aru_html/images...
It has not the "Coat of Arms of Queen Elizabeth II" ; also not a signature from a princess ("Her Royal Highness"), but it does carry a signature of some significance.