Precise salaries paid to the Department’s SES officers for FY14/15, FY15/16 and FY16/17
Dear Attorney-General's Department (AGD),
The following is an application for the purposes of the FOI Act.
I am conducting research, across a range of Government agencies, into the Government's enterprise bargaining framework for the Commonwealth Public Service. Specifically, in the interests of equity and transparency, whether the Government's policy to reduce the living standards of rank and file public servants (that is, public servants who are not considered senior executive service staff ('SES')) also extends to SES public servants.
I refer the AGD to my FOI request made of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner here (the 'OAIC request'): https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/p...
By this application I make the same request of the AGD albeit that every reference to 'OAIC' in the OAIC request should be read as a reference to 'AGD' for the purposes of this request. I rely on all my submissions contained in the OAIC request, in support of this request made of the AGD under s.15 of the FOI Act.
Thanks.
UNCLASSIFIED
FOI17/198; 17/16535
19 December 2017
Applicant
By email: [FOI #4271 email]
Dear Applicant,
Freedom of Information Request FOI17/198
I refer to your request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI
Act) for access to documents relating to the salaries paid to departmental
SES officers during the 2014/15, 2015/16, and 2016/17 financial years. I
have taken your request to be for:
“I am conducting research, across a range of Government agencies, into the
Government's enterprise bargaining framework for the Commonwealth Public
Service. Specifically, in the interests of equity and transparency,
whether the Government's policy to reduce the living standards of rank and
file public servants (that is, public servants who are not considered
senior executive service staff ('SES')) also extends to SES public
servants.
Accordingly, I request documents which detail the precise salary paid to
each of the Attorney-General’s Department’s (the department) SES officers
in the following financial years - FY2014/15, FY 2015/16 and FY2016/17.
That information might be included in the group certificates/end-of-year
PAYG payments summaries issued by the department to its SES officers, or
common law contracts relating to the employment of the relevant SES
officers or, any relevant determinations made under subsection 24(1) or
24(3) of the Public Service Act 1999 in respect of those relevant SES
officers or, perhaps a document prepared pursuant to s.17 of the FOI Act.
Such documents can be quickly and easily identified and retrieved, and
will efficiently and accurately provide the information the subject of my
request.
I am willing to agree to the decision maker redacting all information
contained in any relevant document with the exception of the following:
- information that discloses the relevant SES officer’s name;
- information that discloses that officers precise salary for the relevant
financial year; and
- information that identifies what the document is (eg. a group
certificate/payment summary, an employment contract or a s.23(1)
Determination) and the period that it covers.
I am willing to further narrow the scope of my request by limiting it to
officers employed by the department who, at the time of my application,
were categorised as SES officers, meaning that:
- department staff who were once SES officers at the department, but
weren’t categorised as such at the time of this application; and
- the documents the subject of my request that pertain to SES officers who
are no longer employed by the department;
are discounted from the scope of my application.”
If you disagree with this interpretation of your request, please let me
know as soon as possible.
We received your request on 17 December 2017 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 16 January 2017. 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 disclose the names and
contact details of junior officers of the department and other government
agencies, where that personal information is contained in documents within
the scope of a request. The names and contact details of senior officers
will generally be disclosed. We will take it that you agree to the
removal of junior officers’ personal information unless you advise that
you would like us to consider releasing that information as part of the
documents you have requested.
Please note that information released under the FOI Act may later be
published online on our disclosure log
[1]http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtection...,
subject to certain exceptions. (For example, personal information will not
be published where this would be unreasonable.)
We will contact you using the email address you provided. Please advise if
you would prefer us to use an alternative means of contact.
If you have any questions, please contact [2][AGD request email].
Courtney
Courtney W
Freedom of Information and Parliamentary Section
Strategy and Delivery Division | Attorney-General’s Department
T: (02) 6141 6666 | E: [3][AGD request email]
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When you make a request for documents or an inquiry about privacy matters,
the Attorney-General s Department will only collect your personal
information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to,
our functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 or the Privacy Act
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we can contact you about your request under the Freedom of Information Act
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UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Applicant,
Please find attached the signed decision letter in respect of your request
for documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
Courtney
Courtney W
Freedom of Information and Parliamentary Section
Strategy and Delivery Division | Attorney-General’s Department
T: (02) 6141 6666 | E: [1][AGD request email]
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If you have received this transmission in error please
notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete all
copies. If this e-mail or any attachments have been sent
to you in error, that error does not constitute waiver
of any confidentiality, privilege or copyright in respect
of information in the e-mail or attachments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Privacy Collection Notice
When you make a request for documents or an inquiry about privacy matters,
the Attorney-General’s Department will only collect your personal
information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to,
our functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 or the Privacy Act
1988. We may collect your name, email address and telephone number so that
we can contact you about your request under the Freedom of Information Act
for access to documents or access to, or correction of, personal
information; or a complaint you have made or your request for access to,
or correction of, personal information under the Privacy Act. If your
request concerns your personal information, we will collect the minimum
amount of evidence necessary to verify your identity. The handling of your
personal information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and our privacy
policy is available at http://www.ag.gov.au/Pages/Privacystatem....
If you have an enquiry or complaint about your privacy, please contact the
Privacy Contact Officer on 02 6141 2660 or via e-mail [email address].
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References
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