Records of DHA employees who are direct family members of DHA Executive/SES staff
Dear Defence Housing Australia,
This request is an application for the purposes of the FOI Act. The following documentation is requested:
- Any human resources or conflict of interest policy relating to hiring of direct family members;
- Extracts of employment data/records identifying the number of DHA employees employed/appointed over the past 7 years who are direct family members of current members of DHA's executive/SES staff (eg this data could be extracted from existing employment records by matching name, address or name of next of kin);
- Employment history records showing the process by which those employees (the direct family members of the executive/SES staff) were first appointed – ie. confirming if it was via a competitive process or by direct appointment;
- Employment or organisational records showing whether the DHA executive/SES staff member was in the approval chain for the family members' appointment as an employee of DHA or records showing whether the executive/SES member was the General Manager/senior executive of the relevant division at the time the family member was appointed/promoted;
- Where the DHA executive/SES staff member was in the approval chain, the records showing the name of the relevant executive/SES staff member(s);
- Any conflicts of interest declarations made by executives/SES staff members regarding the hiring of direct family members over the same 7-year period.
Yours faithfully,
Karen Jones
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Jones
Thank you for your email to Defence Housing Australia of 22 January 2019,
requesting the following information:
- Any human resources or conflict of interest policy relating
to hiring of direct family members;
- Extracts of employment data/records identifying the number
of DHA employees employed/appointed over the past 7 years who are direct
family members of current members of DHA's executive/SES staff (eg this
data could be extracted from existing employment records by matching name,
address or name of next of kin);
- Employment history records showing the process by which
those employees (the direct family members of the executive/SES staff)
were first appointed – ie. confirming if it was via a competitive process
or by direct appointment;
- Employment or organisational records showing whether the
DHA executive/SES staff member was in the approval chain for the family
members' appointment as an employee of DHA or records showing whether the
executive/SES member was the General Manager/senior executive of the
relevant division at the time the family member was appointed/promoted;
- Where the DHA executive/SES staff member was in the
approval chain, the records showing the name of the relevant executive/SES
staff member(s);
- Any conflicts of interest declarations made by
executives/SES staff members regarding the hiring of direct family members
over the same 7-year period.
This email is to acknowledge receipt of your request under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the Act). Under the provisions of the Act, DHA has
30 days after the day the request was received to notify you of a
decision.
Should you have any questions regarding your request, my email contact
details are below.
Kind Regards
Kathryn Teague | Privacy Officer
Governance Division
Defence Housing Australia
26 Brisbane Avenue Barton ACT 2600
[DHA request email] | www.dha.gov.au
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Jones
I am an authorised officer for the purposes of the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (Cth) and I have had an opportunity to consider your request
below.
To assist me in processing your request, I would like to clarify two
matters with you please.
Would you kindly confirm:
1. who you would identify as being a ‘direct family member’?
2. when you refer to executive/SES staff, are you referring to the
Senior Executive Group which includes the Managing Director?
Would you please provide your response by close of business on Monday 4
February 2019.
If you have not responded by then, I will make a determination on these
matters in order to be able to progress your request further.
If you would like to discuss this further, please don’t hesitate to
contact me either on the phone number or email below.
Regards,
Amy Cuddihy | FOI Officer
Governance Division | Defence Housing Australia
26 Brisbane Ave Barton ACT 2600
T. 02 6217 8545
[1][DHA request email] | [2]dha.gov.au
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Wednesday, 23 January 2019 2:42 PM
To: [FOI #5224 email]
Cc: Freedom of Information <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Records of DHA employees who
are direct family members of DHA Executive/SES staff [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Jones
Thank you for your email to Defence Housing Australia of 22 January 2019,
requesting the following information:
- Any human resources or conflict of interest policy relating
to hiring of direct family members;
- Extracts of employment data/records identifying the number
of DHA employees employed/appointed over the past 7 years who are direct
family members of current members of DHA's executive/SES staff (eg this
data could be extracted from existing employment records by matching name,
address or name of next of kin);
- Employment history records showing the process by which
those employees (the direct family members of the executive/SES staff)
were first appointed – ie. confirming if it was via a competitive process
or by direct appointment;
- Employment or organisational records showing whether the
DHA executive/SES staff member was in the approval chain for the family
members' appointment as an employee of DHA or records showing whether the
executive/SES member was the General Manager/senior executive of the
relevant division at the time the family member was appointed/promoted;
- Where the DHA executive/SES staff member was in the
approval chain, the records showing the name of the relevant executive/SES
staff member(s);
- Any conflicts of interest declarations made by
executives/SES staff members regarding the hiring of direct family members
over the same 7-year period.
This email is to acknowledge receipt of your request under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the Act). Under the provisions of the Act, DHA has
30 days after the day the request was received to notify you of a
decision.
Should you have any questions regarding your request, my email contact
details are below.
Kind Regards
Kathryn Teague | Privacy Officer
Governance Division
Defence Housing Australia
26 Brisbane Avenue Barton ACT 2600
[3][DHA request email] | [4]www.dha.gov.au
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Jones,
I refer to your request for information under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (Cth) and my email of 1 February 2019.
As I did not receive a response from you, I have made a determination on
the following matters to allow me to continue to process your request:
1. ‘direct family member’ is taken to mean spouse/de facto and
children (including step children and foster children)
2. reference to ‘executive/SES staff’ is taken to mean the Senior
Executive Group or equivalent over the past 7 years consistent with DHA’s
Senior Executive as described and published in DHA’s Annual Reports.
You are liable to pay a charge in respect of the processing of this
request. I will write to you further to provide you with an estimate of
those charges.
Regards,
Amy
Amy Cuddihy | FOI Officer
Governance Division | Defence Housing Australia
26 Brisbane Ave Barton ACT 2600
[1][DHA request email] | [2]dha.gov.au
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Friday, 1 February 2019 3:54 PM
To: Karen Jones <[FOI #5224 email]>
Cc: Freedom of Information <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Records of DHA employees who
are direct family members of DHA Executive/SES staff [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Importance: High
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Jones
I am an authorised officer for the purposes of the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (Cth) and I have had an opportunity to consider your request
below.
To assist me in processing your request, I would like to clarify two
matters with you please.
Would you kindly confirm:
1. who you would identify as being a ‘direct family member’?
2. when you refer to executive/SES staff, are you referring to the
Senior Executive Group which includes the Managing Director?
Would you please provide your response by close of business on Monday 4
February 2019.
If you have not responded by then, I will make a determination on these
matters in order to be able to progress your request further.
If you would like to discuss this further, please don’t hesitate to
contact me either on the phone number or email below.
Regards,
Amy Cuddihy | FOI Officer
Governance Division | Defence Housing Australia
26 Brisbane Ave Barton ACT 2600
T. 02 6217 8545
[3][DHA request email] | [4]dha.gov.au
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Wednesday, 23 January 2019 2:42 PM
To: [5][FOI #5224 email]
Cc: Freedom of Information <[6][email address]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Records of DHA employees who
are direct family members of DHA Executive/SES staff [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Jones
Thank you for your email to Defence Housing Australia of 22 January 2019,
requesting the following information:
- Any human resources or conflict of interest policy relating
to hiring of direct family members;
- Extracts of employment data/records identifying the number
of DHA employees employed/appointed over the past 7 years who are direct
family members of current members of DHA's executive/SES staff (eg this
data could be extracted from existing employment records by matching name,
address or name of next of kin);
- Employment history records showing the process by which
those employees (the direct family members of the executive/SES staff)
were first appointed – ie. confirming if it was via a competitive process
or by direct appointment;
- Employment or organisational records showing whether the
DHA executive/SES staff member was in the approval chain for the family
members' appointment as an employee of DHA or records showing whether the
executive/SES member was the General Manager/senior executive of the
relevant division at the time the family member was appointed/promoted;
- Where the DHA executive/SES staff member was in the
approval chain, the records showing the name of the relevant executive/SES
staff member(s);
- Any conflicts of interest declarations made by
executives/SES staff members regarding the hiring of direct family members
over the same 7-year period.
This email is to acknowledge receipt of your request under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the Act). Under the provisions of the Act, DHA has
30 days after the day the request was received to notify you of a
decision.
Should you have any questions regarding your request, my email contact
details are below.
Kind Regards
Kathryn Teague | Privacy Officer
Governance Division
Defence Housing Australia
26 Brisbane Avenue Barton ACT 2600
[7][DHA request email] | [8]www.dha.gov.au
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Jones,
Please find attached a preliminary assessment of charges letter relating
to your Freedom of Information request (DHA ref: FOI19002)
Regards,
Amy Cuddihy | Privacy Officer
Governance Division | Defence Housing Australia
26 Brisbane Ave Barton ACT 2600
[1][DHA request email] | [2]dha.gov.au
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Wednesday, 6 February 2019 10:17 AM
To: Karen Jones <[FOI #5224 email]>
Cc: Freedom of Information <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Records of DHA employees who
are direct family members of DHA Executive/SES staff [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Jones,
I refer to your request for information under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (Cth) and my email of 1 February 2019.
As I did not receive a response from you, I have made a determination on
the following matters to allow me to continue to process your request:
1. ‘direct family member’ is taken to mean spouse/de facto and
children (including step children and foster children)
2. reference to ‘executive/SES staff’ is taken to mean the Senior
Executive Group or equivalent over the past 7 years consistent with DHA’s
Senior Executive as described and published in DHA’s Annual Reports.
You are liable to pay a charge in respect of the processing of this
request. I will write to you further to provide you with an estimate of
those charges.
Regards,
Amy
Amy Cuddihy | FOI Officer
Governance Division | Defence Housing Australia
26 Brisbane Ave Barton ACT 2600
[3][DHA request email] | [4]dha.gov.au
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Friday, 1 February 2019 3:54 PM
To: Karen Jones <[5][FOI #5224 email]>
Cc: Freedom of Information <[6][email address]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Records of DHA employees who
are direct family members of DHA Executive/SES staff [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Importance: High
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Jones
I am an authorised officer for the purposes of the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 (Cth) and I have had an opportunity to consider your request
below.
To assist me in processing your request, I would like to clarify two
matters with you please.
Would you kindly confirm:
1. who you would identify as being a ‘direct family member’?
2. when you refer to executive/SES staff, are you referring to the
Senior Executive Group which includes the Managing Director?
Would you please provide your response by close of business on Monday 4
February 2019.
If you have not responded by then, I will make a determination on these
matters in order to be able to progress your request further.
If you would like to discuss this further, please don’t hesitate to
contact me either on the phone number or email below.
Regards,
Amy Cuddihy | FOI Officer
Governance Division | Defence Housing Australia
26 Brisbane Ave Barton ACT 2600
T. 02 6217 8545
[7][DHA request email] | [8]dha.gov.au
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Wednesday, 23 January 2019 2:42 PM
To: [9][FOI #5224 email]
Cc: Freedom of Information <[10][email address]>
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Records of DHA employees who
are direct family members of DHA Executive/SES staff [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Jones
Thank you for your email to Defence Housing Australia of 22 January 2019,
requesting the following information:
- Any human resources or conflict of interest policy relating
to hiring of direct family members;
- Extracts of employment data/records identifying the number
of DHA employees employed/appointed over the past 7 years who are direct
family members of current members of DHA's executive/SES staff (eg this
data could be extracted from existing employment records by matching name,
address or name of next of kin);
- Employment history records showing the process by which
those employees (the direct family members of the executive/SES staff)
were first appointed – ie. confirming if it was via a competitive process
or by direct appointment;
- Employment or organisational records showing whether the
DHA executive/SES staff member was in the approval chain for the family
members' appointment as an employee of DHA or records showing whether the
executive/SES member was the General Manager/senior executive of the
relevant division at the time the family member was appointed/promoted;
- Where the DHA executive/SES staff member was in the
approval chain, the records showing the name of the relevant executive/SES
staff member(s);
- Any conflicts of interest declarations made by
executives/SES staff members regarding the hiring of direct family members
over the same 7-year period.
This email is to acknowledge receipt of your request under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the Act). Under the provisions of the Act, DHA has
30 days after the day the request was received to notify you of a
decision.
Should you have any questions regarding your request, my email contact
details are below.
Kind Regards
Kathryn Teague | Privacy Officer
Governance Division
Defence Housing Australia
26 Brisbane Avenue Barton ACT 2600
[11][DHA request email] | [12]www.dha.gov.au
Locutus Sum left an annotation ()
The applicant has not told Right to Know the status of this request and I have been asked to update the status.
Note 1: Mostly I classify a response like this one to say "clarification requested" because the agency has told the applicant that some more information (or money!) is needed before the request will be processed. With this request, I have put the response in the category of "refused" because it is some time since the agency responded and the applicant does not appear to have made a follow-up. It is possible that a follow-up has been made by the ordinary post or by private email but Right to Know has not heard anything about this. Even if the applicant did not follow-up agency questions, it does not mean that the agency will refuse the request when an application is made in the correct (required) manner.
Note 2: Although an application under the Freedom of Information Act 1983 of the Commonwealth of Australia does not require an application fee, Commonwealth agencies might demand payment of a fee to cover extra processing costs. If the fee is not paid, the request will not be processed.