Records relating to Ministerial Correspondence
Dear Department of the Treasury,
I write to request access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).
I seek access to documents from the Parliamentary Document Management System which constitute the Parliamentary Document Record (PDR) for each item of Ministerial Correspondence below:
1. MC22-018065
2. MC23-005117
For the avoidance of doubt, I am seeking the whole electronic file relating to each item of correspondence, including (without limitation) drafts, revisions, internal and external referrals, records from all 'tabs' and 'panels', and all other documentary records which constitute the PDR Lifecycle.
I am content to receive any such documents in electronic form.
If the scope of documents sought will require extensive review, such that a grant of access may not be possible within 30 days of this request, please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss ways that the request can be refined.
Yours faithfully,
(Not the real) Bob Neil
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Neil,
We write to acknowledge receipt of your request, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), seeking the following documents:
Documents from the Parliamentary Document Management System which constitute the Parliamentary Document Record (PDR) for each item of Ministerial Correspondence below:
1. MC22-018065
2. MC23-005117
For the avoidance of doubt, I am seeking the whole electronic file relating to each item of correspondence, including (without limitation) drafts, revisions, internal and external referrals, records from all 'tabs' and 'panels', and all other documentary records which constitute the PDR Lifecycle.
The Treasury received your request on 12 July 2023. The FOI Act provides that we have 14 days to acknowledge, and 30 days to process, the request. This period may be extended if we need to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if this happens.
We will advise you if a charge is payable to process your request and the amount of any such charge as soon as possible.
We make the following assumptions that affect the scope of the request. These are set out below.
It is our usual practice:
* not to disclose the personal information of government employees or the personal contact details of senior government employees (including those of the Treasury). The names of senior officers will generally be released.
* not to release duplicates of any document captured within the scope of the request.
* only the final version of a document will be considered within scope.
Please inform us if you do not agree to the request being processed on the above assumptions. If we do not hear from you, your request will be processed on the basis that these documents are outside the scope of your request.
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 in relation to your application, please contact the FOI Team on 02 6263 2800.
Kind regards
Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury
Ph: +61 2 6263 2800
e: [email address]
OFFICIAL
Dear FOI Officer,
I do not agree with the FOI request being processed on the assumptions to which you refer, as follows:
1. I do not agree with processing whereby "only the final product is considered within scope". I have specifically asked for drafts and revisions, on the basis that these will be readily accessible via the PDR/PDMS.
2. I do not agree with processing whereby the identity of individual public servants who have engaged in activities recorded in the PDR/PDMS, is wholly redacted such that it is not possible to understand the sequence of events that is recorded as the 'life-cycle' of the correspondence within the PDR/PDMS.
A suitable compromise should be possible with respect to item 2 above, however, as I have no particular interest in the personal information of government employees, per se. Nor do I seek access to contact details of any government employees. If the Department intends to redact the documents to conceal the names of individual employees involved, then each redacted name should be given a numerical identifier, i.e. Employee 1, Employee 2, etc. so that it is still possible to make sense of the records. The position title and department of each individual employee should also be provided. Senior employees should be identified by name, consistent with your current process.
Please confirm that the request will be processed on the above basis.
Yours sincerely,
(Not the real) Bob Neil
OFFICIAL
Dear (Not the real) Bob Neil
The Treasury acknowledges receipt of your email dated 15 July 2023.
Kind regards,
Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes ACT 2600
Phone: +61 2 6263 2800
Email: [Treasury request email]
www.treasury.gov.au
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL
Dear Mr Neil,
Please see attached correspondence regarding your FOI request 3415.
If you have any questions, please contact [1][Treasury request email].
Kind regards,
Freedom of Information Officer
The Treasury
Ph: +61 2 6263 2800
e: [email address]
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OFFICIAL