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
-----Original Message-----
From: (Not the real) Bob Neil <[FOI #10457 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 12 July 2023 7:12 AM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - 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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #10457 email]
Is [Treasury request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Department of the Treasury? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
**********************************************************************
Please Note: The information contained in this e-mail message
and any attached files may be confidential information and
may also be the subject of legal professional privilege. If you are
not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of this
e-mail is unauthorised. If you have received this e-mail by error
please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete all
copies of this transmission together with any attachments.
**********************************************************************
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
-----Original Message-----
From: (Not the real) Bob Neil <[FOI #10457 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 15 July 2023 11:16 AM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Re: FOI 3415 - Acknowledgement [SEC=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
-----Original Message-----
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #10457 email]
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
**********************************************************************
Please Note: The information contained in this e-mail message
and any attached files may be confidential information and
may also be the subject of legal professional privilege. If you are
not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of this
e-mail is unauthorised. If you have received this e-mail by error
please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete all
copies of this transmission together with any attachments.
**********************************************************************
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]
The Department of the Treasury (the Treasury) may collect your personal
information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to,
our functions, including those under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(FOI Act) and the Privacy Act 1988. We may collect your name, email
address and telephone number in order to contact you about your request or
privacy complaint. We hold personal information in accordance with the
Privacy Act and our privacy policy. If you have an enquiry or complaint
about your privacy, please contact the Privacy Officer on 02 6263 1384 or
via e-mail [email address]. You can find further information about
how the Treasury handles personal information in the Treasury’s privacy
policy.
If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately by
return email and delete all copies. If this email 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
contained within the email or attachments.
OFFICIAL
-----Original Message-----
From: (Not the real) Bob Neil
<[FOI #10457 email]>
Sent: Saturday, 15 July 2023 11:16 AM
To: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: Re: FOI 3415 - Acknowledgement [SEC=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
-----Original Message-----
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[2][FOI #10457 email]
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This
message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet.
More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
[3]https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please Note: The information contained in this e-mail message and any
attached files may be confidential information and may also be the subject
of legal professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient,
any use, disclosure or copying of this e-mail is unauthorised. If you
have received this e-mail by error please notify the sender immediately by
reply e-mail and delete all copies of this transmission together with any
attachments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[Treasury request email]
2. mailto:[FOI #10457 email]
3. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...