Dear Mr Pentland,

I refer to your request below and in terms of the FOI Act 1982 confirm receipt of it and advise that processing commenced on 1 September 2023.

Please be advised that, consistent with the provisions of the Information Publication Scheme, the Bank’s policy is to release all documents provided to applicants under the FOI Act 1982 on the Bank’s FOI disclosure log close to the same time they are provided to the applicant. The publication of any FOI related documents on our website will also be notified to the Bank’s RSS feed subscriber list.

Also please note that in the current environment, we intend to redact (in terms of section 22) the names and/or identifying material of junior officers (below Deputy Head of Department level) and email and phone contact details for all staff from any documents designated for release in relation to your request. If you have any issues with this intention, please let me know.

Yours sincerely

Phil Lomas | FOI Officer
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
p: +61 2 9551 9744 | e: [RBA request email] | w: http://www.rba.gov.au/

-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Pentland <[FOI #10644 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 31 August 2023 9:12 AM
To: FOI <[RBA request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Style Guide/Writing Guide for the Reserve Bank of Australia

⚠ EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click any links or open any attachments unless you trust the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Reserve Bank of Australia,

This is a Freedom of Information Request for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

I request access to the Style Guides/Brand Guides/Writing Guides currently used for the Reserve Bank of Australia

In making this request, I note the public guide relating to the RBA's Logo Usage (https://www.rba.gov.au/media/logos.html). Nothing this, I do not intent to include this guide in the request, and ask for any other guides or documents.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Pentland

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #10644 email]

Is [RBA request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Reserve Bank of Australia? 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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
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hide quoted sections

Dear Mr Pentland,

I refer to your request seeking Style Guides/Brand Guides/Writing Guides
currently in use in the Reserve Bank of Australia.

I advise that we have identified two documents relevant to your request,
our ‘RBA Editorial Style Guide’ and our ‘Reserve Bank of Australia Brand
Guidelines’.  I have decided to deny access to the two documents in terms
of section [1]47(1)(a) (trade secrets).

My reason for denying access in terms of this exemption is that the
Reserve Bank is a central participant in financial markets both in
Australia and internationally and is also banker to the Commonwealth and
many agencies. Disclosure of the documents, and ergo the formatting and
look requirements as well as the technical specifications (tones, colour
palettes, fonts etc) of our documents that are otherwise only seen by
third parties with legitimate engagement with the Bank, would, in my view,
present an unacceptable risk of imitation of the Bank by persons with ill
intent, who may attempt to impersonate the Bank and engage in activities
that could defraud or steal from either the Bank or unrelated third
parties. The format and look of our documents that are in use for the
above activities is, in my view, a trade secret in the terms of this
exemption and denial of access to the documents is therefore appropriate.

In terms of the FOI Act, I advise that you have rights to review of my
decision if you are dissatisfied with it. You may apply as detailed below
for review of my decision.

Internal review

Under section 54 of the FOI Act, you may apply in writing to the Reserve
Bank of Australia for an internal review of my decision. The internal
review application must be made within 30 days of the date of this email,
and be lodged in one of the following ways:

email: [2][RBA request email]

post: Attn FOI Officer, SD, Reserve Bank of Australia, GPO Box 3947,
Sydney NSW 2001

Where possible, please attach reasons why you believe review of the
decision is necessary. The internal review will be carried out by another
officer within 30 days.

Information Commissioner review

Under section 54L of the FOI Act, you may apply to the Australian
Information Commissioner to review my decision. An application for review
by the Information Commissioner must be made in writing within 60 days of
the date of this email, and be lodged in one of the following ways:

online:
[3]https://forms.business.gov.au/smartforms...

email: [4][email address]

 

Yours sincerely

 

Anthony Dickman | Secretary
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
p: +61 2 9551 9744 | e: [5][RBA request email] | w: [6]www.rba.gov.au

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: FOI
Sent: Friday, 8 September 2023 11:18 AM
To: 'Alex Pentland' <[7][FOI #10644 email]>
Subject: RE: RBAFOI-232411 - Pentland - Style Guide/Writing Guide for the
Reserve Bank of Australia - acknowledgement of request [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

Dear Mr Pentland,

 

I refer to your request below and in terms of the FOI Act 1982 confirm
receipt of it and advise that processing commenced on 1 September 2023.

 

Please be advised that, consistent with the provisions of the Information
Publication Scheme, the Bank’s policy is to release all documents provided
to applicants under the FOI Act 1982 on the Bank’s FOI disclosure log
close to the same time they are provided to the applicant. The publication
of any FOI related documents on our website will also be notified to the
Bank’s RSS feed subscriber list.

 

Also please note that in the current environment, we intend to redact (in
terms of section 22) the names and/or identifying material of junior
officers (below Deputy Head of Department level) and email and phone
contact details for all staff from any documents designated for release in
relation to your request. If you have any issues with this intention,
please let me know.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Phil Lomas | FOI Officer

RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000

p: +61 2 9551 9744 | e: [8][RBA request email] | w: [9]www.rba.gov.au

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Alex Pentland <[10][FOI #10644 email]>

Sent: Thursday, 31 August 2023 9:12 AM

To: FOI <[11][RBA request email]>

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Style Guide/Writing Guide for
the Reserve Bank of Australia

 

⚠ EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click any links or open any attachments unless
you trust the sender and know the content is safe.

 

 

Dear Reserve Bank of Australia,

 

This is a Freedom of Information Request for the purposes of the Freedom
of Information Act 1982.

 

I request access to the Style Guides/Brand Guides/Writing Guides currently
used for the Reserve Bank of Australia

 

In making this request, I note the public guide relating to the RBA's Logo
Usage
([12]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...).
Nothing this, I do not intent to include this guide in the request, and
ask for any other guides or documents.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Alex Pentland

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[13][FOI #10644 email]

 

Is [14][RBA request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information
requests to Reserve Bank of Australia? If so, please contact us using this
form:

[15]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

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:

[16]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

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.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer

This e-mail message (along with any attachments) is intended only for the
named addressee and could contain information that is confidential or
privileged. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that
any dissemination, copying or use of any of the information is prohibited.
Please notify us immediately by return e-mail if you are not the intended
recipient and delete all copies of the original message and attachments.
This footnote also confirms that this message has been checked for
computer viruses.

References

Visible links
1. http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewd...
2. mailto:[RBA request email]
3. https://forms.business.gov.au/smartforms...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[RBA request email]
6. http://www.rba.gov.au/
7. mailto:[FOI #10644 email]
8. mailto:[RBA request email]
9. http://www.rba.gov.au/
10. mailto:[FOI #10644 email]
11. mailto:[RBA request email]
12. https://www.rba.gov.au/media/logos.html
13. mailto:[FOI #10644 email]
14. mailto:[RBA request email]
15. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
16. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections

Dear Mr Pentland,

In terms of the FOI Act, I confirm receipt of your request for internal review and advise that processing of it commenced on 7 October 2023.

Yours sincerely

Phil Lomas | FOI Officer
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
p: +61 2 9551 9744 | e: [RBA request email] | w: http://www.rba.gov.au/

-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Pentland <[FOI #10644 email]>
Sent: Friday, 6 October 2023 1:47 AM
To: FOI <[RBA request email]>
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Style Guide/Writing Guide for the Reserve Bank of Australia

⚠ EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click any links or open any attachments unless you trust the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear FOI,

I am replying to request an internal review of the rejection of the Freedom of Information Request into the RBA's Style Guide and Writing Documents.

In rejecting the document, the exemptions under Section 47(1)(a) were cited, those dealing with trade secrets. While the term isn't defined in the act, as the FOI Guidelines outline, the Guidelines do outline a few definitions of what classifies as a Trade Secret, and particularly given the RBA isn't a traded corporation, I believe that these guides do not meet that definition.

I further note that following changes to the Criminal Code (Criminal Code Amendment (Impersonating a Commonwealth Body) Bill 2017), it is much easier to punish and publicly condemn those who seek to impersonate and defraud the bank or other Commonwealth bodies. Therefore, dealing with this through the issue of FOi exemptions is not only redundant but not justified under the "Trade Secrets" provision.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Pentland

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr Pentland,

I refer to your request seeking Style Guides/Brand Guides/Writing Guides

currently in use in the Reserve Bank of Australia.

I advise that we have identified two documents relevant to your request,

our ‘RBA Editorial Style Guide’ and our ‘Reserve Bank of Australia Brand

Guidelines’. I have decided to deny access to the two documents in terms

of section [1]47(1)(a) (trade secrets).

My reason for denying access in terms of this exemption is that the

Reserve Bank is a central participant in financial markets both in

Australia and internationally and is also banker to the Commonwealth and

many agencies. Disclosure of the documents, and ergo the formatting and

look requirements as well as the technical specifications (tones, colour

palettes, fonts etc) of our documents that are otherwise only seen by

third parties with legitimate engagement with the Bank, would, in my view,

present an unacceptable risk of imitation of the Bank by persons with ill

intent, who may attempt to impersonate the Bank and engage in activities

that could defraud or steal from either the Bank or unrelated third

parties. The format and look of our documents that are in use for the

above activities is, in my view, a trade secret in the terms of this

exemption and denial of access to the documents is therefore appropriate.

In terms of the FOI Act, I advise that you have rights to review of my

decision if you are dissatisfied with it. You may apply as detailed below

for review of my decision.

Internal review

Under section 54 of the FOI Act, you may apply in writing to the Reserve

Bank of Australia for an internal review of my decision. The internal

review application must be made within 30 days of the date of this email,

and be lodged in one of the following ways:

email: [2][RBA request email]

post: Attn FOI Officer, SD, Reserve Bank of Australia, GPO Box 3947,

Sydney NSW 2001

Where possible, please attach reasons why you believe review of the

decision is necessary. The internal review will be carried out by another

officer within 30 days.

Information Commissioner review

Under section 54L of the FOI Act, you may apply to the Australian

Information Commissioner to review my decision. An application for review

by the Information Commissioner must be made in writing within 60 days of

the date of this email, and be lodged in one of the following ways:

online:

[3]https://forms.business.gov.au/smartforms...

email: [4][email address]

Yours sincerely

Anthony Dickman | Secretary

RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000

p: +61 2 9551 9744 | e: [5][RBA request email] | w: [6]http://www.rba.gov.au/

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #10644 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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer

This e-mail message (along with any attachments) is intended only for the named addressee and could contain information that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that any dissemination, copying or use of any of the information is prohibited. Please notify us immediately by return e-mail if you are not the intended recipient and delete all copies of the original message and attachments. This footnote also confirms that this message has been checked for computer viruses.

hide quoted sections

Dear Mr Pentland,

I have been appointed in accordance with s54C of the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (Cth) to review the decision made by Mr Anthony
Dickman, the Reserve Bank’s Secretary, on 28 September 2023 in relation to
your FOI request dated 1 September 2023.

 

I have decided to grant access to the two documents identified as being
relevant to your request, being the ‘RBA Editorial Style Guide’ and the
‘Reserve Bank of Australia Brand Guidelines’. The brand guidelines
document is too large to send via email (we have just tried but the
delivery is failing), so I refer you to our disclosure log and it will be
available from there from 4.00pm this afternoon.  The editorial style
guide is attached to this email. 

 

Yours sincerely

Michelle McPhee | Assistant Governor (Business Services)
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
p: +61 2 9551 9744 | e: [1][RBA request email] | w: [2]www.rba.gov.au

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: FOI
Sent: Monday, 23 October 2023 9:35 AM
To: Alex Pentland <[3][FOI #10644 email]>
Subject: RE: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Style
Guide/Writing Guide for the Reserve Bank of Australia [SEC=OFFICIAL]

 

Dear Mr Pentland,

 

In terms of the FOI Act, I confirm receipt of your request for internal
review and advise that processing of it commenced on 7 October 2023.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Phil Lomas | FOI Officer

RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000

p: +61 2 9551 9744 | e: [4][RBA request email] | w: [5]www.rba.gov.au

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Alex Pentland <[6][FOI #10644 email]>

Sent: Friday, 6 October 2023 1:47 AM

To: FOI <[7][RBA request email]>

Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Style
Guide/Writing Guide for the Reserve Bank of Australia

 

⚠ EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click any links or open any attachments unless
you trust the sender and know the content is safe.

 

 

Dear FOI,

 

 

 

I am replying to request an internal review of the rejection of the
Freedom of Information Request into the RBA's Style Guide and Writing
Documents.

 

 

 

In rejecting the document, the exemptions under Section 47(1)(a) were
cited, those dealing with trade secrets. While the term isn't defined in
the act, as the FOI Guidelines outline, the Guidelines do outline a few
definitions of what classifies as a Trade Secret, and particularly given
the RBA isn't a traded corporation, I believe that these guides do not
meet that definition.

 

 

 

I further note that following changes to the Criminal Code (Criminal Code
Amendment (Impersonating a Commonwealth Body) Bill 2017), it is much
easier to punish and publicly condemn those who seek to impersonate and
defraud the bank or other Commonwealth bodies. Therefore, dealing with
this through the issue of FOi exemptions is not only redundant but not
justified under the "Trade Secrets" provision.

 

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Alex Pentland

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

 

 

 

Dear Mr Pentland,

 

 

 

I refer to your request seeking Style Guides/Brand Guides/Writing Guides

 

currently in use in the Reserve Bank of Australia.

 

 

 

I advise that we have identified two documents relevant to your request, 
our ‘RBA Editorial Style Guide’ and our ‘Reserve Bank of Australia Brand
Guidelines’.  I have decided to deny access to the two documents in terms

 

of section [1]47(1)(a) (trade secrets).

 

 

My reason for denying access in terms of this exemption is that the
Reserve Bank is a central participant in financial markets both in
Australia and internationally and is also banker to the Commonwealth and
many agencies. Disclosure of the documents, and ergo the formatting and
look requirements as well as the technical specifications (tones, colour
palettes, fonts etc) of our documents that are otherwise only seen by
third parties with legitimate engagement with the Bank, would, in my view,
present an unacceptable risk of imitation of the Bank by persons with ill
intent, who may attempt to impersonate the Bank and engage in activities
that could defraud or steal from either the Bank or unrelated third
parties. The format and look of our documents that are in use for the
above activities is, in my view, a trade secret in the terms of this
exemption and denial of access to the documents is therefore appropriate.

 

 

In terms of the FOI Act, I advise that you have rights to review of my
decision if you are dissatisfied with it. You may apply as detailed below
for review of my decision.

 

 

 

Internal review

 

 

 

Under section 54 of the FOI Act, you may apply in writing to the Reserve

 

Bank of Australia for an internal review of my decision. The internal

 

review application must be made within 30 days of the date of this email,

 

and be lodged in one of the following ways:

 

 

 

email: [2][RBA request email]

 

 

 

post: Attn FOI Officer, SD, Reserve Bank of Australia, GPO Box 3947,

 

Sydney NSW 2001

 

 

 

Where possible, please attach reasons why you believe review of the

 

decision is necessary. The internal review will be carried out by another

 

officer within 30 days.

 

 

 

Information Commissioner review

 

 

 

Under section 54L of the FOI Act, you may apply to the Australian

 

Information Commissioner to review my decision. An application for review

 

by the Information Commissioner must be made in writing within 60 days of

 

the date of this email, and be lodged in one of the following ways:

 

 

 

online:

 

[3][8]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

 

 

email: [4][email address]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anthony Dickman | Secretary

 

RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 65 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000

 

p: +61 2 9551 9744 | e: [5][RBA request email] | w:
[6][9]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

 

[10][FOI #10644 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:

 

[11]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Disclaimer

This e-mail message (along with any attachments) is intended only for the
named addressee and could contain information that is confidential or
privileged. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that
any dissemination, copying or use of any of the information is prohibited.
Please notify us immediately by return e-mail if you are not the intended
recipient and delete all copies of the original message and attachments.
This footnote also confirms that this message has been checked for
computer viruses.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[RBA request email]
2. http://www.rba.gov.au/
3. mailto:[FOI #10644 email]
4. mailto:[RBA request email]
5. http://www.rba.gov.au/
6. mailto:[FOI #10644 email]
7. mailto:[RBA request email]
8. https://forms.business.gov.au/smartforms...
9. http://www.rba.gov.au/
10. mailto:[FOI #10644 email]
11. https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...

hide quoted sections