Our ref: F24/1572
Amanda HEWITT
Sent via email to:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
Dear Amanda
NOTICE OF DECISION
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST
I refer to your application made under the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act)
received by the Department on 5 July 2024. The terms of your request are:
"I am writing to request
(1) all documents (emails, faxes, letters or text messages) resulting in the
commissioning of Michelle Spence RN to the advert/promotion of COVID vaccination
broadcast on TV or in print media on or around 03/10/2021]. The documents should
include the full trail from the agreement of RN Spence to appear, retrospectively back
to the first related email that enquires as to the availability of a nurse to promote the
COVID vaccines in the manner displayed. The documents should also include any
contracts signed by the hospital or RN Spence to appear.
(2) a list of all COVID-related payments received by Royal Melbourne Hospital in
relation to COVID or COVID vaccines or any vaccines in the time period 03/04/2021-
03/04/2022 being aprox. the 6 months before and 6 months after the appearance of
Michelle Spence."
I apologise for the delay in finalising your request and thank you for your patience.
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic)
I have made this decision in line with the Object of the FOI Act as set out in section 3. I have
interpreted the Act, and any discretions given to me, in a way that facilitates and promotes
the release of as much information to you as reasonably possible.
Section 13 of the Act gives you a legally enforceable right to access documents held by our
agency, however, that right does not extend to exempt documents.
Documents
Based on the terms of your request, I have conducted a thorough and diligent search.
No relevant documents were located relevant to point 1 of your request. I am advised the
Royal Melbourne Hospital would have arranged their employee’s participation in the October
2021 press conference and that no payment was made for such participation and no
contracts required.
As no single document responding to your request was located, a single page report relevant
to point 2 of your request has been produced. This is consistent with section 19 of the Act.
Decision
I assessed the documents in accordance with the Act and have decided to grant access in
full to the document.
Complaint rights
You can complain to the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner if you are
dissatisfied with the way in which the request has been managed or in situations where
documents do not exist or cannot be located.
I have enclosed a fact sheet containing more information about this process.
Yours sincerely
Mike Cain
Manager, Freedom of Information and Legal Compliance
6 November 2025
Enc.
1.
Fact Sheet – Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner – Complaints
2.
Released document
