Engagement and use of an external consultant for Nixon Review work
Dear Australian National University,
Under FOI, I am requesting any documents and communications, including email, Signal, Teams or other messaging platforms, which document the decision to engage an external company, ‘Shapeshifters Creative’ to produce collateral in relation to the Nixon working groups. Specifically, I am requesting:
1. Any documents, or communications held by the University to engage an external consultant to provide a service already available through existing ANU staff areas; and copies of the due diligence undertaken to ensure there was no internal capability to complete this work, prior to the decision to engage an external consultant.
2. The invoices, terms of reference and scope of work undertaken by ‘Shapeshifters Creative’ for the Nixon project, including date of engagement and services.
3. Whether an exemption was sought for procurement of these external services; and who authorised the use of the consultant.
4. Any emails, documents, Signal or other messaging platforms held by the IVC Office or the IVC about the decision to use a third party to complete work for ANU; and why this decision has not been communicated transparently to the broader ANU staff community.
Yours faithfully,
Joyce Mayer
Good afternoon
On 24 October 2025, the Australian National University (the University)
received your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
The University has taken your request to be as follows:
‘I am requesting any documents and communications, including email,
Signal, Teams or other messaging platforms, which document the decision to
engage an external company, ‘Shapeshifters Creative’ to produce collateral
in relation to the Nixon working groups. Specifically, I am requesting:
1. Any documents, or communications held by the University to engage
an external consultant to provide a service already available through
existing ANU staff areas; and copies of the due diligence undertaken to
ensure there was no internal capability to complete this work, prior to
the decision to engage an external consultant.
2. The invoices, terms of reference and scope of work undertaken by
‘Shapeshifters Creative’ for the Nixon project, including date of
engagement and services.
3. Whether an exemption was sought for procurement of these external
services; and who authorised the use of the consultant.
4. Any emails, documents, Signal or other messaging platforms held by
the IVC Office or the IVC about the decision to use a third party to
complete work for ANU; and why this decision has not been communicated
transparently to the broader ANU staff community.
Your request has been assigned the case number 202500276.
Processing Timeframe
The statutory time frame for processing your request is 30 calendar days
from day after the date your request was received by the University. You
should therefore expect a decision from us by 23 November 2025.
This period of 30 days may be extended if we need to consult third
parties, impose a charge or for other reasons. We will advise you in
writing if this happens.
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 regarding your request, please feel free to contact the FOI
Team via the functional email [1][ANU request email].
The FOI Team’s workload is currently at very high levels due the
unprecedented volume of FOI requests.
We are using our best endeavors to process all requests expeditiously
however there may be some slippage due to the current workload. We will
keep in touch with you and advise if there are any significant delays,
and, will, if necessary, seek extensions as permitted by the Act.
Yours sincerely
FOI Team
University Governance Office
The Australian National University
Email: [2][ANU request email]
Web: [3]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[ANU request email]
2. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
3. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
Dear Joyce Mayer,
Please find attached, correspondence regarding your request
Kind regards
FOI Team
University Governance Office
The Australian National University
Email: [1][ANU request email]
Web: [2]https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) | CRICOS Provider
Code: 00120C | ABN: 52 234 063 906
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[ANU request email]
mailto:[ANU request email]
2. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
Ben (Right to Know) left an annotation ()
I am confused by this troubling response. The authority simply says that the request "Does not provide such information concerning the document/s as is reasonably necessary to enable a responsible officer of this agency to identify the exact document/s you are seeking".
However the request asks for (in part):
2. The invoices, terms of reference and scope of work undertaken by ‘Shapeshifters Creative’ for the Nixon project, including date of engagement and services.
An invoice, Terms of Reference and scope of work, with a reference to the name of a vendor are extremely specific, and I don't know how you could be more specific!
It's also unclear from the request what steps (if any) have been taken by the officer in relation to the request. I might actually ask for that information.