Part A.pdf

Attachment B - Part A
1

S47F(1)

From: S47F(1)

Sent: Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:39 pm
To: S47F(1)

Subject: FW: FOI Request - Molloy (Pirate Party of Australia) [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED
S47F(
1)
We need your advice on this FOI request – the applicant has asked for:

(a) A machine‐parseable dump (SQL, XML, etc) of the entire Classification database dated back as early as February
8, 1971, including at least the following columns:

Who should I discuss the costs and what is involved with this?

My response to the FOI section will be that this information is publicly available on the classification database and
that we should not accede to the request but I need some data on costs and practicality etc.

Regards

S47F(1)



Manager Executive Support Unit
Classification Branch
Attorney Generals Department

S47F(1)



mail: Locked Bag 3 Haymarket NSW 1240
Please do not send mail to the street address


From: S47F(1)

Sent: Wednesday, 26 September 2012 11:45 AM
To: S47F(1)

Subject: RE: FOI Request - Molloy (Pirate Party of Australia) [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED
I will discuss with S47F(  this afternoon.

1)
We may need to get some technical advice so we will do our best for Friday.

2

To: Fitzgerald, Jane; S47F(1)

Subject: FOI Request - Molloy (Pirate Party of Australia) [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED

Hi S47F(1)

The FOI request below has been assigned to me for processing. Please note the request is in two parts.

  Do we have any documents within scope of the request?
  If we do, are there so many documents that processing of this request would constitute an unreasonable
diversion of the Department’s resources? (If so, I will refuse the request on that ground)
  If there are documents of manageable volume, please let me know to obtain copies.
  If you need to copy documents to give to me, please do so one‐sided with no staples, as we scan everything
to enable our redaction program to operate.

I will be on leave for all of next week, so it would be helpful, if possible, I could have your answer by cob Friday 28
September 2012.

Thanks and regards
S47F(
1)
S47F(1)

Freedom of Information & Privacy Section | Office of Corporate Counsel
Attorney‐General's Department |3 ‐ 5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
S47F(1)

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: xxxxxxxxx@xx.xxx.xx [mailto:xxxxxxxxx@xx.xxx.xx]
Sent: Monday, 17 September 2012 11:08 PM
To: COBswitch
Subject: COB Enquiry Response

This feedback was received via the enquiry form on the Classification website.

Do you require a response?:

Title:
     Mr

Name:
Brendan Molloy

Email Address:
xxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx

Postal Address:
PO Box Q1715

Suburb:
Queen Victoria Building

4

State:
    New South Wales

Postcode:
1230

In what capacity are you making this enquiry?:
    Other

Other:
Secretary of Pirate Party Australia

Category of enquiry:
    Other

What would you like to tell us?:
The Director
Classification Board
Locked Bag 3
HAYMARKET NSW 1240

Dear Sir/Madam,

I hereby request, under the Freedom of Information Act (1982) copies of the following documents, available as of
the date of this letter:

(a) A machine‐parseable dump (SQL, XML, etc) of the entire Classification database dated back as early as February
8, 1971, including at least the following columns:
  1. title
  2. classification (rating)
  3. consumer advice
  4. category
  5. medium
  6. version
  7. duration
  8. date of classification
  9. author
  10. publisher
  11. production company
  12. country of origin
  13. applicant
  14. file number
  15. classification number
(b) All documents relating to the determination of an RC rating for all known RC classified content.

I also make the application that all costs for the processing of this request be waived on the grounds that the release
of this information is in the public interest, will enhance the transparency of the process and the public debate
surrounding classification of content in Australia. I intend to make use of this data through my censorwatch.me
project, which intends to allow researchers and others to compare classification data with classification systems
internationally such as the PEGI system, with a public API for applications to access.

Any documents attained under this request will be made available on the website www.pirateparty.org.au and be
made available to journalists.

My mobile number is 0449 617 246 if you have any questions regarding my application. I would also appreciate any
correspondence would be send via email and not snail mail.

5

‐‐
Regards,

Brendan Molloy
Secretary
Pirate Party Australia

M: +61 449 617 246
W: http://www.pirateparty.org.au
E: xxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
T: @piecritic

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of information in the e-mail or attachments.

6

Just in considering this FOI request, a few things spring to mind (S47F(  is here with me and we are in brainstorming
mode):
1)

  Age of records – we understand not everything has been ‘digitised’, so we will have a limitation there (from
an Information Division perspective)
  Records available. Two choices – the Find a Classification is already available publicly, so there’s not much to
do there. The other option is to grab the NCD XML file (a raw data dump) and this could theoretically be
provided. However, this would be a one‐off, point‐in‐time approach.
  Data requested that is already available in the NCD, is below (so that should be no great issue):
  Classification
  Consumer Advice
  Category
  Version
  Duration
  Date of Classification
  Director
  Producer
  Production Company
  Country of Origin
  Applicant
  File Number
  Classification Number

  We can provide the above info to you to help satisfy this request and there wouldn’t be a fee. But, if you
wanted to arrange for a regular report/feed, we’d need to investigate further and this might cost some $$$
to set‐up and maintain.

  The issue of this API – I can’t see that this relates to us (or is part of an FOI request – but obviously an FOI
officer would need to review/consider), we also cannot facilitate the usage of APIs on our site, so there’s
also not much to do there either.

Hope this info helps – happy to discuss.

Regards
S47F
(1)

S47F(1)

Director, Business Information Systems
Information Division
Attorney‐General's Department

S47F(1)

From: S47F(1)

Sent: Wednesday, 26 September 2012 12:39 pm
To: S47F(1)

Subject: FW: FOI Request - Molloy (Pirate Party of Australia) [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED
S47F(
1)

2

We need your advice on this FOI request – the applicant has asked for:

(a) A machine‐parseable dump (SQL, XML, etc) of the entire Classification database dated back as early as February
8, 1971, including at least the following columns:

Who should I discuss the costs and what is involved with this?

My response to the FOI section will be that this information is publicly available on the classification database and
that we should not accede to the request but I need some data on costs and practicality etc.

Regards

S47F(1)



Manager Executive Support Unit
Classification Branch
Attorney Generals Department

S47F(1)



mail: Locked Bag 3 Haymarket NSW 1240
Please do not send mail to the street address


From: S47F(1)

Sent: Wednesday, 26 September 2012 11:45 AM
To: S47F(1)

Subject: RE: FOI Request - Molloy (Pirate Party of Australia) [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED
I will discuss with S47F(  this afternoon.

1)
We may need to get some technical advice so we will do our best for Friday.

S47F(1)



Manager Executive Support Unit
Classification Branch
Attorney Generals Department

S47F(1)



3

  If we do, are there so many documents that processing of this request would constitute an unreasonable
diversion of the Department’s resources? (If so, I will refuse the request on that ground)
  If there are documents of manageable volume, please let me know to obtain copies.
  If you need to copy documents to give to me, please do so one‐sided with no staples, as we scan everything
to enable our redaction program to operate.

I will be on leave for all of next week, so it would be helpful, if possible, I could have your answer by cob Friday 28
September 2012.

Thanks and regards
S47F(
1)
S47F(1)

Freedom of Information & Privacy Section | Office of Corporate Counsel
Attorney‐General's Department |3 ‐ 5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
S47F(1)

‐‐‐‐‐Original Message‐‐‐‐‐
From: xxxxxxxxx@xx.xxx.xx [mailto:xxxxxxxxx@xx.xxx.xx]
Sent: Monday, 17 September 2012 11:08 PM
To: COBswitch
Subject: COB Enquiry Response

This feedback was received via the enquiry form on the Classification website.

Do you require a response?:

Title:
     Mr

Name:
Brendan Molloy

Email Address:
xxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx

Postal Address:
PO Box Q1715

Suburb:
Queen Victoria Building

State:
    New South Wales

Postcode:
1230

In what capacity are you making this enquiry?:
    Other

Other:
Secretary of Pirate Party Australia

5

Category of enquiry:
    Other

What would you like to tell us?:
The Director
Classification Board
Locked Bag 3
HAYMARKET NSW 1240

Dear Sir/Madam,

I hereby request, under the Freedom of Information Act (1982) copies of the following documents, available as of
the date of this letter:

(a) A machine‐parseable dump (SQL, XML, etc) of the entire Classification database dated back as early as February
8, 1971, including at least the following columns:
  1. title
  2. classification (rating)
  3. consumer advice
  4. category
  5. medium
  6. version
  7. duration
  8. date of classification
  9. author
  10. publisher
  11. production company
  12. country of origin
  13. applicant
  14. file number
  15. classification number
(b) All documents relating to the determination of an RC rating for all known RC classified content.

I also make the application that all costs for the processing of this request be waived on the grounds that the release
of this information is in the public interest, will enhance the transparency of the process and the public debate
surrounding classification of content in Australia. I intend to make use of this data through my censorwatch.me
project, which intends to allow researchers and others to compare classification data with classification systems
internationally such as the PEGI system, with a public API for applications to access.

Any documents attained under this request will be made available on the website www.pirateparty.org.au and be
made available to journalists.

My mobile number is 0449 617 246 if you have any questions regarding my application. I would also appreciate any
correspondence would be send via email and not snail mail.

‐‐
Regards,

Brendan Molloy
Secretary
Pirate Party Australia

M: +61 449 617 246
W: http://www.pirateparty.org.au
E: xxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx
T: @piecritic

6

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If you have received this transmission in error please notify us immediately by return e‐mail and delete all copies. If
this e‐mail 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 in the e‐mail or attachments.

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If you have received this tranmission in error please notify us immediately by return e‐mail and delete all copies. If
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If you have received this transmission in error please
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copies. If this e-mail 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 in the e-mail or attachments.

If you have received this transmission in error please
notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete all
copies. If this e-mail 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 in the e-mail or attachments.

7

From: S47F(1)

Sent: Thursday, 4 October 2012 9:45 am
To: S47F(1)

Subject: FOI Request [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED
Hi S47F(
  1)
Any news on that costing for the database download?

S47F(1)

Manager Executive Support Unit
Classification Branch
Attorney Generals Department

S47F(1)


mail: Locked Bag 3 Haymarket NSW 1240

Please do not send mail to the street address

2

Attorney‐General's Department |3 ‐ 5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
S47F(1)

2

Part A – Download of the Database

The applicant has amended Part A of his request to now read “A machine‐parseable dump of the entire Classification
database”. I understand this to mean the applicant will accept whatever information is on the database, without
reference to the various categories as listed originally, which may or may not be on the database. I note your
previous advice from David Grant in the Information Division that that this will cost $3,600 for a contractor to
download the information to a portable hard‐drive, a process that will take 2 days.

I have been discussing this matter with my Director, S47F(1)
. Although we are still inclined to the view that this
part of the request is an unreasonable diversion of resources on the ground of its cost, as opposed to the time, S4
was concerned that we cover a few points in case our decision is challenged by the applicant with the Australian
7F(
Information Commissioner. Can you please ask S47F :
  Is the necessity to outsource this process due
(1)
to lack of expertise or time on the part of your Branch, or
some other reason?
S4  – our FTE staff within the Business Information Systems (BIS) Team are all working on capital projects or
supporting
7F
existing applications under Service Level Agreements (SLAs) resourced by application owners.
The use of non‐ongoing staff members is necessary in this case as there are no funded FTE officers to access
for this task.
  Is there any reason why AGD’s IT Section couldn’t do it?
S4  – per the above point.
  Are
7F  the modifications to the National Classification Database now complete (noting the applicant’s
complaint to CB of 13/09/2012 and S47F(1)
reply of 09/10/2012)?

Regards
S47F(
1)
S47F(1)

Freedom of Information & Privacy Section | Office of Corporate Counsel
Attorney‐General's Department |3 ‐ 5 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
S47F(1)

2

Because it’s XML as he requested, it’s not really very human‐friendly. The best thing to open the file with is Notepad,
although it would still look quite untidy and take ages to load. The guys would have to create a script to put into a
view that is easily readable by a person, but this would take time.

But it currently meets the guys requirements (‘machine‐readable’).

From: S47F(1)

Sent: Monday, 19 November 2012 11:14 AM
To: S47F(1)

Subject: RE: NCD Download for FOI Application. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED
Hi S47F(
  1)
Thanks  ‐ if that is XML – OK

What about the columns aspect he mentioned – can he sort it himself into colomns?

S47F(1)



Manager Executive Support Unit
Classification Branch
Attorney Generals Department

S47F(1)



mail: Locked Bag 3 Haymarket NSW 1240
Please do not send mail to the street address


From: S47F(1)

Sent: Monday, 19 November 2012 11:12 AM
To: S47F(1)

Subject: RE: NCD Download for FOI Application. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Importance: High

UNCLASSIFIED
Hi S47F(
  1)
I’ll chase‐up the file and ensure it’s from 1971 to‐date.

But as for the format, it’s XML, as requested. I can ask the guys how your area can view it, but I think it’s the format
that ‘the guy’ wanted.

S47F
(1)
From: S47F(1)

Sent: Monday, 19 November 2012 11:07 AM

2

To: S47F(1)

Subject: RE: NCD Download for FOI Application. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED
Hi S47F(
  1)
The download is meant to be the entire NCD from what I can see there are only 20 odd files listed.

Also the format – none of the data is in columns or the Excel spread sheet requested.

Can we discuss please – we know have an urgent deadline for this.

S47F(1)



Manager Executive Support Unit
Classification Branch
Attorney Generals Department

S47F(1)



mail: Locked Bag 3 Haymarket NSW 1240
Please do not send mail to the street address


From: S47F(1)

Sent: Wednesday, 14 November 2012 3:49 PM
To: S47F(1)

Cc: S47F(1)

Subject: FW: NCD Download for FOI Application. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED
Hi S47F(
  1)
As per S47F(  message below, the NCD extract for the FOI request is available on the COB G drive.

1)
Please let me know if we can assist with this further.

S47F
(1)
From: S47F(1)

Sent: Wednesday, 14 November 2012 3:08 PM
To: S47F(1)

Cc: S47F(1)

Subject: RE: NCD Download for FOI Application. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

UNCLASSIFIED

3

S47F(
1)
There is a ncd‐export‐OneOff.xml file in G:\BOSS\NCD‐FOI (COB G drive)

It is roughly 380MB in xml format and should only contain records visible on NCD.

Let me know if something needs to be changed.

Cheers,
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
S47F(1)

Business Information Systems, Attorney-General's Department
S47F(1)

From: S47F(1)

Sent: Wednesday, 14 November 2012 11:47 AM
To: S47F(1)

Cc: S47F(1)

Subject: FW: NCD Download for FOI Application. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Importance: High

UNCLASSIFIED
Hi S47
  F(1)
COB have now asked for the NCD data by early next week, preferably on a thumb drive. I assume this a high priority
issue for all concerned, so please let me know (ASAP) if you think this timeframe can’t be achieved.

Thanks,
S47F
(1)
From: S47F(1)

Sent: Tuesday, 13 November 2012 3:46 PM
To: S47F(1)

Subject: NCD Download for FOI Application. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

The applicants specifications are:

“A machine‐parseable dump (SQL, XML, etc) of the entire Classification database dated back as early as February 8,
1971, including at least the following columns:

  1. title
  2. classification (rating)
  3. consumer advice
  4. category
  5. medium
  6. version
  7. duration
  8. date of classification
  9. author
  10. publisher
  11. production company
  12. country of origin
  13. applicant

4

  14. file number
  15. classification number”

As discussed if downloading this into an Excel spreadsheet is consistent with the above then please download it into
this format.

Can you advise when this will be programmed?

S47F(1)

EL2 Manager Executive Support Unit
Classification Branch
Attorney Generals Department

S47F(1)


mail: Locked Bag 3 Haymarket NSW 1240

Please do not send mail to the street address

If you have received this transmission in error please
notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete all
copies. If this e-mail 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 in the e-mail or attachments.
If you have received this transmission in error please notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete all copies. If this e-mail or any attachments have been
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of information in the e-mail or attachments.
If you have received this transmission in error please notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete all copies. If this e-mail or any attachments have been
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If you have received this transmission in error please
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5

copies. If this e-mail 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 in the e-mail or attachments.
If you have received this transmission in error please notify us immediately by return e-mail and delete all copies. If this e-mail 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 in the e-mail or attachments.
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6