This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Rank of Assault Victim'.


Ministerial and Information  
Management Branch 
Department of Defence 
 
 
 
CP1-6-001 
PO Box 7910 
 
CANBERRA BC  ACT  2610 
 
Tel: 02 626 62200 
 
Fax: 02 626 62112 
xxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
 
 
 
 
Our reference: FOI 231/14/15 
 
 
 
Mr Les Stockley 
By email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx  
 
 
 
Dear Mr Stockley  
NOTICE OF DECISION ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST 
1. 
I refer to your email, dated 1 February 2015, which we received on 2 February 2015, 
in which you requested access, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), to: 
“…a copy of the charge summary for the assault committed by the then Cpl Jacqui 
Lambie, now senator of Australia.” 

Background 
2. 
On 20 February 2015, our office informed you that the decision maker had determined 
that there was a requirement to consult with a third party under section 27A [Consultation – 
documents affecting personal privacy] of the FOI Act, before finalising the decision. As such, 
in accordance with section 15(6) [extension of processing period to comply with requirement 
of section 26A, 27 or 27A] of the FOI Act, the statutory timeframe was amended to 
6 April 2015. 
3. 
I note that the above mentioned due date was a public holiday. In accordance with the FOI 
Guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner, if the last day for notifying a 
decision falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday, the timeframe will expire on the first day 
following which is none of those days.  Noting the due date was a gazetted pubic holiday in the 
ACT (from where all FOI requests are administered), the due date for you to receive a 
response is today [7 April 2015].  
4. 
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with the decision relating to the document 
that is the subject of your request. 
FOI decision maker 
5. 
Colonel MRC Kennedy, Director Personnel Policy – Army was the authorised officer 
pursuant to section 23 of the FOI Act to make a decision on this FOI request. 
Defending Australia and its National Interests 
 

 
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Documents identified 
6. 
Colonel Kennedy identified one document, being the ‘Summary Proceedings Report’ 
as falling within the terms of your request.  
Decision 
7. 
Colonel Kennedy decided to partially release the identified document with deletions in 
accordance with section 22 of the FOI Act [Access to edited copies with exempt or irrelevant 
matter deleted]. Colonel Kennedy deemed the deleted material exempt under sections 47F 
[public interest conditional exemptions - personal information] and 47E(d) [public interest 
conditional exemptions - certain operations of agencies] of the Act.  
8. 
Colonel Kennedy’s reasons for this decision are outlined below. 
Material taken into account 
9. 
Colonel Kennedy had regard to: 
a. 
the terms of the request 
b. 
the content of the documents in issue 
c. 
relevant provisions in the FOI Act 
d. 
the Guidelines issued by the Office of the Australian Information 
Commissioner under section 93A of the FOI Act 
e. 
third party response to consultation.  
Reasons for Decision 
Personal information of third parties 
10. 
Colonel Kennedy noted that the identified document contained personal information 
of individuals other than you. It is appropriate to consider whether this information is exempt 
from release under the FOI Act. As part of the decision making process Colonel Kennedy 
sought third party consultation. He considered the results of the third party consultation when 
making his decision. 
Section 47F of the FOI Act 
11. 
Colonel Kennedy found that the document contains information relating to then 
Corporal Lambie’s military charge of ‘Assault in a Public Place’.  Colonel Kennedy 
considered this information to be widely known and readily available from publicly available 
resources.  Senator Lambie has made this information known and spoken publicly about the 
incident on a number of occasions. As such, Colonel Kennedy considered that it is reasonable 
to release this information.  
12. 
Colonel Kennedy also found that the document contained personal information, 
including witness names, ranks and PMKeyS (personnel identification) numbers of other 
people.  He considered the disclosure of this material would constitute an unreasonable 
disclosure.   

 
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13. 
The guidelines issued by the Australian Information Commissioner note that ‘the 
personal privacy exemption is designed to prevent ‘unreasonable’ invasion of third parties 
privacy’.  In accordance with subsection 47F(2), in determining whether the disclosure of this 
information would involve the unreasonable disclosure of personal information, Colonel 
Kennedy had regard to:  
a. 
the extent to which the information is well known 
b. 
whether the person to whom the information relates is known to be (or 
to have been) associated with the matters dealt with in the document 
c. 
the availability of the information from publicly accessible sources 
d. 
any other matters that the agency considers relevant.  
14. 
Against those criteria, Colonel Kennedy found: 
a. 
the specific personal information listed is not well known 
b. 
the information is not readily available from publicly accessible 
sources. 
15. 
With reference to the assessment above, Colonel Kennedy considered that the release 
of this information would be an unreasonable disclosure of personal information and 
conditionally exempt under section 47F(1) of the FOI Act. 
Public interest considerations – section 47F  
16. 
Section 11A(5) of the FOI Act requires Defence to allow access to a conditionally 
exempt document unless access to the document would be contrary to the public interest. 
17. 
When assessing whether disclosure is, on balance, contrary to the public interest, 
Colonel Kennedy considered the guidelines provided by the Australian Information 
Commissioner, together with a range of factors that favour access to a document as set out in 
section 11B(3) [Public interest exemptions – factors] of the FOI Act.  
18. 
Subsection 11B(3) states factors favouring access to the document in the public 
interest include whether access to the document would do any of the following: 
a. 
promote the objects of this Act 
b. 
inform debate on a matter of public importance 
c. 
promote the effective oversight of public expenditure 
d. 
allow a person to access his or her own personal information. 

 
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19. 
In considering the above points Colonel Kennedy found that disclosure of the 
requested document may promote some objects of the FOI Act, as information held by the 
Government is a national resource.  However, disclosure of the requested document would 
not increase public participation in Government processes, nor would it increase the scrutiny 
or discussion of Government activities.  While Colonel Kennedy noted that the release of the 
requested material may be of interest to you, it would not you access to your own personal 
information. 
20. 
In coming to this decision Colonel Kennedy also took into account the guidelines 
which discuss other factors considered to be relevant, in particular he considered paragraph 
6.132 which states ‘whether it would shed light on the workings of government. Further, at 
6.133 the guidelines state ‘…if the information disclosure were of no demonstrable relevance 
to the affairs of government and was likely to do no more than excite or satisfy the curiosity of 
people about the person whose personal affairs were disclosed… disclosure would be 
unreasonable.’
  
21. 
Colonel Kennedy further considered subsection 11B(4) [public interest exemptions – 
irrelevant factors] of the FOI Act which lists factors which must not be taken into account in 
deciding whether access would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest.  None of the 
factors he took into account were listed under subsection 11B(4) of the FOI Act. 
22. 
After assessing all of these factors, Colonel Kennedy decided that the harm that could 
arise from disclosure of the personal information far outweighs any favourable public interest 
factors that would be gained from the release and he deemed the information exempt under 
section 47F of the FOI Act.  
Section 47E(d) of the FOI Act 
23. 
A document is conditionally exempt under section 47E(d) if its disclosure would have 
a substantial adverse effect on the proper and efficient conduct of the operations of Defence. 
The document contains the names, signatures and PMKeyS numbers of Defence personnel 
that were involved in the prosecution of the offence.  
24. 
Colonel Kennedy noted that the ability of Defence members to undertake a military 
prosecution is an important function to the command of the Army. Discipline within Defence 
is paramount in maintaining the safety of our members. He also noted that participating in 
military justice proceedings is a secondary duty of Defence members. Given the named 
party’s standing in the community, there is a possibility that releasing the personal 
information of other Defence members involved in the proceedings could lead to unsolicited 
contact including undue media attention. This could directly affect the willingness of Defence 
members to participate in proceedings in the future.  
25. 
Accordingly, Colonel Kennedy considered this material to be conditionally exempt 
under section 47E(d) of the FOI Act. 

 
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Public interest considerations – section 47E  
26. 
Colonel Kennedy found that the identified information is conditionally exempt under 
section 47E of the FOI Act. Section 11A (5) provides that, if a document is conditionally 
exempt, it must be disclosed ‘unless (in the circumstances) access to the document at that time 
would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest’.  
27. 
Colonel Kennedy considered the factors favouring disclosure set out in section 11B(3) 
of the FOI Act. The relevant factors being that disclosure may promote some of the objects of 
the FOI Act, as information held by the Government is a national resource and it would not 
allow access to your own personal information. Arising from these factors, Colonel Kennedy 
considered the importance of transparency in investigations of the work-related conduct of 
Government employees.  
28. 
Colonel Kennedy further had regard to paragraph 6.140 of the Guidelines, which 
outlines that careful consideration should be given to the release of information that does not 
relate to a public servant’s usual duties and responsibilities. Colonel Kennedy considered that 
members undertaking duties such as Prosecuting Officer and Defending Officer are not the 
usual, everyday duties and responsibilities of these members.  
29. 
Subsection 11B(4) [irrelevant factors] of the FOI Act lists factors which must not be 
taken into account in deciding whether access would, on balance, be contrary to the public 
interest. Colonel Kennedy stated that he did not take into account these factors when making 
his decision.  
30. 
Colonel Kennedy found that the public interest factors against disclosure outweigh the 
factors for disclosure of the identified personal information due to the impact on the 
operations of this Agency and deemed the information exempt under section 47E (d) of the 
FOI Act. 
31. 
A copy of the document in the form approved for release is at Enclosure 1. 
Rights of review 
32. 
The FOI Act provides for rights of review of decisions. A copy of the fact sheet, 
“Freedom of Information – Your Review Rights”, setting out your rights of review is at 
Enclosure 2. 
Further information 
33. 
The FOI Act may be accessed at: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2015C00013. 


 
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34. 
All departmental action on your request is now complete. Should you have any 
questions in regard to this matter please contact this office. 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
Theresa Stinson  
Assistant Director - Media Case Management  
Freedom of Information 
 
7 April 2015 
 
Enclosures: 
1. 
Document in the form for release 
2. 
Fact Sheet: Freedom of Information – Your Review Rights 

Document Outline