Chancellor's disclosures of interest and controls regarding Vinder Consulting
Dear ANU FOI Team,
In evidence given to the Senate about the engagement of Vinder Consulting (AEQ 25 - 009), the University stated that "The Chancellor made full disclosure to the Vice-Chancellor and his office and once the ANU Communications Team were satisfied with the expertise and cost, appropriate controls were put in place. The ANU Communications Team directly engaged Vinder Consulting and the invoicing was undertaken by the responsible financial delegate."
I would like to request a copy of the following documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982:
1) Any written records of the relevant disclosures of interest that the Chancellor made to the Vice-Chancellor, including notes made of any verbal disclosures
2) Details of the "appropriate controls" that were put in place, and
3) Any and all "declaration of interests" documents completed by Ms Bishop during her appointment as Chancellor and subsequently that refer to Murray Hansen, Vinder Consulting or Julie Bishop and Partners.
4) Any and all entries in the Register of Disclosed Interests that refer to a relationship between the Chancellor and: Murray Hansen; Vinder Consulting; or Julie Bishop and Partners.
Yours faithfully,
Bruce Phillip Jost
Good afternoon
On 9 June 2025, the Australian National University (the University)
received your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) for the following documents:
1) Any written records of the relevant disclosures of interest that the
Chancellor made to the Vice-Chancellor, including notes made of any verbal
disclosures
2) Details of the "appropriate controls" that were put in place, and
3) Any and all "declaration of interests" documents completed by Ms Bishop
during her appointment as Chancellor and subsequently that refer to Murray
Hansen, Vinder Consulting or Julie Bishop and Partners.
4) Any and all entries in the Register of Disclosed Interests that refer
to a relationship between the Chancellor and: Murray Hansen; Vinder
Consulting; or Julie Bishop and Partners.
Please note whilst points 1, 3 and 4 are clear and we will commence a
search for documents, Point 2 appears to be a request for information
rather than a document search. If you would like us to proceed with point
2 could you please provide clarification on what document/s it is you are
seeking.
If we don’t hear back from you by cob on Friday 13 June 2025 we will
proceed with just Points 1, 3 and 4.
The statutory time frame for processing your request is 30 days from the
date your request was received by the University. You should therefore
expect a decision from us by 9 July 2025.
The 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 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
Corporate Governance and Risk 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 Freedom of Information team,
Apologies for the delay in responding. Yes, I confirm that I am happy for you to proceed with just Points 1, 3 and 4 as discussed.
Yours sincerely,
Bruce Phillip Jost
Dear Mr Jost,
We are still awaiting a response from the business unit that we believe
holds documentation relevant to your request.
Although your request is due to be finalised today, we are currently not
in a position to finalise it and would appreciate it if you would consent
to a 7 calendar day extension under s15AA of the Act. This would create a
new due date of 16 July 2025.
We look forward to your advice on the above in due course.
Kind regards,
ANU FOI Team
From: Freedom of Information
Sent: Wednesday, 11 June 2025 1:43 PM
To: [FOI #13273 email]
Subject: Acknowledgement FOI 202500120
Good afternoon
On 9 June 2025, the Australian National University (the University)
received your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) for the following documents:
1) Any written records of the relevant disclosures of interest that the
Chancellor made to the Vice-Chancellor, including notes made of any verbal
disclosures
2) Details of the "appropriate controls" that were put in place, and
3) Any and all "declaration of interests" documents completed by Ms Bishop
during her appointment as Chancellor and subsequently that refer to Murray
Hansen, Vinder Consulting or Julie Bishop and Partners.
4) Any and all entries in the Register of Disclosed Interests that refer
to a relationship between the Chancellor and: Murray Hansen; Vinder
Consulting; or Julie Bishop and Partners.
Please note whilst points 1, 3 and 4 are clear and we will commence a
search for documents, Point 2 appears to be a request for information
rather than a document search. If you would like us to proceed with point
2 could you please provide clarification on what document/s it is you are
seeking.
If we don’t hear back from you by cob on Friday 13 June 2025 we will
proceed with just Points 1, 3 and 4.
The statutory time frame for processing your request is 30 days from the
date your request was received by the University. You should therefore
expect a decision from us by 9 July 2025.
The 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 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
Corporate Governance and Risk 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 Freedom of Information,
I am happy to grant this extension.
Yours sincerely,
Bruce Phillip Jost
Dear applicant,
Please see attached correspondence relating to your FOI Request 202500120.
Regards,
ANU Freedom Of Information Unit
E: [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]
2. https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...
https://www.anu.edu.au/freedom-of-inform...