Complaints to DOJ about DOJ Contractors 2007 to 2022
Dear NSW Dept. Communities of and Justice,
I am writing to submit a formal request under the Freedom of Information Act 1989 (NSW) and/or the Government Information Public Access Act 2009 (NSW), to obtain certain records from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
I request copies of all reports and internal memos pertaining to complaints made about your contractor of 20+ years, Statewide Mortuary Transfers P/L, from July 2007 to June 2022. Additionally, I would like to obtain copies of any resolutions that have been made in response to these complaints during the aforementioned time period.
Furthermore, I am seeking information on your department's current and any previous procedures for handling complaints relating to contractors during this time. Specifically, I request details regarding the process followed and actions taken by the Department of Communities and Justice to address and rectify complaints about contractors.
To ensure a comprehensive response, I ask that you consider including the following information in your response:
1. Any documented procedures or guidelines in place for handling complaints about contractors.
2. Internal policies that outline the responsibilities and accountability of departmental staff when dealing with such complaints.
3. Any records of inquiries or investigations conducted into complaints about Statewide Mortuary Transfers P/L, including findings and recommendations & any orders or directions given to Statewide Mortuary Transfers P/L
4. Copies of any correspondence (including emails, letters, or memos) exchanged between your department and Statewide Mortuary Transfers P/L regarding the aforementioned complaints.
5. Any documented actions taken by the Department of Communities and Justice to address and rectify the complaints made against Statewide Mortuary Transfers P/L.
6. All internal memo's and other recorded communications between your staff regarding the complaints issued by the staff nembers of Statewide Mortuary Transfers and any related information that was communicated with other Government entities or agencies.
Please note that I am making this request for the purpose of public interest and to ensure transparency and accountability in the operations of the Department of Communities and Justice. I am willing to pay any reasonable fees associated with processing this request.
Yours faithfully,
Paul Tarrant.
Dear NSW Department of Justice,
Why do you refuse to follow the law?
What is it that allows you to do that?
Do you have any intention of following the law?
Yours faithfully,
Paul Tarrant
The original message was received at Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:12:29 +1100
from m0242879.ppops.net [127.0.0.1]
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Sent request to NSW Department of Justice again, using a new contact address.
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[1]NSW Government Justice logo
Department of Communities and Justice | Legal
Locked Bag 5000
Parramatta NSW 2124
[2]www.dcj.nsw.gov.au
Our Ref: 24/06266
Our Ref: GIPA24/88
By email to: [3][FOI #10890 email]
Dear Mr Tarrant,
Invalid GIPA access application
I refer to your application under the Government Information (Public
Access) Act 2009 (the GIPA Act), lodged with the Department of Communities
and Justice (the department), which was received on Friday 5 January 2024.
I note that you are seeking the following information:
1. Any documented procedures or guidelines in place for handling
complaints about contractors.
2. Internal policies that outline the responsibilities and accountability
of departmental staff when dealing with such complaints.
3. Any records of inquiries or investigations conducted into complaints
about Statewide Mortuary Transfers P/L, including findings and
recommendations & any orders or directions given to Statewide Mortuary
Transfers P/L
4. Copies of any correspondence (including emails, letters, or memos)
exchanged between your department and Statewide Mortuary Transfers
P/L regarding the aforementioned complaints.
5. Any documented actions taken by the Department of Communities and
Justice to address and rectify the complaints made against Statewide
Mortuary Transfers P/L.
6. All internal memo's and other recorded communications between your
staff regarding the complaints issued by the staff nembers of
Statewide Mortuary Transfers and any related information that was
communicated with other Government entities or agencies.
Please be advised that your application is invalid and cannot proceed
until such time that the department, receives the following:
o Application fee in the sum of $30.00. This requirement is in
accordance with section 41(1)(c) of the GIPA Act. The Formal Access
Application fee may be reduced to $15.00 if you receive a statutory
benefit. If the fee reduction is being claimed, you must provide a
copy of your Pension or Health Care Card together with the payment.
The application fee may be paid by any of the following methods:
1. Cheque or Money Order made payable to the Department of Communities
and Justice.
2. Electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the following account:
Account Name: Department of Communities & Justice
BSB: 032-001
Account No.: 169 197
If paying by EFT you must quote 'GIPA' and your name as a reference when
making the payment and attach proof of payment by email to
[4][NSW Department of Justice request email].
3. If you wish to pay the application fee by debit or credit card,
please contact the department and we will arrange for a unique link
to be sent directly to your nominated email address that will enable
you to pay through our secure, online portal.
o Please note that the Department does not hold information in relation
to Statewide Mortuary Transfers Pty Ltd prior to 1 February 2019.
Based on the information holdings of the Department and the date range
of your request, I suggest that you amend your application to the
following:
A copy of the following information held by the Department of Communities
and Justices for the period of 1 February 2019 to 30 June 2022:
1. Any documented procedures or guidelines in place for handling
complaints about contractors.
2. Internal policies that outline the responsibilities and accountability
of departmental staff when dealing with such complaints.
3. Any records of inquiries or investigations conducted into complaints
about Statewide Mortuary Transfers P/L, including findings and
recommendations & any orders or directions given to Statewide Mortuary
Transfers P/L
4. Copies of any correspondence (including emails, letters, or memos)
exchanged between your department and Statewide Mortuary Transfers P/L
regarding the aforementioned complaints.
5. Any documented actions taken by the Department of Communities and
Justice to address and rectify the complaints made against Statewide
Mortuary Transfers P/L.
6. All internal memo's and other recorded communications between your
staff regarding the complaints issued by the staff nembers of Statewide
Mortuary Transfers and any related information that was communicated with
other Government entities or agencies.
If you wish to seek information prior to 1 February 2019, I encourage you
to get in touch with NSW Procurement. I provide the following link
containing their contact details for ease:
[5]https://buy.nsw.gov.au/contact.
If you do not agree that your application is invalid, you may seek a
review of this decision under Part 5 of the GIPA Act, by requesting any
one of the following:
o An internal review which must be lodged with the department within 20
working days of this notice of decision. You must lodge your internal
review at the address shown at the bottom of the first page and must
be accompanied by the appropriate application fee of $40.
o Alternatively, a request for an external review may be lodged with
either the Information and Privacy Commission, or the NSW Civil and
Administrative Tribunal. Please note that you must lodge your request
for an external review within 8 weeks of this notice of decision.
If you have any queries about your application, please contact our office
on (02) 9716 2662 or at [6][NSW Department of Justice request email].
Kind regards,
Open Government, Information and Privacy
Legal
Law Reform and Legal Services
Department of Communities and Justice
T (02) 9716 2662 E [7][NSW Department of Justice request email]
Locked Bag 5000
Parramatta NSW 2124
Working days: Monday to Friday
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I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and pay respects to
Elders past and present. I also acknowledge all the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander staff working with NSW Government at this time.
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Dear Information and Privacy,
Clarification for validation of my request.
I worked for the aforementioned contractor 2007-2013.
I and my fellow workmates would complain regularly to the staff at Glebe coroners while delivering or picking up decedents. Some of these complaints were even taken upstairs. This is known because responses "from upstairs" were later given.
I would like copies of any internal memos, emails, resolutions or any other communications regarding any of the numerous complaints that were made by the transfer crews of Statewide Mortuary Transfers to the staff at Glebe coroners.
In 2012 the contractor held an extrodinary staff meeting. This meeting was held because the staff at Glebe coroners were complaining to their bosses about receiving so many complaints from Statewide staff. From this meeting, anyone complaining to your staff at Glebe coroners about pay or conditions would be instantly dismissed for jeopardising contracts.
An undeniable communication from the coroners office was delivered to the contractor.
I would like copies of everything related to this specific communication.
A written complaint was made to the coroner's office regarding a hospital transfer I'd conducted. I had to respond to this complaint in writing.
I would like a copy of both the complaint and my response to it.
You suggested that I request information from the Treasury. Correct me if I am wrong, but shouldn't this information be in the coroners office records?
I do not believe that the Treasury will be holding any of the information I have requested.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Tarrant
ps. What is the appropriate fee for a pensioner?
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Kind regards
Open Government, Information and Privacy
Legal
Law Reform and Legal Services
Department of Communities and Justice
[NSW Department of Justice request email]
Locked Bag 5000
PARRAMATTA NSW 2124
I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and pay respects to
Elders past and present. I also acknowledge all the Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander staff working with the NSW Government at this time.
DISCLAIMER: This email message, including any attachments, is intended for
the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and may contain
information that is confidential, privileged and/or exempt from disclosure
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copies and notify the sender. Confidentiality or privilege are not waived
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attachments and recommends that the recipient check this email and any
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Ben Fairless left an annotation ()
I’ve resent the original request to an updated email address. Hopefully this helps get a reply.
Thanks
Ben - Right to Know