Documents and correspondence in relation to Michael Cordover and Matthew Landauer
Dear Australian Electoral Commission,
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982 I request access to:
all correspondence and documents, whether written or in email form, from the Special Minister of State‘s office and/or the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) relevant to:
(i) the decision of the AEC to have Mr Michael
Cordover declared a vexatious applicant, and
(ii) the assertion that Mr Matthew Landauer colluded
with Mr Cordover to harass the AEC.
I also request that no names of personnel are censored where not otherwise required by relevant legislation. I am aware of section 47F of the FOI Act, which describes possible conditional exemptions on the basis of personal privacy. On this point, I direct your attention in particular to paragraph 6.140 of the FOI Guidelines, which states:
"Where public servants’ personal information is included in a document because of their usual duties or responsibilities, it would not be unreasonable to disclose unless special circumstances existed."
Finally, I request a waiver of all associated access charges on the basis that publication of these documents would be in the public
interest. In particular it would be in the interest of the public to know the reasoning and motivation behind actions that could be construed as attempts to subvert and/or hinder Australia's freedom of information laws and processes. This is of particularly pressing concern given the current government's plans to disband the OAIC and significantly undermine Australia's freedom of information and privacy oversight framework.
As evidenced in recent media coverage and in concerns voiced by senators such as Joe Ludwig and Lee Rhiannon, the question of the commitment of government agencies - and statutory authorities acting on their behalf - to openess and transparency is of great importance. It is in the public interest that this question be addressed and the publication of the documents I am requesting would be of significant benefit to this end.
Yours faithfully,
Alecia Wonsack
Thank you for contacting us.
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UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Wonsack
I refer to your email of 21 July 2014 3:12 AM in which you make your FOI
Request for Documents and correspondence in relation to Michael Cordover
and Matthew Landauer. I enclose a scanned letter dated 21 July 2014 from
Paul Pirani, Chief Legal Officer of the Australian Electoral Commission
acknowledging your FOI Request and indicating how it will be processed.
Regards
Owen Jones
Owen Jones | Senior Lawyer
Legal Services Section | Legal, Parliamentary and Procurement Branch
Australian Electoral Commission
T: (02) 6271 4528 | F: (02) 6293 7657
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[1]Australian Electoral Commission logo [2]Australian Electoral
Commission
This email may contain legal advice that is subject to legal professional
privilege. Care should be taken to avoid unintended waiver of that
privilege. The Australian Electoral Commission’s Chief Legal Officer
should be consulted prior to any decision to disclose the existence or
content of any advice contained in this email to a third party.
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Alecia Wonsack left an annotation ()
Thank you Michael. I was wondering about this aspect of the request.
I considered asking for advice on the matter from the knowledgeable and experienced users of this website, but decided I better not risk an accusation of "collusion". So I submitted the FOI request independently, out of my personal and, I believe, the greater public's interest in why Senator Ronaldson, apparently on the advice of the AEC, refused to table these documents yet only gave reasons for his refusal to table the source code.
UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Ms Wonsack
I refer to your email of 21 July 2014 3:12 AM in which you request (‘FOI
Request’) documents and correspondence in relation to Michael Cordover and
Matthew Landauer under the [1]Freedom of Information Act 1982.
I enclose a scanned letter dated 1 September 2014 to you from Mr Michael
Ross, Acting Chief Legal Officer notifying you of his decision about your
FOI Request.
Regards
Owen Jones
Owen Jones | Senior Lawyer
Legal Services Section | Legal, Parliamentary and Procurement Branch
Australian Electoral Commission
T: (02) 6271 4528 | F: (02) 6293 7657
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[2]Australian Electoral Commission logo [3]Australian Electoral
Commission
This email may contain legal advice that is subject to legal professional
privilege. Care should be taken to avoid unintended waiver of that
privilege. The Australian Electoral Commission’s Chief Legal Officer
should be consulted prior to any decision to disclose the existence or
content of any advice contained in this email to a third party.
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Ben Fairless left an annotation ()
I find it incredulous there is no internal documents in relation to this request. Surely there has to be something?
Daniel O'Connor left an annotation ()
So the implications of this:
- hallway discussions/meetings without notes were had
- emails submitted were printed and carried about physically; but not annotated or modified; in order to have such discussions; or
- the vexatious accusations are a knee jerk reaction by a single participant in the foi process without research or consultation; or
- the foi response seeks to obscure the misapplication of process.
Are there any other legitimate reasons that could fit the response?
Michael Cordover left an annotation ()
I have sent the following email to Owen Jones today:
Dear Mr Jones
It has come to my attention that Alecia Wonsack has made an FOI request (LS5106) for documents which may include my personal information.
I consent to the release of documents within the scope of that request containing my personal information and I do not need to be further consulted in relation to them.
If you have any questions you can contact me by reply email.
Kind regards
Michael Cordover