Funds received from RFSA
Dear NSW Rural Fire Service,
Could you please provide a listing of all funds received by the NSWRFS from the NSWRFS Association (RFSA) and/or the NSW RFS Trust in the period January 2020 to July 2023 inclusive and precisely how, to whom and for what those funds were disbursed? This request includes particularly those funds erroneously donated by members of the public to the RFS Trust in response to the 2019/20 bushfires believed to amount to some $A69 million.
Yours faithfully,
James Gault
Dear Mr Gault,
Thank you for your enquiry.
You have indicated you require access to a listing of all funds received
by the NSWRFS from the NSWRFS Association (RFSA) and/or the NSW RFS Trust.
Given the scope of your request, please make an access application under
the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (“GIPA Act”):
[1]https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets...
The fee for a GIPA application is $30. I will provide you with payment
details once the access application (also attached) is received.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.
Kind regards,
Paul Kim
GIPA Officer
NSW Rural Fire Service
P 02 8741 5133 E [2][email address] Headquarters 4 Murray Rose
Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127 Locked Bag 17 Granville NSW 2142
[3]www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
The RFS acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout
Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/
Dear Paul Kim,
Thank you for your response to my information request of 18 December 2023.
The emailed request through the "Right to Know" process satisfies all legislative requirements of the GIPA Act. I am advised that it is not lawful for you to require additional or alternative documentation. The request therefore stands as is.
I acknowledge that your agency is entitled to charge the specified fee of $30. Please advise how that is to be paid. Alternatively, I suggest that in light of the potential public interest and the moral right of donors to a charitable entity to know how related funds are expended, then you consider excising your discretion under Section 127 of the Act to waive the fee.
Yours sincerely,
James Gault
Dear Mr Gault,
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request to access information
held by the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) requesting:
“Could you please provide a listing of all funds received by the NSWRFS
from the NSWRFS Association (RFSA) and/or the NSW RFS Trust in the period
January 2020 to July 2023 inclusive and precisely how, to whom and for
what those funds were disbursed? This request includes particularly those
funds erroneously donated by members of the public to the RFS Trust in
response to the 2019/20 bushfires believed to amount to some $A69
million.”
Your application’s validity will be assessed once payment of the $30.00
application fee has been received by way of EFT to our Finance Team.
The relevant details are as follows:
Account Name: NSW Rural Fire Service
Bank: Westpac
BSB: 032-001
Account: 205354
Your file reference number is R24/404.
We kindly request that when you are making this EFT Payment, to ensure
that your file reference number is included in the description of the
payment as well as your full name (or as much as possible).
We also request you provide a screenshot of payment. Once we have
verification of payment we will then notify you of your application’s
status as being valid. At that time we will advise you of the relevant due
date for your application.
Kindly note that we are unable to provide an official receipt for EFT
payments at this stage.
If you would like to make a payment of the application fee by cheque or
money order, please mail this to the address below.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Kim
GIPA Officer
[1]A picture containing P 02 8741 5133 E [2][email address]
emblem, logo, symbol,
trademark Description Headquarters 4 Murray Rose Avenue, Sydney
automatically generated Olympic Park NSW 2127
Locked Bag 17 Granville NSW 2142
[3]www.rfs.nsw.gov.au [4]A red circle with a
black f in it Description automatically
generated with low confidence [5]Logo, icon,
company name Description automatically generated
The RFS acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout
Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/
4. https://www.facebook.com/nswrfs
5. https://twitter.com/NSWRFS
Dear Paul Kim,
Ref R24/404 EFT payment of $30 made PM today 4 Jan. Regret this process does not seem to permit me to add screenshot of bank transfer as an attachment.
Yours sincerely,
James Gault
Dear Paul Kim,
The NSWRFS response to my original FOI request was due by 15 January, 2024. I am conscious of the fact that your request for prior payment introduced a delay and also understand and accept that delays can occur for many other legitimate reasons. I would, though, appreciate some advice on the request's current status.
Yours sincerely,
James Gault
Dear NSW Rural Fire Service,
I refer to my request (acknowledged 4 Jan 2024) regarding "Funds Received from RFSA" [NSWRFS File Ref R24/404]. I am advised that under NSW law a full response should have been provided well before now - it is now long overdue. I request an internal review of why this is taking so long and advice of when I might receive a response.
Yours faithfully,
James Gault