Labour hire, Attorney general

John Smith made this Freedom of Information request to Attorney-General's Department

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

The request was partially successful.

Dear Attorney-General's Department,

I request a document that contains the total number of labour hire staff procured throughout your department.

I also request a document that contains the total number of labour hire staff procured throughout the APS, that are fulfilling functionally equivalent roles to actual APS employees throughout your department.

Additionally, I seek a document that contains the amount spent on labour hire staff procured throughout your department, for the 19/20 financial year.

Finally, I seek a document that contains the amount spent on labour hire staff procured throughout your department, for the 19/20 financial year; that are fulfilling functionally equivalent roles to actual APS employees in your department.

If any of the above documents do not exist please advise.

~~~~

I additionally seek that a charge not be imposed for this FOI request;

The use of labour hire services in the public service is a matter that has been discussed by many outlets, in both the mainstream and independent media.

Further clarity on the use of labour hire employees throughout government departments, (both Commonwealth and State) is of interest to a substantial section of the public.

Information about the number of labour hire employees working APS-equivalent roles, is not currently available within the DHS annual reports. That is why this FOI request is necessary.

To substantiate this point, let me point out a number of recent articles written about public sector use of labour hire:

Sydney Morning Herald:
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/...

ABC News:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-03/a...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-06/n...

Michael West Media:
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/boomers-v...

It is also a topic that has been of interest to the CPSU, a union that represents a substantial section of the public (namely, public servant union members)

https://www.cpsu.org.au/campaigns/scrap-...

In light of the above, please waive the fee associated with this request; on the ground that this is a public interest inquiry.

Yours faithfully,

John Smith

FOI Requests, Attorney-General's Department

Dear Mr Smith

 

Freedom of Information Request FOI20/118

 

I refer to your request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI
Act) for access to documents.

 

A document that contains:

1.       the total number of labour hire staff procured throughout the
APS, that are fulfilling functionally equivalent roles to actual APS
employees throughout your department,

2.       the amount spent on labour hire staff procured throughout your
department, for the 19/20 financial year, and

3.       the amount spent on labour hire staff procured throughout your
department, for the 19/20 financial year; that are fulfilling functionally
equivalent roles to actual APS employees in your department.

 

If you disagree with this interpretation of your request, please let me
know in writing as soon as possible.

 

The department received your request on 23 July 2020 and the 30 day
statutory period for processing your request commenced from the day after
that date. You should therefore expect a decision from us by 22 August
2020. However, the period of 30 days may be extended if the department
needs to consult third parties or for other reasons. We will advise you if
this happens.

 

Where the documents within the scope of an FOI request include the
personal information of junior officers of the department or other
government authorities, the department’s practice is to not disclose that
information (e.g., names, contact details). The names of senior officers
will generally be disclosed. In addition, duplicates and incomplete email
chains within the scope of the FOI request will be excluded.

 

Please note that, with some exceptions (such as personal information),
documents released under the FOI Act may later be published online on the
department’s disclosure log
[1]http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtection....

 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me by email to
[2][AGD request email].

 

Kind regards,

 

Sarah

FOI Case Officer

Freedom of Information and Privacy Section | Strategy and Governance
Branch

Attorney-General’s Department

E: [3][AGD request email]

 

show quoted sections

Privacy Collection Notice

When you make a request for documents or an inquiry about privacy matters,
the Attorney-General s Department will only collect your personal
information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to,
our functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 or the Privacy Act
1988. We may collect your name, email address and telephone number so that
we can contact you about your request under the Freedom of Information Act
for access to documents or access to, or correction of, personal
information; or a complaint you have made or your request for access to,
or correction of, personal information under the Privacy Act. If your
request concerns your personal information, we will collect the minimum
amount of evidence necessary to verify your identity. The handling of your
personal information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and our privacy
policy is available at http://www.ag.gov.au/Pages/Privacystatem....
If you have an enquiry or complaint about your privacy, please contact the
Privacy Contact Officer on 02 6141 2660 or via e-mail [email address].

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtection...
2. file:///C:\Users\brownfr\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard\HP%20TRIM\TEMP\HPTRIM.5568\[AGD request email]
3. mailto:[AGD request email]

FOI Requests, Attorney-General's Department

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Smith

 

Freedom of Information Request FOI20/118

 

I refer to your request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI
Act) for access to documents.

 

The purpose of this email is to provide you with a decision in response to
that request. 

 

Please find attached:

Ø  decision letter, including:

   Attachment A: review rights,

   Attachment B: schedule of documents,

   Attachment C: statement of reasons, and

Ø  Attachment D: document

 

If you have any questions, please contact me by email to [1][AGD request email].

 

Kind regards

 

Sarah

FOI Case Officer

Freedom of Information and Privacy Section | Strategy and Governance
Branch

Attorney-General’s Department

E: [2][AGD request email]

 

 

show quoted sections

Privacy Collection Notice

When you make a request for documents or an inquiry about privacy matters,
the Attorney-General’s Department will only collect your personal
information where it is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to,
our functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 or the Privacy Act
1988. We may collect your name, email address and telephone number so that
we can contact you about your request under the Freedom of Information Act
for access to documents or access to, or correction of, personal
information; or a complaint you have made or your request for access to,
or correction of, personal information under the Privacy Act. If your
request concerns your personal information, we will collect the minimum
amount of evidence necessary to verify your identity. The handling of your
personal information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and our privacy
policy is available at http://www.ag.gov.au/Pages/Privacystatem....
If you have an enquiry or complaint about your privacy, please contact the
Privacy Contact Officer on 02 6141 2660 or via e-mail [email address].

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References

Visible links
1. file:///C:\Users\brownfr\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard\HP%20TRIM\TEMP\HPTRIM.5568\[AGD request email]
2. mailto:[AGD request email]