Morrison providing free international travel to Turnbull

Vito Guzzardi made this Freedom of Information request to Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

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 Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,

Only recently Morrison provided free international travel to Turnbull. Please provide ALL documents and information detailing but not limited to, how much is this costing the taxpayer, who is entitled to these free plane fares, what kind of plane class are being provided for, how many trip/s are allowed per year, and is there an end date on this allowance ?

Yours faithfully,

Vito Guzzardi

Stephanie Johnson left an annotation ()

Hi Vito,

Information about benefits to current and former parliamentarians can be found here https://www.ipea.gov.au/legislative-fram...

The legislation that spells out who gets what is found here https://www.ipea.gov.au/legislative-fram...

Specifically, you may like to look here https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F... for information about entitlements for former PM Turnbull. The schedule starting on page 17 of the document sets out Mr Turnbull's entitlements.

Good luck

Steph

FOI, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

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UNCLASSIFIED
Dear Mr Guzzardi
 
We refer to your correspondence of 13 November 2018 to the Department of
the Prime Minister and Cabinet (the Department) (as below).
 
Validity
 
Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act) requires
that a request for access meets certain requirements. These requirements
are:
 
-       It must be in writing;
-       It must state it is a request for the purposes of the FOI Act; and
-       It must provide such information as is reasonably necessary to
enable the agency to identify the document/s.
 
Your request, in its current form, does not constitute a valid request:
while your request purports to seek documents, it is largely framed as a
request for information rather than documents. The FOI Act provides for
access to documents and not to information.  The Department is therefore
unable to reasonably identify the specific documents you are seeking
access to.
 
In order for your request to be processed under the provisions of the FOI
Act, we require further information to enable us to identify the document
or documents you are seeking and is requesting you provide us with more
information on the specific documents and the timeframe for these
documents, that you require.
 
We would be grateful for your response by Wednesday 21 November 2018.  If
a response is not received by this date, the Department will take no
further action in relation to your enquiry.
 
If you wish to discuss options to make a valid request, please feel free
to contact the Department by email at [1][email address].
 
Regards
 
FOI Adviser
FOI and Privacy | Legal Policy Branch
Government Division
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
p. +61 2 6271 5849
e. [2][DPMC request email] |
[3]www.dpmc.gov.au
PO Box 6500 CANBERRA ACT 2600
 
[4][IMG][5][IMG][6][IMG][7][IMG][8][IMG][9][IMG] [10][IMG][11][IMG]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Dear FOI,

With all due respect I wasnt asking for world peace or a cure for cancer.......JUST a simple FOI request about documents related to Morrison's allowance linked to providing Turnbull with free international air travel......after all, Turnbull being worth over $200 Million dollars surely cant afford his own airfares ! Also, when Morrison became the next revolving PM he said and I quote...."HE WAS ON OUR SIDE' so from that I see that as being honest and transparent, which is what my FOI request is.

Yours sincerely,

Vito Guzzardi

FOI, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

4 Attachments

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  • Attachment

    Parliamentary Business Resources Former Prime Ministers Determination....pdf

    977K Download View as HTML

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    Parliamentary Business Resources Former Prime Ministers Amendment Dete....pdf

    631K Download View as HTML

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    ES Parliamentary Business Resources Former Prime Ministers Amendment D....pdf

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UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Mr Guzzardi

 

Thank you for the request you made to the Department of the Prime Minister
and Cabinet (the Department ) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 in
the following terms:

 

Please provide ALL documents and information detailing but not limited to,
how much is this costing the taxpayer, who is entitled to these free plane
fares, what kind of plane class are being provided for, how many trip/s
are allowed per year, and is there an end date on this allowance ?

 

The table below lists publicly available documents (see attached) that are
relevant to your request.

 

Document Available at:
Parliamentary [1]https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
Business
Resources  
(former Prime
Ministers)
Determination
2017
Parliamentary [2]https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
Business
Resources  
(Former Prime
Ministers)
Amendment
Determination
2018 (No. 2)
Explanatory [3]https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
Statement -
Parliamentary  
Business
Resources
(Former Prime
Ministers)
Amendment
Determination
2018 (No. 2)

 

By way of context, the provision of expenses for overseas travel for
former Prime Ministers is approved on a case-by-case basis by the Prime
Minister of the day. Since 1 January 2018, the Parliamentary Business
Resources framework provides for the Prime Minister to determine various
“goods and services etc. for former Prime Ministers”. The details of the
package of resources provided to each former Prime Minister, including the
Hon Malcolm Turnbull, can be found in the Parliamentary Business Resources
(former Prime Ministers) Determination 2017.  The Parliamentary Business
Resources (former Prime Ministers) Determination 2017 is made under the
Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017
([4]https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C...).

 

The Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, approved a package of
resources to be provided to Mr Turnbull, as a former Prime Minister, on 30
August 2018. The Prime Minister subsequently gave approval for Mr Turnbull
to be provided international travel expenses when travelling overseas to
represent Australia as approved in writing from time to time.  The details
of the package of resources available to Mr Turnbull can be found in the
Schedule—The Hon Malcolm Bligh Turnbull in the Parliamentary Business
Resources (former Prime Ministers) Determination 2017. For your reference,
I have also attached a copy of the Explanatory Statement for the amendment
to the Schedule for Mr Turnbull providing for the international travel
expenses for Mr Turnbull, which provides further detail on this provision.

 

As has been reported publicly, the Prime Minister approved for Mr Turnbull
to represent Australia at:

·         the High-Level Panel on Building a Sustainable Ocean Economy
event in New York on 24 September 2018; and

·         the Our Ocean Conference in Indonesia on 29-30 October 2018.

 

It is open to Mr Turnbull to claim any expenses arising from the
international travel as approved by the Prime Minister for these events.
Any expenses claimed under the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017
by Mr Turnbull will be publicly available within the Former
Parliamentarians’ Expenditure Reports for Former Prime Ministers on the
Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) website:
[5]www.ipea.gov.au/fpe. To date, the IPEA website indicates that no
expenses have been claimed by Mr Turnbull, as a former Prime Minister.

 

Please advise if the documents provided satisfy the terms of your
request.  If so, the Department will deem your FOI request as finalised.

 

Sincerely

 

 

 

FOI Adviser

FOI and Privacy | Legal Policy Branch

Government Division | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

p. (02) 6271 5849

e. [6][DPMC request email] | w. [7]www.pmc.gov.au

One National Circuit Barton ACT 2600 | PO Box 6500 CANBERRA ACT 2600

 

[8]Title: Reconcilation branding and acknowledgment: The Department
acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia
and their continuing connections to the land, waters and community. We pay
respect to their Cultures, Country and Elders both past and present. -
Description: Reconcilation branding and acknowledgment: The Department
acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia
and their continuing connections to the land, waters and community. We pay
respect to their Cultures, Country and Elders both past and present.

 

 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
2. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
3. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
4. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C...
5. http://www.ipea.gov.au/fpe
6. mailto:[DPMC request email]
7. http://www.pmc.gov.au/

FOI, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

4 Attachments

  • Attachment

    image001.png

    58K Download

  • Attachment

    Parliamentary Business Resources Former Prime Ministers Determination....pdf

    977K Download View as HTML

  • Attachment

    Parliamentary Business Resources Former Prime Ministers Amendment Dete....pdf

    631K Download View as HTML

  • Attachment

    ES Parliamentary Business Resources Former Prime Ministers Amendment D....pdf

    391K Download View as HTML

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Mr Guzzardi

 

I refer to the Department’s email to you below dated 26 November 2018,
referring to the request you made to the Department of the Prime Minister
and Cabinet (the Department ) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 in
the following terms:

 

Please provide ALL documents and information detailing but not limited to,
how much is this costing the taxpayer, who is entitled to these free plane
fares, what kind of plane class are being provided for, how many trip/s
are allowed per year, and is there an end date on this allowance ?

 

If the information provided to you on 26 November 2018 satisfies your
request, the Department invites you to formally withdraw your FOI request,
in writing, by Wednesday 5 December 2018.  Upon receipt of your
confirmation, the Department will consider your request as finalised.

 

Sincerely

 

FOI Adviser

FOI and Privacy | Legal Policy Branch

Government Division | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

p. (02) 6271 5849

e. [1][DPMC request email] | w. [2]www.pmc.gov.au

One National Circuit Barton ACT 2600 | PO Box 6500 CANBERRA ACT 2600

 

[3]Title: Reconcilation branding and acknowledgment: The Department
acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia
and their continuing connections to the land, waters and community. We pay
respect to their Cultures, Country and Elders both past and present. -
Description: Reconcilation branding and acknowledgment: The Department
acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia
and their continuing connections to the land, waters and community. We pay
respect to their Cultures, Country and Elders both past and present.

 

 

 

From: FOI <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, 26 November 2018 5:08 PM
To: Vito Guzzardi <[FOI #4946 email]>
Cc: FOI <[email address]>
Subject: FOI/2018/183 - Publicly available documents [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

 

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Mr Guzzardi

 

Thank you for the request you made to the Department of the Prime Minister
and Cabinet (the Department ) under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 in
the following terms:

 

Please provide ALL documents and information detailing but not limited to,
how much is this costing the taxpayer, who is entitled to these free plane
fares, what kind of plane class are being provided for, how many trip/s
are allowed per year, and is there an end date on this allowance ?

 

The table below lists publicly available documents (see attached) that are
relevant to your request.

 

Document Available at:
Parliamentary [4]https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
Business
Resources  
(former Prime
Ministers)
Determination
2017
Parliamentary [5]https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
Business
Resources  
(Former Prime
Ministers)
Amendment
Determination
2018 (No. 2)
Explanatory [6]https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
Statement -
Parliamentary  
Business
Resources
(Former Prime
Ministers)
Amendment
Determination
2018 (No. 2)

 

By way of context, the provision of expenses for overseas travel for
former Prime Ministers is approved on a case-by-case basis by the Prime
Minister of the day. Since 1 January 2018, the Parliamentary Business
Resources framework provides for the Prime Minister to determine various
“goods and services etc. for former Prime Ministers”. The details of the
package of resources provided to each former Prime Minister, including the
Hon Malcolm Turnbull, can be found in the Parliamentary Business Resources
(former Prime Ministers) Determination 2017.  The Parliamentary Business
Resources (former Prime Ministers) Determination 2017 is made under the
Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017
([7]https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C...).

 

The Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, approved a package of
resources to be provided to Mr Turnbull, as a former Prime Minister, on 30
August 2018. The Prime Minister subsequently gave approval for Mr Turnbull
to be provided international travel expenses when travelling overseas to
represent Australia as approved in writing from time to time.  The details
of the package of resources available to Mr Turnbull can be found in the
Schedule—The Hon Malcolm Bligh Turnbull in the Parliamentary Business
Resources (former Prime Ministers) Determination 2017. For your reference,
I have also attached a copy of the Explanatory Statement for the amendment
to the Schedule for Mr Turnbull providing for the international travel
expenses for Mr Turnbull, which provides further detail on this provision.

 

As has been reported publicly, the Prime Minister approved for Mr Turnbull
to represent Australia at:

·         the High-Level Panel on Building a Sustainable Ocean Economy
event in New York on 24 September 2018; and

·         the Our Ocean Conference in Indonesia on 29-30 October 2018.

 

It is open to Mr Turnbull to claim any expenses arising from the
international travel as approved by the Prime Minister for these events.
Any expenses claimed under the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017
by Mr Turnbull will be publicly available within the Former
Parliamentarians’ Expenditure Reports for Former Prime Ministers on the
Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) website:
[8]www.ipea.gov.au/fpe. To date, the IPEA website indicates that no
expenses have been claimed by Mr Turnbull, as a former Prime Minister.

 

Please advise if the documents provided satisfy the terms of your
request.  If so, the Department will deem your FOI request as finalised.

 

Sincerely

 

 

 

FOI Adviser

FOI and Privacy | Legal Policy Branch

Government Division | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

p. (02) 6271 5849

e. [9][DPMC request email] | w. [10]www.pmc.gov.au

One National Circuit Barton ACT 2600 | PO Box 6500 CANBERRA ACT 2600

 

[11]Title: Reconcilation branding and acknowledgment: The Department
acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia
and their continuing connections to the land, waters and community. We pay
respect to their Cultures, Country and Elders both past and present. -
Description: Reconcilation branding and acknowledgment: The Department
acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia
and their continuing connections to the land, waters and community. We pay
respect to their Cultures, Country and Elders both past and present.

 

 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[DPMC request email]
2. http://www.pmc.gov.au/
4. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
5. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
6. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F...
7. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C...
8. http://www.ipea.gov.au/fpe
9. mailto:[DPMC request email]
10. http://www.pmc.gov.au/

Dear FOI,

I formally withdraw my FOI request. Thanks.

Yours sincerely,

Vito Guzzardi