New student precinct project - Architecture tender

John Smith made this Freedom of Information request to University of Melbourne

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 successful.

Dear University of Melbourne,

I would like to know under FOI the identities of the members of the selection panel, for the tender awarded to the architects of the New Student Precinct project; mentioned here:

https://www.alumni.unimelb.edu.au/archit...

Additionally, I am requesting the approximate dollar amount spent by the the university on this project, as at the date of this email. (The article mentioned a $229M figure, and I would like to know how much of that budget has yet been spent.)

I am not enclosing payment within this FOI request, as I am requesting a fee waiver on the grounds of financial harship.

Yours faithfully,
John Smith

foi-officer, University of Melbourne

Dear Mr Smith,

Thank you for your email. In order for us to discuss your request further, do you have a direct email address or phone number you would be happy to provide us so that we might contact you?

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information Coordinator
Regulatory Advisory Services | Legal and Risk | Chief Operating Officer Portfolio

The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010 Australia
T: +61 3 8344 6772
unimelb.edu.au | facebook.com/unimelb | twitter.com/unimelb

CRICOS: 00116K

This email and any attachments may contain personal information or information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of copyright. Any use, disclosure or copying of any part of it is prohibited. The University does not warrant that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or defects. Please check any attachments for viruses and defects before opening them. If this email is received in error, please delete it and notify us by return email.

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Dear foi-officer,

I would prefer to correspond through this email chain if at all possible.

Yours sincerely,

John Smith

foi-officer, University of Melbourne

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Smith,

Please see attached.

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information
Information Regulation | Legal and Risk | Chief Operating Officer Portfolio

T: +61 3 8344 6772 E: [University of Melbourne request email]
unimelb.edu.au | facebook.com/unimelb | twitter.com/unimel

CRICOS: 00116K

This email and any attachments may contain personal information or information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of copyright. Any use, disclosure or copying of any part of it is prohibited. The University does not warrant that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or defects. Please check any attachments for viruses and defects before opening them. If this email is received in error, please delete it and notify us by return email.

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Dear foi-officer,

Paying the usually applicable fee would cause me financial hardship. I have a low-income healthcare card, and live on an income of less than $600 per week.

Please provide an email address for private correspondence for the purpose of establishing financial hardship, if you require that I send further evidence to substantiate this.

Otherwise, please proceed with the FOI claim as submitted.

Yours sincerely,

John Smith

foi-officer, University of Melbourne

Dear Mr Smith,

Thank you for your email. You can provide a copy of any evidence (e.g. a copy of a health care card or pension card) to support your request for a fee waiver on the basis of financial hardship to [email address].

In the meantime, we will commence internal enquiries regarding your request.

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information
Information Regulation | Legal and Risk | Chief Operating Officer Portfolio

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Dear foi-officer,

I have sent a copy of the relevant documents through to unimelb's general FOI email.

Yours sincerely,

John Smith

Dear foi-officer,

Have the documents been received?

Yours sincerely,

John Smith

foi-officer, University of Melbourne

Dear John,

We have not received the documents.

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information Lead
Information Regulation | Legal and Risk | Chief Operating Officer Portfolio
E: [University of Melbourne request email]

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which I work, and pay my respects to the Elders, past and present.

CRICOS: 00116K

This email and any attachments may contain personal information or information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of copyright. Any use, disclosure or copying of any part of it is prohibited. The University does not warrant that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or defects. Please check any attachments for viruses and defects before opening them. If this email is received in error, please delete it and notify us by return email.

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Dear foi-officer,

I've sent through another copy. Has it been received?

Yours sincerely,

John Smith

foi-officer, University of Melbourne

Dear Mr Smith,

I am writing to confirm that we have received the document. Please see my response to your email.

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information
Information Regulation | Legal and Risk | Chief Operating Officer Portfolio
E: [University of Melbourne request email]

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which I work, and pay my respects to the Elders, past and present.

CRICOS: 00116K

This email and any attachments may contain personal information or information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of copyright. Any use, disclosure or copying of any part of it is prohibited. The University does not warrant that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or defects. Please check any attachments for viruses and defects before opening them. If this email is received in error, please delete it and notify us by return email.

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Dear foi-officer,

Thank you. Although I would prefer to correspond through this channel.

Yours sincerely,

John Smith

foi-officer, University of Melbourne

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Smith,

 

The FOI Act provides for a response within 30 days of receipt of a valid
request. Is also provides for an extension of time of 15 days when
mandatory consultation is required with third parties.

 

As consultation is being conducted in relation to your request, a response
is now due on Tuesday 4 August 2020.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information

Information Regulation | Legal and Risk | Chief Operating Officer
Portfolio

E: [1][University of Melbourne request email]

 

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which I work, and pay
my respects to the Elders, past and present.

 

[2]cid:image002.jpg@01D31D8F.E823DE70

 

CRICOS: 00116K

 

This email and any attachments may contain personal information or
information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of copyright.
Any use, disclosure or copying of any part of it is prohibited. The
University does not warrant that this email or any attachments are free
from viruses or defects. Please check any attachments for viruses and
defects before opening them. If this email is received in error, please
delete it and notify us by return email.

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[University of Melbourne request email]

Dear foi-officer,

The request was made on the 1st of June. If the time limit for the request is 30 calendar days + 15 calendar days for consultation; shouldn't that mean the due date for request is the 15th of July?

How do you come to August 4th as the due date? I don't believe the time limits of the FOI act are expressed in working days.

Yours sincerely,

John Smith

foi-officer, University of Melbourne

Dear Mr Smith,

The statutory timeframe for a decision on a request made subject to the FOI Act is 30 days from the date a valid request is made.

For an FOI request to be valid under Section 17 of the FOI Act, it must satisfy three criteria:
1) The request must be in writing;
2) The request must be accompanied by the necessary fee, which is currently AUD$29.60; and
3) The request must be sufficiently clear to enable us to undertake a search for relevant documents.

If an applicant is unable to pay the fee on the basis of hardship, they are required to state their reasons in writing and provide any evidence that supports their claim. You provided evidence of your claim on 18 June 2020. The University accepted your evidence of hardship on 18 June 2020, and the FOI application fee was waived. As we have determined that your request is sufficiently clear, the request was valid as of 18 June 2020.

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information Lead
Information Regulation | Legal and Risk | Chief Operating Officer Portfolio
E: [University of Melbourne request email]

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which I work, and pay my respects to the Elders, past and present.

CRICOS: 00116K

This email and any attachments may contain personal information or information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of copyright. Any use, disclosure or copying of any part of it is prohibited. The University does not warrant that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or defects. Please check any attachments for viruses and defects before opening them. If this email is received in error, please delete it and notify us by return email.

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Dear foi-officer,

I'm willing to proceed as if the request were made on June 18.

Yours sincerely,

John Smith

foi-officer, University of Melbourne

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Smith,

 

Please see attached.

 

Kind regards,

 

Freedom of Information

Information Regulation | Legal and Risk | Chief Operating Officer
Portfolio

E: [1][University of Melbourne request email]

 

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which I work, and pay
my respects to the Elders, past and present.

 

[2]cid:image002.jpg@01D31D8F.E823DE70

 

CRICOS: 00116K

 

This email and any attachments may contain personal information or
information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of copyright.
Any use, disclosure or copying of any part of it is prohibited. The
University does not warrant that this email or any attachments are free
from viruses or defects. Please check any attachments for viruses and
defects before opening them. If this email is received in error, please
delete it and notify us by return email.

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[University of Melbourne request email]

Dear foi-officer,

I would like to request a review of the charge. Would it be possible to have this fee waived on the financial hardship ground?

I am a JobSeeker during COVID, and have provided my low-income health card as part of this FOI.

Also I ask if it be possible to have this fee waived; on the public interest ground. This ground has merit as there is an extremely large amount of money being spent on this project (~$229M at minimum), such that a section of the public (UoM alums) have an interest in the manner/amount of money that has been spent.

Yours sincerely,

John Smith

foi-officer, University of Melbourne

Dear Mr Smith,

Under the Victorian FOI legislation, there are no grounds to waive the access charges on either financial hardship or public interest grounds.

However, in this instance, the University has decided to waive the access charges relating to this request. The statutory timeframe for processing this request has now commenced. You should expect a decision on this request by 11 September 2020.

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information
Information Regulation | Legal and Risk | Chief Operating Officer Portfolio
[University of Melbourne request email]

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which I work, and pay my respects to the Elders, past and present.

CRICOS: 00116K

This email and any attachments may contain personal information or information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of copyright. Any use, disclosure or copying of any part of it is prohibited. The University does not warrant that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or defects. Please check any attachments for viruses and defects before opening them. If this email is received in error, please delete it and notify us by return email.

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Dear foi-officer,

Thank you, greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

John Smith

foi-officer, University of Melbourne

3 Attachments

Dear Mr Smith,

Please find attached:

1) the notice of decision in relation to your Freedom of Information request (FOI ref: 20/2480); and
2) the documents released to you.

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information Lead
Information Regulation | Legal and Risk | Chief Operating Officer Portfolio

CRICOS: 00116K

This email and any attachments may contain personal information or information that is otherwise confidential or the subject of copyright. Any use, disclosure or copying of any part of it is prohibited. The University does not warrant that this email or any attachments are free from viruses or defects. Please check any attachments for viruses and defects before opening them. If this email is received in error, please delete it and notify us by return email.

Dear foi-officer,

Thank you, appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

John Smith