Senate Estimates briefing notes
Dear Australian Public Service Commission,
On 24 October 2023, in his opening address to the Senate’s Finance and Public Affairs Committee, Dr Gordon de Brouwer stated that the APSC was working closely with the Secretaries Board and the Minister for the Public Service on “strengthening integrity in the public service.” He claimed that he and his colleagues take their responsibilities “seriously.” He then stated that “the conduct of senior APS leaders and employees is an issue of heightened public interest …”
Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth), I request access to:
a) documents, prepared for the October 2023 round of Senate Estimates in the form of briefing notes and the like, in respect of the APSC’s programmes on “strengthening integrity in the public service”,
b) documents, prepared for the October 2023 round of Senate Estimates in the form of briefing notes and the like, in relation to the APSC’s Code of Conduct inquiries, which Dr De Brouwer referred to in his opening address,
c) other than in respect of Code of Conduct inquiries arising out of the Robodebt debacle, documents, prepared for the October 2023 round of Senate Estimates in the form of briefing notes and the like, relating to the Agency Heads and senior APS employees and officials being investigated through Code of Conduct inquiry processes, and
d) documents, prepared for the October 2023 round of Senate Estimates in the form of briefing notes and the like, in respect of “corruption prevention in the workplace” and “roadmap[s] for strengthening pro-integrity culture within the APS.”
Please provide the requested documents and decision by email to this address.
Yours faithfully,
FOIBLES
OFFICIAL
Good morning,
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your request under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 for access to documents held by the Australian Public
Service Commission (The Commission).
The timeframe for responding to your request is 30 days from the date of
receipt. Therefore, the due date for this request is Friday 24 November
2023.
This timeframe may be extended in certain circumstances. You will be
notified if these circumstances arise and the timeframe is extended.
Kind Regards,
FOI OFFICER
Legal Services
Australian Public Service Commission
Level 4, B Block, Treasury Building, Parkes Place West, PARKES ACT 2600
GPO Box 3176 CANBERRA ACT 2601
t: 02 6202 3813 w: [1]www.apsc.gov.au
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This email and any attachments may contain confidential or legally
privileged information, and neither are waived or lost if the email has
been sent in error. If you have received this email in error, please
delete it (including any copies) and notify the sender. Please consult
with APSC Legal Services before using disclosing any part of this email or
attachments to a third party.
______________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT: This message, and any attachments to it, contains information
that is confidential and may also be the subject of legal professional or
other privilege. If you are not the intended recipient of this message,
you
must not review, copy, disseminate or disclose its contents to any other
party or take action in reliance of any material contained within it. If
you
have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately
by
return email informing them of the mistake and delete all copies of the
message from your computer system.
______________________________________________________________________
References
Visible links
1. http://www.apsc.gov.au/
3. https://twitter.com/PublicServiceAU
4. https://www.facebook.com/AusPublicService/
OFFICIAL
Good afternoon,
On 24 October 2023, you requested access to:
a) documents, prepared for the October 2023 round of Senate Estimates in
the form of briefing notes and the like, in respect of the APSC’s
programmes on “strengthening integrity in the public service”,
b) documents, prepared for the October 2023 round of Senate Estimates in
the form of briefing notes and the like, in relation to the APSC’s Code of
Conduct inquiries, which Dr De Brouwer referred to in his opening address,
c) other than in respect of Code of Conduct inquiries arising out of the
Robodebt debacle, documents, prepared for the October 2023 round of Senate
Estimates in the form of briefing notes and the like, relating to the
Agency Heads and senior APS employees and officials being investigated
through Code of Conduct inquiry processes, and
d) documents, prepared for the October 2023 round of Senate Estimates in
the form of briefing notes and the like, in respect of “corruption
prevention in the workplace” and “roadmap[s] for strengthening
pro-integrity culture within the APS.”
I am writing to notify you that the documents you have requested include
the personal information of other individuals. In accordance with sections
27 and 27A of the FOI Act, the Commission is required to consult with
relevant third parties about the disclosure of their personal information.
The timeframe for responding to your request is therefore extended by 30
days under subsection 15(6) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to
Wednesday 27 December 2023.
Kind Regards,
FOI OFFICER
Legal Services
Australian Public Service Commission
Level 4, B Block, Treasury Building, Parkes Place West, PARKES ACT 2600
GPO Box 3176 CANBERRA ACT 2601
t: 02 6202 3813 w: [1]www.apsc.gov.au
[2]three hexagons[3]twitter icon [4]facebook
icon
This email and any attachments may contain confidential or legally
privileged information, and neither are waived or lost if the email has
been sent in error. If you have received this email in error, please
delete it (including any copies) and notify the sender. Please consult
with APSC Legal Services before using disclosing any part of this email or
attachments to a third party.
______________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT: This message, and any attachments to it, contains information
that is confidential and may also be the subject of legal professional or
other privilege. If you are not the intended recipient of this message,
you
must not review, copy, disseminate or disclose its contents to any other
party or take action in reliance of any material contained within it. If
you
have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately
by
return email informing them of the mistake and delete all copies of the
message from your computer system.
______________________________________________________________________
References
Visible links
1. http://www.apsc.gov.au/
3. https://twitter.com/PublicServiceAU
4. https://www.facebook.com/AusPublicService/
OFFICIAL
Good morning,
I refer your request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act).
Whilst we are well advanced in preparing the decision, we note that the processing time for your request falls during the end of year shut-down period for the Australian Public Service Commission (the Commission). Section 15AA of the FOI Act allows an agency to extend the due date of the request with the written agreement from the Applicant.
The Commission would thus like to request an extension of 9 days to process your request please.
Can you let us know by COB today, Thursday 21 December 2023, if you are agreeable to the Commission's request for an extension of time?
If you have any questions, please contact [email address].
Kind regards
FOI OFFICER
Legal Services
Australian Public Service Commission
Treasury Building, Parkes Place West, PARKES ACT 2600
GPO Box 3176 CANBERRA ACT 2601
OFFICIAL
Dear Applicant
Please find attached decision notice and documents in relation to your
request.
Kind regards,
FOI Officer
Australian Public Service Commission
Treasury Building, Parkes Place West, PARKES ACT 2600
GPO Box 3176 CANBERRA ACT 2601
w: [1]www.apsc.gov.au
[2]three hexagons[3]twitter icon [4]facebook
icon
______________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT: This message, and any attachments to it, contains information
that is confidential and may also be the subject of legal professional or
other privilege. If you are not the intended recipient of this message,
you
must not review, copy, disseminate or disclose its contents to any other
party or take action in reliance of any material contained within it. If
you
have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately
by
return email informing them of the mistake and delete all copies of the
message from your computer system.
______________________________________________________________________
References
Visible links
1. http://www.apsc.gov.au/
3. https://twitter.com/PublicServiceAU
4. https://www.facebook.com/AusPublicService/
Our reference: RQ23/06496
Agency reference: LEX 690
Australian Public Service Commission
Foibles
Extension of time under s 15AB
Dear Parties,
Please find attached an extension of time decision relating to the above
referenced FOI request.
Regards,
[1][IMG] Hannah Holswilder
Director, Freedom of Information Branch
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
Adelaide | GPO Box 5288 Sydney NSW 2001
E [2][email address]
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Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and
communities. We pay our respect to First Nations people,
cultures and Elders past and present.
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Dear Hannah,
I wanted to notify you that the APSC provided me with a decision and relevant documents on 22 December 2023 (see https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/1... https://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/1...).
I'm not sure if the APSC neglected to inform you that a decision was made on 22 December 2023.
I'm sorry that you had to devote your time to making an extension decision when one was not required.
In any case, thank you for taking the time to consider the APSC's request and for the notification that you sent me today.
Yours sincerely,
FOIBLES