Slipper summons and Minchin Protocol

Margo Kingston made this Freedom of Information request to Department of Finance

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 refused by Department of Finance.

Margo Kingston

Dear Department of Finance and Deregulation,

I refer to my previous FOI request concerning Mr Slipper and the Minchin protocol and my discussions with Jill today.

I withdraw my internal review request and make the same request as negotiated last time, except that I seek the information from January 1, 2010.

Yours faithfully,

Margo Kingston

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Ms Kingston

 

Thank you for your advice below advising of your withdrawal of your
internal review.

 

Further to your discussions with the Department last week, would you
please confirm that your new FOI request under the Freedom of Information
Act 1982 is for the following documents:

 

·         All correspondence to or from Mr Peter Slipper between April
2012 – January 2013 concerning travel costs incurred by Mr Slipper;

·         All correspondence to or from any Member of Parliament in
relation to requests to repay travel costs deemed outside entitlement in
accordance with what is described as “the Minchin Protocol” between
January 2010 to January 2013.

 

Once we receive your confirmation we will proceed to process your request.

 

Kind regards

 

FOI team

6215 1783

 

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Margo Kingston

Dear FOI Requests,

Yes, let's proceed.

Yours sincerely,

Margo Kingston

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

1 Attachment

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Ms Kingston

 

Please find attached correspondence in relation to your FOI request (FOI
13/32).

 

Kind regards

 

FOI Team

Department of Finance and Deregulation

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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FOI Requests, Department of Finance

2 Attachments

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Ms Kingston

 

Please find attached correspondence regarding your FOI request (our
reference FOI 13/32).

 

Kind regards

[1]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

FOI Officer

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [2][Finance request email] 

UNCLASSIFIED

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Margo Kingston

Dear FOI Requests,

Hi. I amend my request to documents from January 1 2011 - will that allow you to proceed?

Yours sincerely,

Margo Kingston

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

1 Attachment

UNCLASSIFIED

Good morning Ms Kingston

 

Thank you for your email reducing the scope of the second part of your
request.  While this goes some way to reducing the scope of your request
it would not have the effect of reducing the scope to the point where your
request would be able to proceed.

 

However, the decision maker has indicated that if you were to reduce the
scope of your request to the following then it would be likely to proceed:

 

All correspondence to or from Mr Peter Slipper between April 2012 –
January 2013 concerning travel costs incurred by Mr Slipper, excluding any
material regarding any FOI correspondence;

 

All correspondence to or from any Member of Parliament in relation to
requests to repay travel costs deemed outside entitlement in accordance
with what is described as “the Minchin Protocol” between January 2010 to
January 2013.

 

Please let us know if you would like to proceed with this reduced scope?

 

Thanks,

 

[1]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

FOI Officer

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [Finance request email]  

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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Margo Kingston

Dear FOI Requests,

Agreed! Let's go with your suggestion.

Yours sincerely,

Margo Kingston

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

2 Attachments

UNCLASSIFIED

Dear Ms Kingston

 

Please refer to the attached correspondence in relation to your FOI
request (our reference 13/32).

 

Yours sincerely

[1]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

FOI Officer

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [2][Finance request email]  

 

 

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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FOI Requests, Department of Finance

2 Attachments

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Ms Kingston

 

Please find attached correspondence in relation to the need to undertake
third party consultation for your FOI request (FOI13-32).

 

Regards

 

[1]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

FOI Officer

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [Finance request email]  

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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FOI Requests, Department of Finance

1 Attachment

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Ms Kingston,

 

In regards to your FOI request (our reference 13/32), the decision maker
has advised that they will be unable to meet the deadline of 19 May 2013.

 

We estimate that the time needed to finalise your request and provide
documents is an additional 2 weeks.  As such, do you agree to an extension
to 3 June 2013?

 

Kind regards,

Sue.

 

[1]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

FOI Officer

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [Finance request email]  

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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Margo Kingston

Dear FOI Requests,

Yes, I agree to the extension.

Yours sincerely,

Margo Kingston

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

1 Attachment

Thank you for your email to the Freedom of Information section of the
Department of Finance and Deregulation. We have received your email and
will endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible.

 

You may view further information relating to Freedom of Information on the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s [1]website.

 

[2]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

Freedom of Information

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

 

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1. http://www.oaic.gov.au/foi-portal/about_...

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

5 Attachments

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Ms Kingston,

 

Please find attached correspondence relating to your FOI request (our
reference FOI 13/32).

 

Please note that due to size restrictions the documents will be sent over
several emails.

 

Kind regards,

[1]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

FOI Officer

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [2][Finance request email]  

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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2. mailto:[Finance request email]

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

24 Attachments

UNCLASSIFIED

Email 3 of 3

 

[1]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

FOI Officer

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [2][Finance request email]  

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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2. mailto:[Finance request email]

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

9 Attachments

UNCLASSIFIED

Email 2 of 3.

 

[1]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

FOI Officer

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [2][Finance request email]  

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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2. mailto:[Finance request email]

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

9 Attachments

UNCLASSIFIED

Email 2 of 3.

 

[1]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

FOI Officer

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [2][Finance request email]  

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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Caled Hund left an annotation ()

Given the 3 emails containing the massive load of documents posted both here and on the departments website, I'd say the label, awaiting classification, is a little out of date. Partially successful would be how I'd rate.

Caled Hund

Margo Kingston

Dear FOI Requests,

Hi. You say in the documents table that documents 4A, 4B, 4C, 7A and 7B cannot be released 'until third party review rights have expired'.

Have they expired yet?

Yours sincerely,

Margo Kingston

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

1 Attachment

Thank you for your email to the Freedom of Information section of the
Department of Finance and Deregulation. We have received your email and
will endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible.

 

You may view further information relating to Freedom of Information on the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s [1]website.

 

[2]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

Freedom of Information

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

 

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References

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1. http://www.oaic.gov.au/foi-portal/about_...

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

UNCLASSIFIED

Good morning Ms Kingston

Applications for third party review rights can be made by the third parties until midnight tonight.

At this point, no application has been made to the Department for review.

Tomorrow we will write to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) asking if they have received an application for review. It is our understanding that the OAIC can take up to ten days to respond.

We will provide you with further information on the progress of your request when it becomes available.

Regards,

FOI Officer
Legal and Strategic Support Branch
Department of Finance and Deregulation
T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [Finance request email]

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FOI Requests, Department of Finance

7 Attachments

UNCLASSIFIED

Good morning Ms Kingston,

 

Please find attached the remaining documents relating to your FOI request
(our reference FOI 13/32).

 

Kind regards,

 

[1]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

FOI Officer

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [2][Finance request email]  

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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Margo Kingston

Dear Department of Finance and Deregulation,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Finance and Deregulation's handling of my FOI request 'Slipper summons and Minchin Protocol'.

I request that you remove the blackouts on documents 4A, 4B and 4C.

Since Mr Abbott claimed private expenses as taxpayer-funded entitlements I can't work out how there could be a private or personal business exemption from disclosure.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/sl...

Yours faithfully,

Margo Kingston

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

1 Attachment

Thank you for your email to the Freedom of Information section of the
Department of Finance and Deregulation. We have received your email and
will endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible.

 

You may view further information relating to Freedom of Information on the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s [1]website.

 

[2]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

Freedom of Information

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

 

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1. http://www.oaic.gov.au/foi-portal/about_...

Margo Kingston

Dear Department of Finance and Deregulation,

Hi again. I wish to extend the terms of my request for an internal review.

There has been speculation on Twitter as to the identity of the third party who referred the Slipper 2010 travel matter to the AFP which resulted in his prosecution.

This speculation has intensified since it was revealed, via this FOI, that Mr Abbott was permitted to repay the $9,400 he wrongly claimed for his book tour without further action being taken. This sum included taxpayer-funded Comcars - a similar rort to that for which Mr Slipper was charged.

I therefore request that, in the public interest, Finance release those parts of the correspondence between it and the AFP which reveals the identity of the referrer. I am assuming that this information would not prejudice the Slipper trial.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.righttoknow.org.au/request/sl...

Yours faithfully,

Margo Kingston

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

1 Attachment

Thank you for your email to the Freedom of Information section of the
Department of Finance and Deregulation. We have received your email and
will endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible.

 

You may view further information relating to Freedom of Information on the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s [1]website.

 

[2]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

Freedom of Information

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

 

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References

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1. http://www.oaic.gov.au/foi-portal/about_...

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Ms Kingston,

We cannot accept the change to the parameters of your request for internal review for the following reason.

The documents you have asked to be released as part of an internal review are outside the scope of the original request. The relevant part of your original request was for:

'All correspondence to or from any Member of Parliament in relation to requests to repay travel costs deemed outside entitlement in accordance with what is described as “the Minchin Protocol” between January 2010 to January 2013'.

You have changed your internal review to include:

'...those parts of the correspondence between it [Finance] and the AFP which reveals the identity of the referrer'

Your original request was not for documents relating to correspondence between Finance and the AFP. As such there are no relevant documents within the scope of your original request that also fall within the scope of the new information you have sought under internal review.

However, you can submit a new FOI request for this information. The most appropriate agency to make a request for this information may be the AFP.

Kind regards,

FOI Officer
Legal and Strategic Support Branch
Department of Finance and Deregulation
T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [Finance request email]  

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Margo Kingston

Dear FOI Requests,

Hi. I am seeking an internal review in relation to documents 10 and 12 to 17 disclosed under this FOI but refused release.

Yours sincerely,

Margo Kingston

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

1 Attachment

Thank you for your email to the Freedom of Information section of the
Department of Finance and Deregulation. We have received your email and
will endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible.

 

You may view further information relating to Freedom of Information on the
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s [1]website.

 

[2]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

Freedom of Information

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

 

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References

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1. http://www.oaic.gov.au/foi-portal/about_...

FOI Requests, Department of Finance

UNCLASSIFIED

Good morning Ms Kingston,
Thank you for your email of 15 July 2013, amending the scope of your internal review request of FOI 13/29.
The scope of your request is now:
In general terms, that the Department release documents 4A, 4B, 4C, 10 and 12 to 17 in full.
As you are only permitted one request for internal review, the Department will not accept any further changes to the scope of your request. The statutory period for processing your request commences from the day after Finance received your request. Your request was received by Finance on 15 July 2013.
Kind regards,

FOI Officer
Legal and Strategic Support Branch
Department of Finance and Deregulation
T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [Finance request email]  

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FOI Requests, Department of Finance

2 Attachments

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon,

 

Please find attached correspondence relating to your FOI internal review
request (our reference FOI IR 13/32).

 

Kind regards,

 

[1]Signature blocks-blue bar.jpg

FOI Officer

Legal and Strategic Support Branch

Department of Finance and Deregulation

T: 02 6215 1783 | E: [2][Finance request email]  

 

UNCLASSIFIED

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2. mailto:[Finance request email]