Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2019 06:51:27 +0000
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Stephanie Foster
From: DB <[FOI #5497 email]>
To: FOI <[email address]>

Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,

This article in the Guardian concerns endemic lawlessness in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s FOI team - https://www.theguardian.com/australia-ne.... Presumably that corruption has been carried out at the request of the Prime Minister.

I note from the Department’s organisational chart that Stephanie Foster has oversight of and is responsible for the Department’s FOI processing team.

As I understand, Stephanie Foster developed her particular brand of public sector ethics as Deputy Public Service Commissioner under the tutelage of former Public Service Commissioner and corrupt Liberal Party / IPA grub, John Lloyd.

I note that in Senate Estimates in June last year, https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/sea... Ms Foster seems to have actively defended and ran interference for Mr Lloyd’s corruption in public office.

For example, despite being aware:
i)of the particulars of Mr Lloyd’s corrupt conduct in public office;
ii)that it was the view of Mr Robert Cornall, (who, in contrast, is a highly respected and esteemed public servant) that Mr Lloyd’s conduct was prima facie illegal; and
iii)that Mr Lloyd was the subject of an ongoing investigation into his corruption -

Ms Foster gave evidence, effectively sub judice, to the Australian Parliament, that Mr Lloyd had conducted his role “professionally and objectively”.

Less than two months later, entirely predictably for anyone that has had anything to do with Mr Lloyd, the Merit Protection Commissioner found Mr Lloyd to be corrupt.

Noting the corruption to which the Guardian article mentioned above refers has presumably been carried out under Ms Foster’s watch, coincidentally or otherwise, it seems that wherever Ms Foster goes, public sector corruption follows.

I note that under the Public Service Act 1999 and the Australian Public Service Commissioner’s Directions 2016, it is illegal for a public servant to turn a blind eye, to conceal, or to fail to take action to address, corruption.

Under the FOI Act, I seek copies of any emails in Ms Foster’s email account that relate to the matters referred to in the above-mentioned Guardian article. I constrain my request to documents dated between Monday 24 June 2019 to Friday 28 June 2019 (inclusive). These dates should capture when Guardian journalists made inquiries of the Department in relation to these matters and how the fallout was dealt with by Ms Foster, being the highly paid senior executive with oversight of the Department’s corruption identified in the article. The documents the subject of my request are in the public interest because they will provide evidence as to whether a highly paid, very senior, public servant in the Prime Minister’s Department has countenanced public sector corruption.
Regards

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OFFICIAL

FOI/2019/164

Dear DB,

I refer to the FOI request that you have made to the Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the
FOI Act).

The decision-maker for your FOI request has advised that before finalising
a decision the Department must conduct third party consultation in
accordance with sections 27 and 27A of the Freedom of Information Act 1982
(the FOI Act). Section 15(6) of the FOI Act further provides that in such
circumstances agencies shall be given another 30 days in which to make all
reasonable efforts to process the FOI request.

Consequently, this means that a decision on your FOI request will now be
due by 3 September 2019.

Yours 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

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OFFICIAL

OFFICIAL

Dear DB,

Please find attached the decision in relation to your request.

Yours sincerely,

FOI Adviser

FOI & Privacy Section

Legal Policy Branch | Government Division

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

p. (02) 6271 5849

e. [1][DPMC request email]

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

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The Department acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country
throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and
community. We pay our respect to their Cultures, Country and Elders both
past and present.

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