‘The Campaign Uncovered’ and Australian Electoral Commissioner

The request was partially successful.

Dear Australian Electoral Commission,

Sky News Australia reports that Peta Credlin is to delve into the tactics and power plays of a federal election in new Sky News Australia investigation ‘The Campaign Uncovered’

Sky News Australia reports that the documentary examines the funding of some of the so-called independent candidates. How much can voters trust these claims of independence? Who are their powerful supporters? With the prospect of a hung parliament, Peta will show us just how much influence these candidates could have if they’re elected.

It also reports that the documentary will feature prominent local and international political insiders including former George W. Bush political strategist Karl Rove, former Leader of the Brexit Party Nigel Farage, One Nation Leader Senator Pauline Hanson, National Editor at The Australian Dennis Shanahan, Nine’s Political Editor Chris Uhlmann, Sky News contributor and former advisor to Prime Minister Julia Gillard Nicholas Reece, Liberal Senator James McGrath, Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Special Minister of State Ben Morton MP, and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott AC. Featuring exclusive insights, they will take us behind-the-scenes of recent campaigns, including the upcoming contest, to reveal the state of play, the importance of character over policy and why every step and misstep will matter in determining the election result.

Under FOI I seek access to documents concerning or relating to the involvement of the Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers, in the documentary.

Yours faithfully,

JS

Australian Electoral Commission

Thank you for contacting us.

This is an automatic response from the Australian Electoral Commission to confirm we have received your email.

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INFO, Australian Electoral Commission

Dear JS,

Thank you for your freedom of information request. I have passed it on to the relevant team to investigate.

Yours sincerely,

Adam | Public Enquiries Officer
Australian Electoral Commission
T: 13 23 26

-----Original Message-----
From: JS <[FOI #8619 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 17 March 2022 1:52 PM
To: INFO <[AEC request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - ‘The Campaign Uncovered’ and Australian Electoral Commissioner

CAUTION:This email originated from outside of the Australian Federal Government. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Australian Electoral Commission,

Sky News Australia reports that Peta Credlin is to delve into the tactics and power plays of a federal election in new Sky News Australia investigation ‘The Campaign Uncovered’

Sky News Australia reports that the documentary examines the funding of some of the so-called independent candidates. How much can voters trust these claims of independence? Who are their powerful supporters? With the prospect of a hung parliament, Peta will show us just how much influence these candidates could have if they’re elected.

It also reports that the documentary will feature prominent local and international political insiders including former George W. Bush political strategist Karl Rove, former Leader of the Brexit Party Nigel Farage, One Nation Leader Senator Pauline Hanson, National Editor at The Australian Dennis Shanahan, Nine’s Political Editor Chris Uhlmann, Sky News contributor and former advisor to Prime Minister Julia Gillard Nicholas Reece, Liberal Senator James McGrath, Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Special Minister of State Ben Morton MP, and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott AC. Featuring exclusive insights, they will take us behind-the-scenes of recent campaigns, including the upcoming contest, to reveal the state of play, the importance of character over policy and why every step and misstep will matter in determining the election result.

Under FOI I seek access to documents concerning or relating to the involvement of the Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers, in the documentary.

Yours faithfully,

JS

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FOI, Australian Electoral Commission

2 Attachments

Our reference: LEX1501

 

Dear JS

 

Acknowledgement of your Freedom of Information Request

I refer to your request for access to documents under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) made in the following terms:

 

“Under FOI I seek access to documents concerning or relating to the
involvement of the Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers, in the
documentary.”

 

In this matter, the documentary relates to Sky News Australia’s ‘The
Campaign Uncovered’.

 

Timeframe to process your request

Your request was received by the Australian Electoral Commission (the AEC)
on 17 March 2022, and the 30 day statutory timeframe for processing your
request commenced from the day after that date.  You should expect to
receive a decision from us by 19 April 2022.  The period of 30 days may be
extended if we need to consult third parties or for other reasons.  We
will advise you if this timeframe is extended.

 

Charges

We will advise you if any charge is payable to process your request and
the amount of any charge as soon as practicable.  No charge is payable for
providing a person with their own personal information.

 

Your address

The FOI Act requires that you provide us with an address to which we can
send notices.  You have advised that your electronic address is
[1][FOI #8619 email].  We will send all notices
and correspondence to this address.  Please advise us as soon as possible
if you wish for notices and correspondence to be sent to a different
address.  If you do not advise us of changes to your address, notices and
correspondence will continue to be sent to the address specified above.

 

Administrative release of documents

The AEC has administrative access arrangements for the release of certain
documents without the need for a formal freedom of information request.
Where appropriate we may offer you documents via the administrative access
scheme in lieu of processing under the FOI Act.  Information relating to
third parties cannot be released via administrative access.  You will be
notified when documents are released to you on an administrative access
basis.

 

Disclosure log

Documents released under the FOI Act may be published in a disclosure log
on the AEC's website.  Section 11C of the FOI Act requires this
publication, however it is subject to certain exceptions, including where
publication of personal, business, professional or commercial information
would be unreasonable.

 

Further assistance

If you have any questions please email [2][email address], or contact our
enquiries line on 13 23 26.

Yours sincerely

Greg

Australian Electoral Commission

T: 13 23 26

 

 

 

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FOI, Australian Electoral Commission

5 Attachments

  • Attachment

    LEX1501 FOI Request JS Decision Letter.pdf

    196K Download View as HTML

  • Attachment

    Document 1 RE SkyNews Election Special IV request for Commissioner Rogers SEC OFFICIAL A1510744 Redacted A1513028.pdf

    223K Download View as HTML

  • Attachment

    Document 2 RE EXTERNAL SkyNews Election Special IV request for Commissioner Rogers SEC OFFICIAL A1510742 Redacted A1513016.pdf

    262K Download View as HTML

  • Attachment

    Document 3 RE EXTERNAL Footage of AEC activities voting in action SEC OFFICIAL A1510738 Redacted A1510781.pdf

    224K Download View as HTML

  • Attachment

    Document 4 RE Tomorrow s Credlin interview SEC OFFICIAL A1510740 Redacted A1513052.pdf

    131K Download View as HTML

Our reference: LEX1501

 

Dear JS,

 

I refer to your request dated 18 February 2022 for access to documents
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (‘the FOI Act’).

 

I attach a letter to you dated 17 March 2022 with the decision regarding
this request, and the Relevant Documents.

 

If you have any questions please email [1][email address] or contact our
enquiries line on 13 23 26.

 

Kind regards,

 

Greg

Australian Electoral Commission

T: 13 23 26

 

DISCLAIMER:

If you have received this transmission in error please notify us
immediately by return email and delete all copies.  If this email or any
attachments have been sent to you in error, that error does not constitute
waiver of any confidentiality, privilege or copyright in respect of
information in the email or attachments. 

References

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Dear Australian Electoral Commission,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Australian Electoral Commission's handling of my FOI request '‘The Campaign Uncovered’ and Australian Electoral Commissioner'.

The Media Release published by Sky News on 17 March indicated that the Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers, would feature in the documentary. That assertion suggests that the AEC Commissioner attended the interview with Credlin on 14 Feb 2022. See document 4 of the documents released by the authorised officer.

Once the meeting with Credlin had been arranged it seems the AEC created no further documents concerning or relating to the involvement of the Commissioner in the documentary. No record of attendance at the interview, no file note of the discussions at the interview, no record of any expense relating to the interview, no record of any feedback by Credlin or feedback by the Commissioner to AEC staff.

it is reasonable to assume that the scope of the request encompasses documents than the AEC has not released. Hence, a request for an internal review.

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

Yours faithfully,

JS

Australian Electoral Commission

Thank you for contacting us.

This is an automatic response from the Australian Electoral Commission to confirm we have received your email.

For more information on enrolling to vote, federal elections or the AEC, visit www.aec.gov.au.

Please do not respond to this email.

FOI, Australian Electoral Commission

3 Attachments

Dear JS,

 

Please see attached a decision letter to you in relation to your request
for an internal review dated 22 April 2022.

 

Kind regards,

Natalie

FOI Team

Australian Electoral Commission

T: 13 23 26

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DISCLAIMER:

If you have received this transmission in error please notify us
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attachments have been sent to you in error, that error does not constitute
waiver of any confidentiality, privilege or copyright in respect of
information in the email or attachments. 

References

Visible links
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2. http://emailfooter.aec.gov.au/email-promo/

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Dear FOI,

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

JS