Two identical Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, one month apart. Two radically different disclosure outcomes. What’s the Scam?
The scam lies in how a process intended to support government transparency is fundamentally flawed, with outcomes dependent on who is asking and when.
In May, someone (let’s call her ‘Jane Doe’) made an FOI request to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) for the decision brief provided to Environment Minister Murray Watt in relation to the North West Shelf gas project extension.
In June, your correspondent made an FOI request to Minister Watt’s office for the decision brief received from DCCEEW in relation to the North West Shelf gas project extension.
Same query, same document, different outcomes. Why the difference?
Perhaps one month makes all the difference. Perhaps the departmental official who decided Jane Doe’s request was more ‘disclosure timid’ than the Minister’s chief of staff, who decided Rex Patrick’s request.
Or, perhaps the Minister’s office knows that Rex Patrick won’t tolerate ‘secrecy for the sake of secrecy’ and will appeal dodgy decisions. And they are correct, I’m not satisfied with the release and will be appealing the Minister’s office decision to the Information Commissioner.
Should my appeal be upheld, both Jane and the public will benefit, too.
Rex Patrick is a former Senator for South Australia and, earlier, a submariner in the armed forces. Best known as an anti-corruption and transparency crusader, Rex is also known as the "Transparency Warrior."