Arbitrary FOI process exposed. What’s the scam?

Two identical knowledge (FOI) demands at one month apart. Two radically different explanations result. What is scam?

The deception lies in the fact that a process to support government transparency is fundamentally flawed and depends on who asks and when the results depend on.

In May, someone (let’s call him ‘Jane Doe’) made a FOI for a summary of the decision to the Minister of Environment Murray Watt regarding the climate change, Energy, Environment and Water Department (DCCEEW) North Western shelf gas project extension.

In June, your correspondent made a FOI request to Minister Watt’s office for the summary of the decision taken from DCCEEW regarding the North West Railway Project extension.

The same query, the same document, different results. Why difference?

Maybe a month makes a difference. Perhaps the decision of Jane Doe’s request for the request of the department, Rex Patrick’in decided to request more ‘explanation’ than the Chief of General Staff.

Or perhaps the Minister’s office Rex Patrick knows that he would ‘tolerate privacy for the sake of privacy’ and he knows he will object to dangerous decisions. And they are right, I am not satisfied with the release and I will object to the information commissioner of the office decision.

If my objection is supported, both Jane and the people will benefit.

Delay, denial, defend. FOI process is broken