ASA AQON & Harfwit's FOI admission - ![Blush Blush](https://auntypru.com/forum/images/smilies/blush.gif)
Via the Senate RRAT committee Estimates page: PDF 58KB*
![Blush Blush](https://auntypru.com/forum/images/smilies/blush.gif)
Via the Senate RRAT committee Estimates page: PDF 58KB*
Quote:Senator Xenophon, Nick asked:MTF...P2
Senator XENOPHON: I just want to go to the question of the publication of documents on your website. If you had documents that have been released under FOI, there is a protocol that you are required by law to publish them on your website; is that right?
Mr Harfield: I am unfamiliar with that, but it is supposed to be that, once you have published them, they should be available to everyone.
Senator XENOPHON: Isn't there a legal requirement? Maybe, when Senator Rice is asking some questions, I will do a quick bit of research to find the relevant section if there is.
Mr Harfield: If there is, we need to comply.
Senator XENOPHON: The stories that were published by the ABC on the accelerate program, back in February of this year—they do not appear to be online, as I understand they are required to be.
Mr Harfield: I will check that, because there should be no reason that they are not.
Senator XENOPHON: Let us go back a step, though. Is there a protocol to ensure that documents that have been released under FOI are on your website?
Mr Harfield: There should be a protocol that we should be publishing them as per the FOI legislation.
Senator XENOPHON: And who can tell me what that protocol is? Is anyone here—
Mr Harfield: I do not have the FOI protocol in front of me.
Senator XENOPHON: Could you provide an explanation as to why the documents that were released under FOI that the ABC obtained for their stories earlier this year do not appear to be on the website? If they are on the website and I have not been able to find them, I apologise, but they do not appear to be on the website.
Mr Harfield: We will find them, and we will give you an explanation of that.
Answer:
Airservices Australia (Airservices) is required to publish information about documents released under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). Airservices has established a protocol, also known as an agency plan, which outlines the information we propose to publish, how we will publish it and how we will ensure compliance with the Information Publication Scheme. This agency plan is accessible on Airservices website at: www.airservicesaustralia.com/about/agency-plan/.
Airservices has published information about documents released under the FOI Act on its disclosure log on the Airservices website from 1 May 2011 when the requirement came into effect. Airservices has reviewed the disclosure log and identified a number of entries which were missing, including information related to the ABC request, which have now been added to the disclosure log. The omissions appear to be an inadvertent oversight.
Airservices is undertaking a review of FOI processes, including the provision of relevant training, to ensure staff are aware of FOI obligations. - Right, so it's the minion's fault - UDB!![]()
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