Senate Economics Legislation Committee, , 5:14:31 to 5:16:33
Treasury legal counsel explains the application of Section 47E exemptions regarding adverse effects on agency operations.
Topics: Freedom of information, Law reform
Speakers: David Hertzberg, Katrina Di Marco, Senator Andrew Bragg
And Senator David Hertzberg general.
Eleanor Williams, who's that?
I think I was just going to say, Senator uh David Hertzberg General Council at Treasury.
Yep.
Um the decision letter will clearly outline the basis for 47e, 47E enables um information to be redacted where it would have an adverse effect on the operation of an agency. Yeah. And um as as we've mentioned uh in previous sessions in law division, we give advice to decision makers across the department. Um and we advise them that they should outline the reasons for their decision clearly in the in the letter. So if you if you've got the decision letter for that one, I know we've got quite a few requests from you on Twitter and have this year. Um if you've got a decision letter on that one, the decision letter will outline uh vote for reason for 47A being applied and the public interest factors that the decision maker took into account.
Okay. So 40 so this one is a request for the modelling underpinning the budget. It's largely been redacted. Um you've given the decision maker was the Eleanor Williams acting first assistant secretary macroeconomic analysis and policy decision. Uh division. So should I ask her about this?
That they so that they would lean to it. Stay released.
Um convenient.
They would be questions for macroeconomic group. However, I just would also say um it is challenging that there are sort of conventional processes through which questions around FOI or decision making can be um can be pursued. They are probably quite challenging for people to do so in in Senate estimates given the reductions. So obviously they can describe into some effect the provisions used and the decisions underpinning those provisions, but it would be hard to do that in quite specific terms in a Senate estimate.