Other Information
November Training Sessions
OVIC Professional Standards Training Session
OVIC's Professional Standards are due to commence on 2 December 2019. A copy of the standards can be found here.
FOI Solutions will be hosting an informative lunch time training session outlining practical tips about how these changes may impact FOI officers in their day to day operations.
When: Tuesday 12 November 2019
Where: Our office, Level 9/99 William Street, MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Time: Lunchtime, 1:00pm (please arrive at 12:30pm for a prompt start)
*Lunch is provided.*
We will also be updating our FOI Procedures Manual and our Principal Officer Kit to reflect these changes.
Please keep an eye out on our website as we will be posting brochures and registration form. If you would like to register interest in attending and for a brochure to be sent to you directly, please contact our office here.
Amendments to the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012 training session
Amendments to the Protect Disclosures Act 2012 will come into effect on 1 January 2020. We will be hosting a lunch time training session discussing how these changes may effect your agency.
When: Thursday 14 November 2019
Where: Our office, Level 9/99 William Street, MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Time: Lunchtime, 1:00pm (please arrive at 12:30pm for a prompt start)
*Lunch is provided.*
Please keep an eye out on our website as we will be posting brochures and registration form. If you would like to register interest in attending and for a brochure to be sent to you directly, please contact our office here.
FOI Basic and Intermediate Training
We will be hosting our all time favourite, FOI Basic and Intermediate half day sessions!
When: Friday 15 November 2019
Where: Our office, Level 9/99 William Street, MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Time: FOI Basic: 9am - 1:00pm; FOI Intermediate: 1:00pm - 5:00pm.
*Morning tea, lunch and light refreshments are provided.*
Be sure to diarise this date and keep an eye out on our website as we will be posting brochures and registration forms. This is likely to be the last session of its kind for the year. If you would like to register interest in attending and for a brochure to be sent to you directly, please contact our office here.
Question Time
Q: Does 'All documents' include messages on electronic messaging applications?
A: Often a request is made for ‘all documents’ or ‘all correspondence’ held by the agency or Minister about an identified topic. A recent decision of the Australian Information Commissioner in The Australian and Minister for Foreign Affairs [2018] AICmr 6, confirmed that such broad requests will capture documents in electronic messaging applications, such as WhatsApp, Messenger, Wickr and other stock mobile messaging apps. While the applicant had requested ‘all correspondence’ between various Ministers and Kevin Rudd regarding Mr Rudd’s potential candidacy for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, no search was conducted of these types of applications.
The Information Commissioner held that the Minister had not taken all reasonable steps to search for the documents and directed the Minister to conduct further searches.
While decisions of the Australian Information Commissioner do not have to be followed in Victoria, given the requirement under s 27 the Victorian FOI Act for an agency or Minister to conduct a thorough a diligent search for documents, Victorian agencies, local councils and Ministers should take heed of this decision. If work is conducted using electronic messaging applications then we recommend that your FOI practices include conducting thorough and diligent searches of those applications – particularly when a valid request for ‘all documents’ or ‘all correspondence’ is received and the request must be processed. If you would like more information about when an electronic message can become a “document” under the FOI Act, or assistance in updating your FOI policy or procedures, please contact our office.