Thank you for your response to my request today. It is indeed very useful to have written confirmation of Council’s application of, and understanding of, this aspect of ‘the Act’ ... such as it is.
I was not making any assumptions, nor under any illusions, regarding the application of the NSW Act in Tasmania. However, I do find the NSW situation more than interesting.
Nevertheless, the NSW model does offer more than “food for thought”. Superficially at least, it seems, to me at least, to offer a working model that might well stand as an exemplar for accountability in Local Govt ... Tasmania perhaps in time(?)
Given my practical experiences, I am pretty much up to speed, I think, regarding ‘routine disclosures’ under the RTI Act and the requirements of a formal application under the Act. So, with that, your response better enables me to get to grips with the evolving discourse here.
Regards,
Ray
Ray Norman <zingHOUSEunlimited> PH: 03-6334 2176 EMAIL 1: raynorman7250@bigpond.com 40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Thomas Paine
CLICK HERE: http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/lcc/index.php?c=69
On 8/01/2016 4:40 pm, "John Davis" <John.Davis@launceston.tas.gov.au> wrote:
Good afternoon Ray
The General Manager has asked me to respond to your request of 8 January 2016 regarding access to various Council sub-committee and advisory committee papers.
We publicly provide the Agendas, Reports and Minutes for Council Meetings and the Strategic Planning and Policy Committee. We are not required under the Local Government Act 1993 to make the papers of the other committees available to the public.
We do not have any involvement with NSW legislation.
If you require specific documents you may request them by contacting me, and I will see if they can be released immediately as a “routine disclosure” under the RTI Act, or whether they require a formal application under the Act.
Regards
John
John Davis I Manager Corporate Strategy I City of Launceston
T 03 6323 3314 I www.launceston.tas.gov.au <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/>
From: Ray Norman 7250 [mailto:raynorman7250@bigpond.com]
Sent: Friday, 8 January 2016 7:51 AM
To: Robert Dobrzynski
Cc: Mayor
Subject: Accountability Information
Good morning Robert,
Against the background of recent questions to you, recently it was drawn to my attention that in regard to Local Govt in NSW, and in regard to Council Sub-Committees, Advisory Committees and the like, agendas and minutes are to be made available to constituents (the public?) upon demand.
My experience tells me that this is not necessarily the case in Tasmania and Launceston in particular. However, being mindful of the principle of accountability for the expenditure of public monies that is apparently embedded in the NSW legislation, how can such information be accessed in Launceston as of now?
Would it require a Right-To-Information Application to gain access to such information? If so, what constraints might there be?
Whatever, just how available would the following be to constituents and/or ratepayers?
There is broad spectrum of such committees in Launceston and, notionally at least, all these committees’/body’s deliberations are germane to the expenditure of public funds.
- Sub-Committee of Council Agenda papers?
- Sub-Committee of Council Agenda minutes?
- Special Committee records and reports?
- Sub-Committee of Council reports?
- Advisory Committee Agendas; and
- Advisory Committee Minutes & Reports?
If this information is not available in the way it appears that it is in say NSW, what would the rationale for that be? Given that it seems that Local Govt. has set an ‘accountability standard’, what might be inhibiting this kind of accountability in Tasmania/Launceston?
I look forward with interest to anything you may be able to offer to add some perspective to situation applicable in Tasmania/Launceston.
Regards,
Ray
Ray Norman <zingHOUSEunlimited> PH: 03-6334 2176 EMAIL 1: raynorman7250@bigpond.com 40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Thomas Paine
CLICK HERE: http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/lcc/index.php?c=69
Last Message
From: Robert Dobrzynski <Robert.Dobrzynski@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2016 20:54:33 +0000
To: Ray Norman 7250 <raynorman7250@bigpond.com>
Cc: Mayor <Mayor@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Subject: RE: A QVMAG Matter
Ray,
As I have repeatedly indicated to you in numerous email responses the powers and authority of the General Manager are set out in Section 62 and 63 of the Local Government Act 1993. I suggest you read these specific provisions. Section 62 (2) indicates that the General Manager may do anything necessary or convenient to perform his functions under the Act or any other Act.
I will not be engaging in ongoing commentary with you on these matters.
Regards
Robert
From: Ray Norman 7250 [mailto:raynorman7250@bigpond.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 6 January 2016 8:58 PM
To: Robert Dobrzynski
Cc: Mayor
Subject: A QVMAG Matter
Dear Robert,
Since you have not responded to my letter in response to your ‘Christmas Letter’ I can only conclude that Council has not delegated ‘QVMAG policy determination’ to you. Nonetheless, a source close to Council, who for obvious reasons wishes not to be named, says:
Is any of this the case?
- That you have, or are about to, appoint a consultant;
- That the consultant is be commissioned by you to make recommendations regarding QVMAG governance; and
- Specifically, is being requested by you to provide guidance to do with the implementation of Council’s August determination.
If its not the case, indeed what in fact is the situation – from your operational perspective – regarding the implementation of Council’s determination?
We are now something over five months away from Council’s determination and there has been no reported progress in regard to this matter. Therefore the question hanging in the air here is, when will this determination be implemented and by whom?
Beyond that, what is the purpose of the secrecy that appears to be surrounding this issue thus far? And indeed, when do you actually expect that the policy will be implemented?
I feel duty bound to say that Council has as they say, ‘form’, in regard to the non-implementation of Council determinations to do with QVMAG’s governance and management – albeit largely before your time. Nonetheless, Council’s recent record in regard to the QVMAG is to say the least dilatory by any reasonable standard if not negligent.
I look forward to your early response to these questions and especially so if the information provided to me is in any way flawed.
Regards,
Ray
Ray Norman <zingHOUSEunlimited> PH: 03-6334 2176 EMAIL 1: raynorman7250@bigpond.com 40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Thomas Paine
CLICK HERE: http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/lcc/index.php?c=69
Message
From: Ray Norman 7250 <raynorman7250@bigpond.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2016 07:31:18 +1100
To: Robert Dobrzynski <Robert.Dobrzynski@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Subject: QVMAG Matters& RTI
Good morning Robert,
Having given your recent letter some thought a series of questions arise. The first being to do with ‘governance authority’. Are you now telling me that governance authority for the QVMAG has been delegated to you? If so I would appreciate your confirmation or otherwise in regard to this.
The other question I require your early response to is as follows, do I now need to gain your clearance in regard to access to the QVMAG’s collections? If so, what constraints, if any, are you contemplating in order to achieve the “balance” you speak of?
In addition, I have an outstanding ‘Right to Information’ application in process which seems to be taking an extraordinary length time to resolve. I’m therefore asking you for an estimated date/timeline for this matter to be drawn to its conclusion.
I look forward to your early response.
Regards,
Ray
Ray Norman <zingHOUSEunlimited> PH: 03-6334 2176 EMAIL 1: raynorman7250@bigpond.com 40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Thomas Paine
Forwarded Message
From: Raymond Norman <raymond.norman@bigpond.com>
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2015 17:59:48 +1100
To: Doris Rosenkranz <Doris.Rosenkranz@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Cc: Robert Dobrzynski <Robert.Dobrzynski@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Subject: Re: Letter re: QVMAG
Dear Robert,
Thank you for your letter today (COPY ATTACHED) but I must say that I’m somewhat confused about its contents and timing given that I have had no recent contact with the QVMAG albeit that I have an outstanding matter relative to one of my works in the collection.
Currently I’m far too busy to respond to your letter in the manner it deserves but I shall do so in the new year when my work load will have abated and my timelines have been met.
Regards,
Ray
Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network
PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman7250@bigpond.com
40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.”
Thomas Paine
CLICK HERE: http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/lcc/index.php?c=69
On 22/12/2015 4:16 pm, "Doris Rosenkranz" <Doris.Rosenkranz@launceston.tas.gov.au> wrote:
Dear Mr Norman
Please find attached a letter from Robert Dobrzynski.
Kind regards
Doris Rosenkranz I Assistant to General Manager I City of Launceston
T 03 6323 3104 M 0408 018 066 I www.launceston.tas.gov.au <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au> <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au> <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/>
<https://twitter.com/LtonCityCouncil> <http://www.youtube.com/user/LauncestonCtyCouncil> <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au> <http://yourvoiceyourlaunceston.com.au/>
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