❓ A parliamentary question regarding the tenure of the Acting Information Commissioner, Ms. Wookey, focusing on the legality and circumstances surrounding her appointment and departure. The Attorney General clarifies that Ms. Wookey's appointment was not in breach of the Freedom of Information Act and that her term was expiring, not terminated.
AnsweredQoN 923Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ACTING INFORMATION COMMISSIONER - TENURE
I refer the Attorney General to the termination of tenure for Ms Wookey as Acting Information Commissioner and ask - (1) Will the Attorney General table a copy of the instrument of appointment signed by the government when Ms Wookey was appointed in 2003? (2) Will the Attorney General explain why Ms Wookey remained in an acting capacity since 2003, in breach of the 12-month limit for an acting commissioner appointment as set out in section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act? (3) Will the Attorney General explain which of the conditions set out in section 58 of the act dealing with suspension and removal of the commissioner the Attorney relied upon to terminate Ms Wookey’s tenure as the acting commissioner? (4) Has the government been presented with documents to sign for the termination of Ms Wookey’s appointment? Hon SUE ELLERY
I refer the Attorney General to the termination of tenure for Ms Wookey as Acting Information Commissioner and ask - (1) Will the Attorney General table a copy of the instrument of appointment signed by the government when Ms Wookey was appointed in 2003? (2) Will the Attorney General explain why Ms Wookey remained in an acting capacity since 2003, in breach of the 12-month limit for an acting commissioner appointment as set out in section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act? (3) Will the Attorney General explain which of the conditions set out in section 58 of the act dealing with suspension and removal of the commissioner the Attorney relied upon to terminate Ms Wookey’s tenure as the acting commissioner? (4) Has the government been presented with documents to sign for the termination of Ms Wookey’s appointment? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(1) Will the Attorney General table a copy of the instrument of appointment signed by the government when Ms Wookey was appointed in 2003? (2) Will the Attorney General explain why Ms Wookey remained in an acting capacity since 2003, in breach of the 12-month limit for an acting commissioner appointment as set out in section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act? (3) Will the Attorney General explain which of the conditions set out in section 58 of the act dealing with suspension and removal of the commissioner the Attorney relied upon to terminate Ms Wookey’s tenure as the acting commissioner? (4) Has the government been presented with documents to sign for the termination of Ms Wookey’s appointment? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(2) Will the Attorney General explain why Ms Wookey remained in an acting capacity since 2003, in breach of the 12-month limit for an acting commissioner appointment as set out in section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act? (3) Will the Attorney General explain which of the conditions set out in section 58 of the act dealing with suspension and removal of the commissioner the Attorney relied upon to terminate Ms Wookey’s tenure as the acting commissioner? (4) Has the government been presented with documents to sign for the termination of Ms Wookey’s appointment? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(3) Will the Attorney General explain which of the conditions set out in section 58 of the act dealing with suspension and removal of the commissioner the Attorney relied upon to terminate Ms Wookey’s tenure as the acting commissioner? (4) Has the government been presented with documents to sign for the termination of Ms Wookey’s appointment? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(4) Has the government been presented with documents to sign for the termination of Ms Wookey’s appointment? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
[See paper 3418.]
(1) Will the Attorney General table a copy of the instrument of appointment signed by the government when Ms Wookey was appointed in 2003? (2) Will the Attorney General explain why Ms Wookey remained in an acting capacity since 2003, in breach of the 12-month limit for an acting commissioner appointment as set out in section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act? (3) Will the Attorney General explain which of the conditions set out in section 58 of the act dealing with suspension and removal of the commissioner the Attorney relied upon to terminate Ms Wookey’s tenure as the acting commissioner? (4) Has the government been presented with documents to sign for the termination of Ms Wookey’s appointment? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(2) Will the Attorney General explain why Ms Wookey remained in an acting capacity since 2003, in breach of the 12-month limit for an acting commissioner appointment as set out in section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act? (3) Will the Attorney General explain which of the conditions set out in section 58 of the act dealing with suspension and removal of the commissioner the Attorney relied upon to terminate Ms Wookey’s tenure as the acting commissioner? (4) Has the government been presented with documents to sign for the termination of Ms Wookey’s appointment? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(3) Will the Attorney General explain which of the conditions set out in section 58 of the act dealing with suspension and removal of the commissioner the Attorney relied upon to terminate Ms Wookey’s tenure as the acting commissioner? (4) Has the government been presented with documents to sign for the termination of Ms Wookey’s appointment? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(4) Has the government been presented with documents to sign for the termination of Ms Wookey’s appointment? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(1) I will table the attached document, the instrument referred to in part (1) of the member’s question. (2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(2) Ms Wookey’s appointment as acting commissioner has not been in breach of section 59(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 1992. Ms Wookey has been appointed for a one-year term on four occasions. (3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(3) Ms Wookey has not had her appointment terminated. The period of her appointment will expire on 31 October 2007. (4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
(4) Ms Wookey’s appointment ceases in accordance with the document tabled in answer to (1). Ms Wookey will return to her substantive position in the Ombudsman’s office on the expiry of her term. I table the document attached. [See paper 3418.]
[See paper 3418.]
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