The Department said the cost to process the application would be at least $2,515 – with no guarantee any documents - or detail - would be released.
“The department arrived at the FOI cost estimate on its own and my office was not consulted”, Minister Price said in a statement to SBS News. “I am more than happy for the costs of my official travel to the UK and Europe last month to be released under normal FOI processes.”The Department of Defence said the FOI into the minister's travel would cost at least $2,515 – with no guarantee any documents would see the light of day.The unusually high time and cost to process the request was condemned by journalists and newspaper editors on social media, who labelled Australia’s Freedom of Information laws"a farce.
Labor MP Brian Mitchell joined the chorus of critics, describing the department's costing as an"outrageous abuse of freedom of information laws." Outrageous abuse of freedom of information laws. The bureaucrats involved do the Australian Public Service no credit. And if they are doing this in order to politically protect an inept minister, they need to go and re-read their obligations to serve the public interest.
That’s mocking the taxpayer. No question about it.
Asher_Wolf More evidence of corruption for ICAC - stifling FOI with unreasonable fees to save face when data is scandalous. I'd chip in for this FOI.
How much do these dumb articles cost taxpayers?
Standard fees and timeframes should apply, definitely not that high price though.