25 October 2007

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority adhered to all requirements when handling a Freedom of Information request on climate change for Peter Garrett.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Acting Chairman John Tanzer said that it was disappointing to hear assertions that the Authority would work to cover up the affects of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef; in fact it was nonsense.

“The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is and has always been an organisation that has worked tirelessly to protect the vulnerability and fragility of the Great Barrier Reef and to assert otherwise is nonsense.

“Peter Garrett’s request for information under the FOI legislation was never rejected. 

“In fact a large part of the information he requested in relation to the ‘Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef: A Vulnerability Assessment’ is readily available on the main page of our web site as a public document.

“Mr Garrett’s request under FOI legislation was treated like anybody else’s request and due process was followed and is still being followed.  

“The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has, at all times, complied with relevant timeframes and processes under the FOI Act.

“As it stands Mr Garrett’s request was never rejected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 

“Mr Garrett still has another 30 days to seek an internal review of the decision by the Authority to not reduce or waive the charge of $12,718.80 attributed to processing his application."

Given the volume of information requested the charge of $12,718.80 included:

• 107.6 hours in search and retrieval times
• 538.95 hours for analysis and third party consultation
• Photocopying of 3258 pages at 10 cents per page.