Request for a copy of "Aide Memoire: Meeting on Surplus Kyoto Units"
Simon Johnson made this Official Information request to The Treasury
The request was successful.
From: Simon Johnson
Dear The Treasury,
Will you please provide me with an unredacted complete copy of the Treasury document with the title "Aide Memoire: Meeting on Surplus Kyoto Units", dated 26 May 2014, reference T2014/953, three pages.
I confirm I am a New Zealand citizen.
Yours faithfully,
Simon Johnson
From: Ministerial Services Inbox [TSY]
The Treasury
[UNCLASSIFIED]
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Hi Simon
A response is attached regarding your Official Information Act Request.
Regards
Sherida Charles | Ministerial Coordinator | The Treasury
Tel: +64 4 890 7435 | [email address]
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Simon Johnson left an annotation ()
After receiving advice from www.fyi.org.nz I sent a private email to "Ministerial.Services@treasury.govt.nz" giving them my address details to confirm eligibility while still saying my preferred way of receiving information is by email reply to the FYI.org.nz address ( Section 16(2) of the Official Information Act).
Simon Johnson left an annotation ()
Treasury Ministerial Services have replied by by-passing www.fyi.org.nz and directly emailing me the Aide Memoire. I have uploaded it to this shared url on Google Drive.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8LhMBA...
The released Aide Memoire has six redactions, 4 under Section 9(2)(j) "Negotiations" and 2 under Section 9(2)(f)(iv). I will complain to the Ombudsmen about them.
Simon Johnson left an annotation ()
On 22 April 2016, the Ombudsmen's Office advised that Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier would be the investigator and that Treasury had been asked for the relevant information and a report on their decision to withhold (redact) information. The letter included this statement; "I am sorry that workload pressures at this Office have led to delays in progressing this matter.".
Simon Johnson left an annotation ()
On Thursday 16 June 2016, Treasury emailed me the Aide Memoire without the 4 redactions made under Section 9(2)(j) "Negotiations". ('to enable the Crown to negotiate without disadvantage or prejudice'). They CC'd Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier by email.
I have uploaded the document here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8LhMBA...
The four redactions were mentions of 'higher targets', 'a greater target after 2020', 'a higher target could increase our credibility' and 'cancelling the units before 2020 would gain us some credit'.
So it seems that Treasury's first choice approach to providing official information on emission reduction targets is to redact any mention of higher more ambitious targets.
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Simon Johnson left an annotation ()
Treasury have acknowledged receipt and have asked me to confirm my status as a NZ resident e.g."To confirm your eligibility to make a request under section 12 of the Official Information Act, please reply by return email giving your personal email and postal address. This will also enable us to contact you promptly should clarification of your request be necessary"
Link to this