Mines Department decided Empire Energy did not breach Petroleum Act with well site issue
A government briefing recommending potential prosecution against Empire Energy for breaching the com
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Yep, ALP and CLP are as bad as each other. All of them are hiding stuff from the public.
Some advice for budding investigators, concerned citizens, future whistleblowers and possible plaintiffs.
Private Prosecutions: You can start private criminal legal proceedings against Government Depts and the people within them.
Even better with environmental issues. Some groups have already published a guide for doing it.
GO GET ‘EM!
Download/read it here: https://www.edo.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Environmental-Defenders_Toolkit-4_V03.pdf
In this case, it is clear there is evidence in the NT Government electronic email system (and back ups if you need to go there after someone deletes information from their Government email account and thinks it’s completely gone).
Prosecute them yourself then send them subpoenas for their emails and documents used to drop the prosecution.
Regarding Freedom Of Information (FOI) requests:
Ferg Ferguson (he used to be called Stephen Ferguson) used to submits heaps of FOI requests especially to NT Dept of Education. He got thousands of documents which helped in his many successful legal cases against NT Government.
He also has lots of experience fighting for more transparency in Tribunals against them, see his 4 successful cases here:
infocomm [dot] nt [dot] gov [dot] au/resources/decisions-and-case-notes
In short:
When you submit your original FOI application try to be as targeted/detailed as possible for what it is exactly you want and the time frame if you have it. Personal information, stuff about you, is free.
When you get a refusal letter quoting various sections of the Information Act as reasons why certain documents and information is not being released by whatever Government Dept is trying to hide it from you, ALWAYS SUBMIT AN INTERNAL REVIEW WITHIN THE ALLOWED TIME FRAME.
“You should make an application for internal review within 30 days of receiving the notice of the initial decision. If you do not, the organisation can refuse to deal with the application and it will be taken to have refused the application.”
When you get another letter from a different Government person continuing to try to stop you obtaining the information you’re seeking, ALWAYS SUBMIT AN EXTERNAL REVIEW WITH THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE.
“You should receive a notice of the internal review decision within 30 days of the organisation receiving the application. The organisation may contact you before making a decision in order to discuss your application. The organisation may decide to confirm, vary or revoke the initial decision.”
“If you are not satisfied with the internal review decision, or you have not been notified of an internal review decision within the time allowed, you can complain to the Information Commissioner. You should make a complaint to the Information Commissioner within 90 days of receiving notice of the internal review decision.“
Then go to a Hearing and argue it out there if you’re still not satisfied. You can do all this yourself, no need for an expensive lawyer.
When you win you’ll get your name up on the site as a fellow winner and Accountability Advocate against Government. 🙂
“Untouchable, Non Responsive, Nasty Government”
This was how Lia’s Father In Law Dennis Burke’s CLP Government was described after they where almost totally destroyed back in the 2001 election, ending 27 years of continuous CLP government!
As a leader who lost 2 Territory Elections and lost every by election , handed Government on a silver platter, by the worst bunch of Labour teachers, impersonating politicians , she should be worried!
I predict CLP By-Elections as the CLP MLA’s start figuring out their futures are worse than bleak under the current whiny voiced dictatorship!
We do not have a functioning Government.
We have executives who tell their staff to “make Stuff Go Away if they value their employment”
Would you invest in the Territory? Very worryingly i hear, long time Darwin businesses are no longer investing here and planning for a exit.