OpenAustralia.org

from Katherine Szuminska <kat[at]openaustralia.org>
to steve.stokes[at]nt.gov.au
date 6 May 2009 22:18
subject Hansard Copyright request NT
mailed-by openaustralia.org

Hi Steve

I am writing to you from OpenAustralia in your capacity as the contact for the NT Parliamentary Hansard as per http://www.nt.gov.au/lant/hansard/hansard.shtml

We are a group of volunteers who run a website, http://www.openaustralia.org which republishes the Hansard from Federal Parliament in a user friendly searchable format. We also support email alerts and rss feeds by keyword.

In future, as well as the Senate and the House of Representatives, we're also intending to republish the State and Territory Parliament Hansards in the same format, making it even easier for all Australians to have access to their elected Representatives and be easily informed of Parliamentary proceedings at all levels.

Specifically in this case we'd like to republish the NT Parliamentary Hansard at www.openaustralia.org

sent just now to steve.stokes[at]nt.gov.au
Hi

I'm just wondering if you have been away or somehow missed my last email. It would be great if you could reply.

thanks, Kat

On 27 May 2009, at 15:56, Steve Stokes wrote:

Hi Katherine,

Please note that authority has been given for you to link only to our Hansard & Legislation page or more specifically the Parliamentary Record databases on that page as per the Hansard link below. Unfortunately, authorisation has not been given to republish Northern Territory debates in another format.

Should you require any further information, please feel free to contact me.

Regards,

Steven Stokes
Table Office Manager
Chamber Support
Ph: (08) 8946 1447

Update just received and replied to
Subject: Re: Hansard Copyright request NT
From: kat [at] openaustralia.org
Date: 27 May 2009 16:15:02 GMT+10:00
To: Steve.Stokes [at] nt.gov.au
Cc: Graham.Gadd [at] nt.gov.au, contact [at] openaustralia.org

Hi Steve

Thanks very much for responding.

Its most unfortunate, and very surprising, given that Federal Government have given us permission to do exactly this, as you can see from our website. Can you tell me what the objection The Northern Territory has to the way we present the information, and who is ultimately responsible for the decision?

Would you be able to tell me the correct procedure to take this matter further? I would like to appeal the decision.

Many thanks, Kat

10/06/09 16:10 I requested information as follows:

Hi Steve

Please could you let me know the status of my request for information to appeal on this decision? I would very much appreciate a response.

Regards, Kat

just received:
Graham.Gadd [at] nt.gov.au
Subject: request for republish of Parliamentary Record, NT
Date: 12 June 2009 12:00:54 GMT+10:00
To: kat [at] openaustralia.org

Hansard is the informal title for the official printed report of parliamentary debates. Two documents comprise Hansard: the Daily Hansard and the Parliamentary Record.

The Parliamentary Record is the revised and final version of proceedings of the Legislative Assembly. Immediately after the completion of a sittings, the editing of the Daily Hansard commences to produce the Parliamentary Record.

The Parliamentary Record is not a strict verbatim record. It is an accurate presentation of speeches and statements devoid of redundancies, grammatical errors, and factual errors.

Any extracts from the parliamentary record does not necessarily attract the protection of parliamentary privilege. Any material used would have and be able to be contestable in a court of law and stand the test of defamation law applicable.

Your option could possibly be to direct/reference the material in your publication to the appropriate Parliamentary Record.

Northern Territory Copyright policy of non-legislative material should be sent to the Attorney-General: your request for what you require and how the material will be used and any conditions or waivers you wish and associated liabilities of either party by republishing etc should be raised in your application to the below address -

Solicitor-General

PO Box 1722

Darwin NT

0801

Kind regards

Subject: Re: request for republish of Parliamentary Record, NT
From: kat [at] openaustralia.org
Date: 12 June 2009 12:55:14 GMT+10:00
To: Graham.Gadd [a] nt.gov.au
Cc: infocomm [at] nt.gov.au, contact [at] openaustralia.org
Dear Graham,

Thanks very much for your speedy response. I would be very happy to send through an application on paper via surface mail.

I would first appreciate an opportunity to to briefly discuss directly with the Solicitor General via phone or email. I see from your website that this is Michael Grant QC, however I was unable to find any contact information for him. Please could you introduce me via telephone and/or email?

Many thanks for your cooperation.

Best Regards,
Kat

Please note, while I was looking for the correct contact information I came across the Office for Information Commisioner who I am cc'ing on this mail. I read that part of the remit of this office is develop a list of alternative access resources and schemes to assist people looking for [government] information. So the work of http://www.openaustralia.org might also be of interest to this office.