Annexure 1.	

	LS5105 FOI Request by Sam Silvester
Refined request for 
	Documentation relating to the operation and data entry procedures for the EasyCount Senate vote counting software and any associated systems.
	Documentation relating to the backup procedure for the EasyCount Senate vote counting software and any associated systems.
	Disaster recovery plans and procedures for the EasyCount Senate vote counting software and any associated systems.
	Schedule of Relevant Documents
Document No.	Description	Date	Recommendation/decision	
1		Extract from the EasyCount User Manual being section 2 First Steps – Setting Up Computer Equipment for the Central Senate Scrutiny
EasyCount Senate User Manual Setting up Computer Equipment.pdf	July 2013	Document No. 1 contains no exempt material but does contain conditionally exempt material by reason of:
(a)	paragraph 47E(d) of the FOI Act (‘Reason 2’); and
(b)	section 47F of the FOI Act (‘Reason 3’).
In paragraph 2.3.1 there are 6 screen shots that identify a particular AEC computer, thereby triggering Reason 2.
In paragraph 2.3.2 the text and one screen shot identify a particular AEC computer, thereby triggering Reason 2.
In paragraph 2.4 there is a screen shot that identifies a particular AEC computer, thereby triggering Reason 2.
In paragraph 2.5 there is a screen shot that identifies a particular AEC computer, thereby triggering Reason 2.
In paragraph 2.9.1:
1	the first screen shot identifies:
(a)	the generic system administrator by title and user name, thereby triggering Reason 2;
(b)	an individual system administrator and individual standard users by their name and user name, thereby triggering Reason 3;
2	the second screens shot displays the details of an individual registered as a user, thereby triggering reason 3.
3	the third screen shot identifies:
(a)	the generic system administrator by title and user name thereby, triggering Reason 2;
(b)	an individual system administrator and individual standard users by their name and user name, thereby triggering Reason 3;
In paragraph 2.9.2 the second screen shot shows the details of individual users, thereby triggering Reason 3.
In paragraph 2.10.2:
1	the second screen shot identifies a particular AEC computer, thereby triggering Reason 2; and
2	the third screen identifies a particular AEC computer, thereby triggering Reason 2.
In paragraph 2.10.5:
1	the first screen shot identifies:
(a)	the generic system administrator by title and user name, thereby triggering Reason 2;
(b)	an individual system administrator and individual standard users by their name and user name, thereby triggering Reason 3;
2	the second screens shot displays the details of an individual registered as a user, thereby triggering reason 3.
In paragraph 2.10.6:
1	the first screen shot identifies 
(a)	the generic system administrator by title and user name, thereby triggering Reason 2;
(b)	an individual system administrator and individual standard users by their name and user name, thereby triggering Reason 3;
2	the second screen shot identifies the generic system administrator by title thereby triggering Reason 2;
In paragraph 2.10.7:
1	the first screen shot identifies an individual system administrator and individual standard users by their name and user name, thereby triggering Reason 3;
2	the second screen shot identifies:
(a)	the generic system administrator by title and user name, thereby triggering Reason 2;
(b)	an individual system administrator and individual standard users by their name and user name, thereby triggering Reason 3;
3	the third screen shot identifies:
(a)	the generic system administrator by title and user name, thereby triggering Reason 2;
(b)	an individual system administrator and individual standard users by their name and user name, thereby triggering Reason 3;
In paragraph 2.10.8:
1	the first screen shot identifies:
(a)	the generic system administrator by title and user name, thereby triggering Reason 2;
(b)	an individual system administrator and individual standard users by their name and user name, thereby triggering Reason 3;
Section 11B of the FOI Act requires you to balance factors favouring access to Document No. 1 (excluding irrelevant factors) against factors indicating that it is contrary to the public interest under subsection 11A(5) of the FOI Act and to have regard to the Guidelines issued under section 93A of the FOI Act.
It is open to you to find that the balance of these competing public policies favours refusing access to Document No. 1 because:
(a)	as regards the application of Reason 2, the disclosure would undermine the security applying to the operation of the EasyCount Software and that the public interest in maintaining confidence in the operation of the EasyCount Software free from external attack during its operation outweighs the public interest in giving access in full to Document No. 1; and
(b)	as regards the application of Reason 3, the disclosure would expose individual AEC staff to harassment to obtain information about the EasyCount Software and the public interest in protecting those individuals outweighs the public interest in giving access in full to Document No. 1.
I recommend that you refuse access in full to Document No. 1 and offer in lieu access to an edited version of Document No. 1 from which conditionally exempt material is redacted.

I decided to refuse access in full to Document No. 1 and to offer in lieu access to edited versions of Document No. 1 from which conditionally exempt material to which Reason 2 or Reason 3 applies has been redacted.	
2		Extract from the EasyCount User Manual being section 3 Navigating EasyCount Senate
EasyCount Senate User Manual Navigating EasyCount Senate.pdf	July 2013	Document No. 2 contains no exempt material but does contain conditionally exempt material by reason of:
(a)	paragraph 47E(d) of the FOI Act (‘Reason 2’); and
(b)	section 47F of the FOI Act (‘Reason 3’).
In paragraph 3.3 the tenth screen shot contains details of individuals, thereby triggering Reason 3.
Section 11B of the FOI Act requires you to balance factors favouring access to Document No. 2 (excluding irrelevant factors) against factors indicating that it is contrary to the public interest under subsection 11A(5) of the FOI Act and to have regard to the Guidelines issued under section 93A of the FOI Act.
It is open to you to find that the balance of these competing public policies favours refusing access to Document No. 2 because, as regards the application of Reason 3, the disclosure would expose individual AEC staff to harassment to obtain information about the EasyCount Software and the public interest in protecting those individuals outweighs the public interest in giving access in full to Document No. 2.
I recommend that you refuse access in full to Document No. 2 and offer in lieu access to an edited version of Document No. 2 from which conditionally exempt material is redacted.

I decided to refuse access in full to Document No. 2 and to offer in lieu access to edited versions of Document No. 2 from which conditionally exempt material to which Reason 3 applies has been redacted.	
3		Extract from the EasyCount User Manual being section 4 Batch Management During CSS
EasyCount Senate User Manual Batch Management During CSS.pdf	July 2013	Document No. 3 contains no exempt or conditionally exempt material.
I recommend that you grant access in full to Document No. 3.

I decided to grant access in full to Document No. 3.	
4		Extract from the EasyCount User Manual being section 5 Import of ATL and Export of BTL
EasyCount Senate User Manual Import of ATL and Export of BTL.pdf		Document No. 4 contains no exempt material but does contain conditionally exempt material by reason of paragraph 47E(d) of the FOI Act (‘Reason 2’)
Paragraph 5.2.4 contains screen shots at:
1	Step 1 that identifies two URLs used on the AEC Intranet;
2	Step 2 that identifies one URL used on the AEC Intranet; and
3	Step 4 that identifies one URL used on the AEC Intranet,
thereby triggering Reason 2.
	Disclosure of the URLs would compromise the security of the AEC’s computer system. This would constitute a substantial adverse effect on the proper and efficient conduct of the operations of the AEC.
Section 11B of the FOI Act requires you to balance factors favouring access to Document No. 4 (excluding irrelevant factors) against factors indicating that it is contrary to the public interest under subsection 11A (5) of the FOI Act and to have regard to the Guidelines issued under section 93A of the FOI Act.
It is open to you to find that the balance of these competing public policies favours refusing access to Document No. 4 because as regards the application of Reason 2, the disclosure would undermine the security applying to the operation of the EasyCount Software and that the public interest in maintaining confidence in the operation of the EasyCount Software free from external attack during its operation outweighs the public interest in giving access in full to Document No. 4.
I recommend that you refuse access in full to Document No. 4 and offer in lieu access to an edited version of Document No. 4 from which conditionally exempt material is redacted.

I decided to refuse access in full to Document No. 4 and to offer in lieu access to edited versions of Document No. 4 from which conditionally exempt material to which Reason 2 applies has been redacted.	
5		Extract from the EasyCount User Manual being section 6 Event Back-up During CSS
EasyCount Senate User Manual Backup Procedures.pdf	July 2013	Document No. 5 contains no exempt or conditionally exempt material but it does contain information that is irrelevant to the FOI Request, namely AEC folders and their contents included in the following screen shots:
(a)	in paragraph 6.1, the first screen shot; and
(b)	in paragraph 6.2, the first screen shot.
It is open to you to find that:
1	to give access to Document No. 5 would disclose information that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the request for access;
2	it is possible for the AEC to prepare a copy (an edited copy) of Document No. 5, modified by deletions, ensuring that the edited copy would not disclose any information that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the request; and
3	it is reasonably practicable for the AEC to prepare the edited copy, having regard to the resources available to modify Document No. 5 (it has already been prepared).
I recommend that you refuse access in full to Document No. 5 and offer in lieu access to an edited version of Document No. 5 from which irrelevant material is redacted.

I decided to refuse access in full to Document No. 5 and to offer in lieu access to an edited version of Document No. 5 from which irrelevant material is redacted.	
6		5.2 Computer Equipment – Allocation & Installation
Extract from Election procedures manual (State Office) [EPM(SO)]		Document No. 6 is an extract from Election procedures manual (State Office) [EPM(SO)] consisting of pages 8 and 9.
Document No. 6 contains no exempt or conditionally exempt material but it does contain information that is irrelevant to the FOI Request, namely:
(a)	paragraph 4.2; and
(b)	paragraph 5.1 which relates to furniture and stationery;
It is open to you to find that:
1	to give access to Document No. 6 would disclose information that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the request for access;
2	it is possible for the AEC to prepare a copy (an edited copy) of Document No. 6, modified by deletions, ensuring that the edited copy would not disclose any information that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the request; and
3	it is reasonably practicable for the AEC to prepare the edited copy, having regard to the resources available to modify Document No. 6 (it has already been prepared).
I recommend that you refuse access in full to Document No. 6 and offer in lieu access to an edited version of Document No. 6 from which irrelevant material is redacted.

I decided to refuse access in full to Document No. 6 and to offer in lieu access to an edited version of Document No. 6 from which irrelevant material is redacted.	

End