Fwd: [Linux-aus] Grant request: Contribution to Senate voting source code FOI request review.

[James Polley]

This was spotted on the linux-aus list, which many people here are probably on.

But just in case you missed it, I figured this is something that most people in the OpenAustralia community would be interested in supporting too.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chris Neugebauer <chri...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 23, 2014 at 11:56 AM
Subject: [Linux-aus] Grant request: Contribution to Senate voting source code FOI request review.
To: council <cou...@linux.org.au>, Linux Australia <linu...@lists.linux.org.au>


Hey all,

One of our members, Michael Cordover, has been going through the
Freedom of Information process to gain access to the source code used
by the Australian Electoral Commision to tally Senate votes in
Australian federal elections.

Michael's process, including all correspondence with the AEC, has been
thoroughly documented here at [0].

The AEC declined the FOI request, and Michael is currently seeking
appeal through the administrative appeals tribunal, as the free review
process was performed by the OAIC, a body being disbanded through the
2014-15 federal budget process.

The appeal requires a lodgement fee of some $850. Michael is in the
process of crowd funding this request [1].

Whilst I'm not a lawyer, I've been following the process quite closely
since it started, and have been deeply bemused by the AEC's arguments,
which I personally feel are either technically flawed or absurd.

I believe that the goal of the FOI request, and associated review, is
well in line with Linux Australia's values [2], in particular, that of
"Freedom", which explicitly states:

"We value free access to, sharing of and repurposing of information,
in particular that information held by the public sector."

I'd like to request that, as a showing of support, Linux Australia
make a small contribution, not exceeding $150 to the crowdfunding
campaign.


--Chris

[0] http://easycount.mjec.net/
[1] http://www.pozible.com/project/183015
[2] http://linux.org.au/values

--
--Christopher Neugebauer

Jabber: chri...@gmail.com -- IRC: chrisjrn on irc.freenode.net --
WWW: http://chris.neugebauer.id.au -- Twitter: @chrisjrn

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