Rex Patrick

Transparency Warrior. Former Senator for SA, business development manager, project manager, underwater acoustics instructor and submariner.

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

I now conclude my time as a Senator in the Federal Parliament. It’s been such a privilege to represent South Australia. Unconstrained by party lines, I never held back and I never voted against my conscience. I’m proud of what my team and I achieved. No regrets! #auspol

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

For now, while @AlboMP is fuelling his secrecy addition, I’ll just have to read the UK’s government’s assessment. #auspol https://t.co/60N65qILMI

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

I’m 3 years into an #FOI ‘battle’ with @DefenceAust after requesting analysis on the national security implications of #climate change. They ‘surrendered’ 3 docs to me yesterday, but are witholding a further 15 docs in case the ‘enemy’, Mother Nature, were to see them. #auspol

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

Today I conduct my #FOI work from Roslyn Estate. Peaceful and inspiring!

Roslyn, Upper Lachlan Shire, NSW, #WorkFromRoam

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

Hey @JEChalmers! You need to be listening to all possible solutions to our productivity slowdown. Listening to solutions doesn’t mean you have to adopt them. #FlawedPolicyDevelopment #auspol

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

Shame on a Labor-controlled Parliamentary Joint Committee accepting a departmental secretaries’ proposal to ban clips of officials’ parliamentary evidence being posted on social media, but not accepting a rebuttal submission. #NoFreeDebate #auspol https://t.co/GYbJJ6W8wO

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

Two different days, two different #FOI views. Yesterday I watched the resolving of FOI questions of law in the Full Federal Court. Today I’m pondering my next FOI with a much more relaxed backdrop.

Roslyn, Upper Lachlan Shire, NSW, #WorkFromRoam

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

Two different days, two different #FOI views. Yesterday I watched the resolving of FOI questions of law in the Full Federal Court. Today I’m pondering my next FOI with a much more relaxed backdrop.

Roslyn, Upper Lachlan Shire, NSW, #WorkFromRoam

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

Yesterday Snowy Hydro’s barrister told the Full Federal Court that the company operates on a commercial basis. Today we see its dished out executive bonuses in response to a $13B blowout. Can anyone square that circle? #auspol https://t.co/v5yGxrwO25

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

@PressmanLyn @AlboMP 1 of the 3 lawyers may be Snowy Hydro's (but is paid for by you anyway).

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

Day 2 with 1 Senior Counsel, 2 barristers and 3 lawyers for the Govt, 1 barrister for Snowy Hydro and 7 tagalongs from both (with the 3 justices and 5 associates/court staff also being paid for by us) and @AlboMP wonders why FOI costs a lot 🤦‍♂️! #auspol

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

One more sleep until my Snowy 2.0 court case, which might ultimately prevent officials entering into confidentiality agreements that prevent taxpayers accessing performance info about publicly funded projects. It’s an open court - transparency die-hards are welcome. #FOI #auspol

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

@ItsStillMefa 6, except for ACT and NT senators, who get 3.

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

#FOI has revealed a plot by our million dollar departmental secretaries to “to strengthen our management of [Senate] committees”. It’s contemptuous of the Senate and completely disrespectful of our system of responsible government. #disgrace #auspol https://t.co/76i6me2arx

[Michael Shoebridge @MichaelS_SAA]

"I’ve never seen a Secretary look at one of his or her departmental officers & direct them to be “open & responsive when providing evidence” as the Secretaries Board suggests should happen'. Indeed, sometimes it’s the Secretary themselves that’s chosen to be unprofessional'.

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

@JoFrazer0t0s I am in two other Federal Court matters relating to AUKUS waste. You have both 😉.

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

For those that haven’t read the Guardian article of yesterday, the Administrative Review Tribunal has rejected the Govt’s application to ban media & the public from the “open” hearing. The 2004 Timor spying operation just got a little less secret. See you on 25, 26 and 27 Nov in Canberra. #auspol

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

.@AlboMP’s Govt doesn’t want to confirm Australia spied on Timor to steal their oil & gas. Next month they’ll explain why in a partly closed hearing, protected by a secrecy certificate👇. Today they’re in the ART asking to ban media & the public from the “open” hearing 🤷‍♂️ #auspol

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

One more sleep until my Snowy 2.0 court case, which might ultimately prevent officials entering into confidentiality agreements that prevent taxpayers accessing performance info about publicly funded projects. It’s an open court - transparency die-hards are welcome. #FOI #auspol

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

The Govt enters into $100B worth of contracts each year, all with confidentiality terms that prevent citizens from knowing if the contractor is performing well. If I win in the Full Federal Court next week, that’ll all change. #transparency #Snowy #auspol https://t.co/wbz8TPN0cC

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

@GBTSocScientist It’s not paywalled.

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

@MarkPlackett1 Fellow X'ers can access the Hansard and the Auditor-General's report freely - and the MWM article in the thread freely.

If your concern is that tweets are brief, you should probably stay off X.

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

According to the Auditor-General’s most recent Defence Major Project Review the total budget variation (blow-out) across 21 major projects since initial Govt second-pass approval is $37.254 billion. Here’s Secretary Meghan Quinn engaging in Senate Committee ‘management’. #auspol

[Rex Patrick @MrRexPatrick]

#FOI has revealed a plot by our million dollar departmental secretaries to “to strengthen our management of [Senate] committees”. It’s contemptuous of the Senate and completely disrespectful of our system of responsible government. #disgrace #auspol https://t.co/76i6me2arx