Lia Finocchiaro calls on Education Department to release alleged dodgy grade change documents

The CLP has called for the release of documents relating to allegations of dodgy school grade changes, after the Education Department said they were not in the public interest to freely release.

DECEMBER 28, 2021: THE CLP has called for the government to immediately hand over documents relating to allegations of dodgy Year 12 grade changes, after it was revealed the Education Department did not consider it in the public interest to release them.

On Monday, the NT News revealed the department would not freely release documents requested under Freedom of Information into allegations of dodgy Year 12 grade changes in Darwin, Palmerston and rural high schools, because it was not in the public interest. Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said it was “absolutely” in the public interest to freely release the documents.

“Labor are asleep at the wheel and go to extreme lengths to distance their minister’s from controversy and shut down scrutiny,” she said.

“The buck stops with the minister and just like the ICAC report into the $500,000 misappropriation, she has nothing to say. It’s just not good enough.”

A spokeswoman for Education Minister Lauren Moss said she was not aware of

such concerns. “If there were any such concerns, she would expect them to be fully investigated,” she said.

DECEMBER 27, 2021: DOCUMENTS relating to allegations of dodgy Year 12 grade changes in Top End schools are not in the public interest to freely release, according to the NT Education Department.

The NT News submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) application in July after being told of the potential dodgy grade change allegations, and following amendments asked for documents relating to: unauthorised and/or improper and/or inappropriate grade changes including where those making changes have an actual or perceived conflict of interest, in all NT government Darwin, Palmerston and rural high schools between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2021 for Year 12 only.

The application was made after the NT News was tipped off by someone within the public service of the allegations.

The NT News argued in its application the documents should be freely released to ensure the department delivers high quality education, provides pathways for students and guarantee they are treated equally and with respect by school staff at all levels.

However, in an official response sent on November 16, the department stated it did not consider in the public’s interest to freely process the request but would do so if it received a $725 payment for processing.

“I am conscious of avoiding a balance of public interest test under section 156(6),” the response read.

“Even taking into account your submissions on public interest … I consider that in the case of the processing fee, the matters and my reasoning set out above clearly support the finding, which I make, that in my consideration, I do not consider a waiver or reduction of the processing fee appropriate.”

Education Minister Lauren Moss was not aware of any concerns over the Year 12 grades. Picture: Julianne Osborne

The response also stated the documents in question would take 25 hours to search for and four hours to assess/make decisions. The content of these documents is unknown.

Year 12 subject credits are one of the main components for students to receive the NT Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET).

For the compulsory subjects, a C grade or better is required to complete the NTCET.

The NTCET is the main qualification for Territory students to gain admission into universities. In previous correspondence, the department advised it could not determine what an unauthorised, improper or inappropriate grade change was, nor where it could find such information. The NT News has since requested a review of the decision, arguing it did not reflect the objectives of the NT’s Information Act.

It was also argued the department disregarded the public interest in responding to allegations that could impact the career paths and opportunities of the Territory’s students.

A spokeswoman for Education Minister Lauren Moss said she was not aware of any concerns of this nature being raised with the department.

“If there were any such concerns, she would expect them to be fully investigated. The processing of FOI requests is an operational matter for the department.”

Originally published as Lia Finocchiaro calls on Education Department to release alleged dodgy grade change documents