The prime minister’s office has blocked the release of text messages that comprised Barnaby Joyce’s reports to Scott Morrison in his time as drought envoy, claiming the texts are not documents of a minister despite Joyce having staff and travel expenses paid for by taxpayers while in the role.
In April, the office of the Australian information commissioner issued two rulings for two-year-old freedom of information requests for the text messages, ordering the prime minister’s office to process the requests. The PMO had initially argued that processing the requests would take too long and would be an unreasonable diversion of resources.
