Dear Mr/Mrs Tierney

Thank you for your email of 20 December 2007.

The information you have provided does not come within= =20the jurisdiction of the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland.=

If you do not wish to follow the advice of Mr Phil Sma= rt then may we suggest that you obtain independent legal advice.<= /span>

Sincerely

Gayle De Glas

INTAKE OFFICER

Anti-Discriminatio= n Commission Queensland

Telephone: &n= bsp; 1300 130 670

Fax: &n= bsp; &nb= sp; (07) 3247 0960

TTY: &n= bsp; &nb= sp; 1300 130 180

www.adcq.qld.gov.a= u

From: Judith= =20Tierney [mailto:jjls@bigpond.com]
Sent: Thursday, 20 Decembe= r 2007 5:43 PM
To: Gayle De Glas
Subject: We will not them = walk

This individual made a life changing decision for my wife an= d me on a conditional secret response from Qld St Vincent de paul.

And informed us we would have to apply to the FOI department for their response as they do not want my wife Judith Tierney = and me to see it.

Even after us sending the department enough evidence = to prove the contrary.

Why are they not accountable to any Qld departme= nt as they are a VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION for huge tax concessions?

And why would any charity be afraid to have thei= r response made public if they were not guilty of any wrong doings?<= /font>

----- Original Message ----- &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; From: Phil J Smart= = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; To: jjls@bigpond.c= om &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 10:05 AM

Subject: COM06 0379 - Complaint=

To: Mr James Tierney C/- Ms Judith Tierney’s em= ail address of jjls@bi= gpond.com

Dear Mr Tierney

I refer to your email dated 8 March 2007, in which yo= u requested clarification on Vinnies Gym being closed based on an operation= al decision by St Vincent De Paul Society Queensland.

I wish to draw your attention to the advice provided = by Ms Liliana Pacey, Manager, Complaints and Prevention Unit (CPU) in her lette= r date 30 January 2007 in which it was advised that to assist CPU in the assessm= ent process, St Vincent De Paul Society Queensland provided, in good faith, a= =20copy of the review report undertaken by an independent consultant on the understanding that this report not be given to anyone other than to the C= PU complaints officer and senior departmental staff. =

You may also recall that a recommendation has been ma= de to St Vincent De Paul Society = Queensland to consider forwarding you a copy of the report undertaken by the consultant.

This recommendation was based on the view that if you= =20are provided with the report it may clarify St Vincent De Paul Society QueenslandR= 17;s decision to close Vinnies Gym based on operational and staffing issues wh= ich were identified in the report.

It was also emphasised that this is a recommendation = only as CPU does not have the authority to ensure this action is taken. &= nbsp; =

CPU is of the view that providing you with detailed information from the report provided by St Vincent De Paul Society Queensland wou= ld be without the permission of the society.

It is suggested you contact St Vincent De Paul Societ= y Queensland to = request a copy of their report regarding Vinnies Gym as referred to in CPU's recommendation.

You may also wish to make a freedom of information= request for a copy of the report which is held on departmental records.

This request can be forwarded to Administrative Law Coordination (Freedom of Information) Unit, Department of Communities, GP= O Box 806, Brisbane QLD 4001. <= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>

It is the role of the Administrative Law Coordination= =20Unit to determine the information that is able to be provided. =

If you remain dissatisfied with the way the departmen= t has handled your complaint, you may wish to contact the Queensland Ombudsman = on 1800 068 908 or email to ombudsman@ombudsman.qld.gov.au=

I wish to confirm that your complaint, reference COM0= 6 0379, in relation to the closure of Vinnies Gym has been closed and no fu= rther responses to this complaint will be provided.

I trust this advice is of assistance.=

Phil Smart<= span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>

Senior Complaints Officer = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; Complaints and Prevention Unit &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; Complaints Compliance Investigations and Misconduct Prevention Branch &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; Department of Communities, Disability Services Queensland and Aboriginal = Torres Strait Islander Partnerships &= nbsp; &n= bsp; &nb= sp; &nbs= p; Ph 3406 2617 (Extn 32617)

Dear Mr/Mrs Tierney

I am responding to an email I have received fro= m you which appears to have come to me via Freedom Of Information.

I apologize for my lack of clarity regarding th= is but it is unclear to me.

In regard to the contents of your email concern= ing the St Vincent de Paul Society and decisions they have made, including th= e Vinnies Gym in Cairns<= /u1:City>:

There is nothing in this information which lead= s me to think that the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission can help you = in any way.

For the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensla= nd to accept a complaint from you, the worse treatment must have happened becau= se of your or your presumed:

o &= nbsp; Sex

o &= nbsp; Sexuality

o &= nbsp; Gender identity

o &= nbsp; Lawful sexual activity as a sex worker

o &= nbsp; Relationship status

o &= nbsp; Parental status

o &= nbsp; Family responsibilities

o &= nbsp; Pregnancy

o &= nbsp; Breastfeeding

o &= nbsp; Age

o &= nbsp; Race

o &= nbsp; Impairment

o &= nbsp; Religious belief, non-belief or activity

o &= nbsp; Trade union activity

o &= nbsp; Political belief or activity or

o &= nbsp; Association with a person identified by one of the abo= ve grounds.

If you require any further information please d= o not hesitate to contact us on 1300 130 670. In this case, I do think it= =20would be easier to discuss this with you rather that continue in emails.

I wish you well in your endeavours to try and r= ight this situation.

Yours sincerely

Gayle De Glas

INTAKE OFFICER

Anti-Discriminatio= n Commission Queensland=

Telephone: &n= bsp; 1300 130 670

Fax: &n= bsp; &nb= sp; (07) 3247 0960

TTY: &n= bsp; &nb= sp; 1300 130 180

www.adcq.qld.gov.au=

= ; =