Mick Batskos

FOI Solutions was established by its Executive Director, Mick Batskos, who has over 22 years experience in all administrative law areas. Mick was employed by a major national law firm for more than 10 years until establishing FOI Solutions in 1998. In that capacity, he practised extensively in all aspects of administrative law, particularly in freedom of information.

FOI Solutions practices in FOI matters ranging from dealing with requests as soon as they come in, right through to conducting appeals to the High Court of Australia. Mick has developed a reputation as an expert in freedom of information, privacy and other administrative law areas, and is often sought to speak in training and continuing legal education seminars for clients and the legal profession.  FOI Solutions also conducts a comprehensive training schedule.

FOI Solutions was established to add value to government agencies at all levels by providing answers to their freedom of information, privacy and other administrative law problems and needs. Mick's expertise and knowledge in the niche areas of administrative law (particularly freedom of information and privacy) means that FOI Solutions is able to provide large firm service and partner level expertise at a substantially lower price. This has ensured a continued flow of quality work from a stable and growing base of government clients.

In November 2005 Mick was awarded a Certificate of Service by the Law Institute of Victoria for demonstrated professional excellence and making a special contribution to the legal profession in administrative law.

From 2008 through to 2010 Mick was the instructing solicitor in two High Court appeals on behalf of the Secretary to the Department of Justice of Victoria in relation to a freedom of information matter.

Freedom of Information Experience

Mick is pre-eminent in the freedom of information field. Mick has extensive experience in the freedom of information area including:

• appearing for clients in hearings before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ("VCAT") and the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal ("AAT");
• advising numerous government clients orally and in writing in relation to all aspects about FOI from handling requests for access to conducting proceedings at all levels;
• developing FOI procedures manuals for Victorian government agencies, local councils and Commonwealth government agencies;
• conducting compliance audits to ensure processes and procedures are properly adhered to;
• conducting proceedings in the VCAT (and its predecessor), AAT, Federal Court, Victorian Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court of Australia;
• conducting numerous seminars and training workshops (including on behalf of the Department of Justice - which administers the FOI Act in Victoria - when legislative changes were introduced by the Kennett and Bracks Governments respectively);
• drafting the Victorian Government FOI Practice Notes (click here to view)
• writing numerous journal articles and presentations on freedom of information;
• contributing to the The Law Handbook, 2004 and to the Lawyers' Practice Manual (Springvale Legal Service).

FOI Solutions has provided to agencies:

• detailed advice and drafting of documents in relation to implementation of the Information Privacy Act 2000 (Vic) ("IP Act");
• advice generally under the IP Act and Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) ("HR Act")
• advice in relation to the interaction of the IP Act and other legislation and access regimes (including the FOI Act);
• privacy awareness and other training seminars for agency officers and staff;
• appearing in privacy proceedings at VCAT for clients (see for example WL v La Trobe University and M v Department of Human Services);
• conducting independent investigations and reports in respect of privacy complaints;
• advising on complaint handling procedures.

Mick has a thorough knowledge of the IP Act and the HR Act including interaction with other legislation (eg FOI Act, register provisions in building and planning legislation, etc). FOI Solutions has provided advice to agencies in relation to implementation and compliance and long term strategies for dealing with privacy. Mick has also provided seminars in relation to general awareness of impacts of privacy legislation for agencies.

FOI Solutions has knowledge of the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 and Mick Batskos was the author of perhaps the first paper on that Act after it commenced operation in 1989.

Mick is familiar with the operation of the Information Privacy Principles ("IPPs") and Health Privacy Principles("HPPs"), their genesis in the OECD guidelines and subsequently in the National Privacy Principles ("NPPs") developed by the Commonwealth Privacy Commissioner and upon which the IPPs and HPPs are based.

Jessica Heyes

Jessica joined FOI Solutions in February 2010.  She recently moved to Melbourne from Wellington, New Zealand, where she was a Senior Solicitor at the national law firm Buddle Findlay.  She was admitted to practice in Victoria in 2010 after previously having been admitted to practice in New Zealand in 2005. Jessica has experience in advising government clients on a range of administrative law matters, including on freedom of information and privacy under similar regimes to those in Victoria. Jessica is a member of the Administrative Review and Constitutional Law Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria.

Jacqueline Sheppard Jacqueline Sheppard is the FOI Solutions Office Manager. She joined the firm in June 2009 after over 16 years experience in various positions in the workforce including more recently as an Office Manager and as a Financial Administration Manager.  Her accounting and organisational skills are essential in ensuring that FOI Solutions office and staff are operating efficiently to meet client's needs. She is responsible for the overall smooth running of the office.  Tel: (61 3) 9601 4111 Fax: (61 3) 9601 4101 Email: jackie@foisolutions.com.au

Wendy Johnson Wendy Johnson is the Administrative Assistant to Mick Batskos and the other laywers in the firm.  She performs the essential secretarial and reception functions which are a necessary part of the quality service provide by FOI Solutions. Wendy is responsible for organising our regular freedom of information and privacy training sessions.  Wendy joined the FOI Solutions team in July 2001, having worked in the accounting industry for over 20 years. Tel: (61 3) 9601 4111 Fax: (61 3) 9601 4101 Email: wendy@foisolutions.com.au