Advice on COVID - John Gibson or loss of personal utility
Simon Veritas made this Official Information request to Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
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From: Simon Veritas
Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,
Context: I am seeking to understand what benefits and costs have been considered in COVID decision-making (see earlier query which Treasury have answered.
My requests are as follows:
1. John Gibson is Professor of Economics at Waikato University. He has published on the equivalent lives lost from lockdowns (e.g. his latest estimate is that government policies have killed the equivalent of 46,000 future lives). Has the DPMC ever provided Professor Gibson's analysis as part of any advice to the Prime Minister or Cabinet? If so, what were the dates and titles of the papers provided?
1a. If Professor Gibson's analysis has never been provided to the Prime Minister or Cabinet, please provide me any material showing the internal decision-making not to do so (note, if Prof Gibson was never discussed, I understand the material will not exist)
2. Has the DPMC, in its advice to the Prime Minister or Cabinet, attempted to estimate the loss of utility (happiness, wellbeing) from lockdowns and other restrictions, such as MIQ, in a quantitative sense? If so, what were the dates and titles of the papers provided? Please note, I have read the recent release of advice to Cabinet, and there is no effort to quantify these things, but I want to be sure.
3. Is the DPMC aware of any public polling on issues of concern relating to COVID (e.g. "would you support a travel bubble with Australia?"), and if so, which ministry or department is responsible for them? If it is the DPMC, please provide me all reports of polling conducted.
Yours faithfully,
Simon Veritas
From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Tēnā koe
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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[IN-CONFIDENCE]
Kia ora
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 which was received on 29 November 2021, copied below. A response will be provided in accordance with the Act. Please note under Section 2(1) of the Act, days in the period commencing 25 December 2021 through to 15 January 2022, are not counted as working days.
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Ngā mihi,
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [DPMC request email]
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute this message or the information in it. If you have received this message in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
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From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
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DPMCOIA Extension OIA 2021 22 0771 Veritas Professor John Gibson analysis on lives lost from lockdown Simon Veritas.pdf
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[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora Simon,
Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.
Ngā mihi,
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [1][DPMC request email]
[2]cid:image002.png@01D43609.296F69C0
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
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From: Simon Veritas
Dear Information [DPMC],
Your latest reply states you need to undertake consultations before completing my request. I should appreciate it if you could tell me with whom you require to consult.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Veritas
From: Information [DPMC]
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
[UNCLASSIFIED]
Kia ora koe,
Please see the attached letter regarding your recent OIA request.
Ngā mihi,
Ministerial Coordinator
Ministerial and Business Services
Strategy, Governance and Engagement
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
E [1][DPMC request email]
[2]cid:image002.png@01D43609.296F69C0
The information contained in this email message is for the attention of
the intended recipient only and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy or distribute
this message or the information in it. If you have received this message
in error, please destroy the email and notify the sender immediately.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[DPMC request email]
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