Decision and Reasons for Decision - Office of the Information ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Office of the Information Commissioner (Qld) - 210906 - Page 2 of 22 Contents Summary .............................................................................................................................3 Background..........................................................................................................................3 Reviewable decision............................................................................................................3 Evidence relied upon ...........................................................................................................3 Documents sought by the Applicant ....................................................................................4 The law ................................................................................................................................5 Documents located during external review 210590.............................................................5 Matter remaining in issue in this review...............................................................................7 Section 28A of the FOI Act............................................................................................................ 7 QH’s reasons ........................................................................................................................... 8 The applicant’s submissions .................................................................................................... 9 Application of section 28A(1) of the FOI Act.......................................................................... 10 Are there reasonable grounds to be satisfied that the requested documents do not exist? .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Documents supplied to, or created by Dr Barrett ........................................................ 10 Electronic communications .......................................................................................... 11 Application of section 28A(2) of the FOI Act.......................................................................... 12 Documents concerning Dr Barrett’s appointment and remuneration .......................... 12 Unlocatable documents ............................................................................................... 13 Section 44(1) of the FOI Act........................................................................................................ 13 Findings of fact....................................................................................................................... 14 Public interest balancing test ................................................................................................. 15 Section 40(c) of the FOI Act........................................................................................................ 16 Could an adverse effect reasonably be expected to follow from disclosure?........................ 17 Findings of fact....................................................................................................................... 18 Public interest balancing test ................................................................................................. 19 Accountability of government............................................................................................ 19 Summary - public interest considerations.............................................................................. 20 DECISION ..............................................................................................................................20 Appendix............................................................................................................................21
Office of the Information Commissioner (Qld) - 210906 - Page 3 of 22 Summary 1. The Applicant applied to the Department of Health 1 (QH) to access various documents relating to the Douglas Shire Multi-Purpose Health Service (DSMPHS) review. 2. Having considered the parties’ submissions and evidence, relevant legislation, case law and decisions, I am satisfied that QH: • is entitled to rely on section 28A of the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (Qld) (FOI Act) to refuse access to those documents sought in the FOI Application, but unable to be located because the documents were either never created or that all reasonable steps have been taken to find the documents, but they can not be found. 3. In relation to information located by QH in external review 210590 and which I have determined is relevant to this external review I am satisfied that: Background • the complaint letter and Q-COMP letter qualifies for partial exemption under section 44(1) of the FOI Act • the Category B information and some of the Category A information qualifies for exemption under section 40(c) of the FOI Act • the remainder of the information should be released to the applicant. 4. Significant procedural steps are set out in the Appendix. Reviewable decision 5. The decision under review is the Refusal of Access Decision (see paragraph 4 in the Appendix). Evidence relied upon 6. In making my decision in this matter, I have taken the following into consideration: • the FOI Application, the Internal Review Application and the External Review Application • the Initial Decision and Refusal of Access Decision • a file note of a telephone conversation between a staff member of this Office and the applicant during the course of this review (in relation to external review 210590) • file notes of telephone conversations between staff members of this Office and QH during the course of this review and in external review 210590 • notes taken and material received during a meeting with QH on 31 August 2010 1 Commonly known as Queensland Health.
Page 1: Decision and Reasons for Decision A
Page 5 and 6: Office of the Information Commissio

Decision and Reasons for Decision - Office of the Information ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?