Director-General, Department of Families, Youth & Community Care and Department of Education; Perriman (Third Party)

Application number:
1996 S0148 & Ors
Decision date:
Tuesday, Feb 18, 1997
PDF:
Director-General, Department of Families, Youth & Community Care and Department of Education; Perriman (Third Party) (PDF file, 56.57 KB)

Director-General, Department of Families, Youth and Community Care and Department of Education; Perriman (Third Party)
 (1996 S0148, 18 February 1997) 

Director-General, Department of Families, Youth and Community Care and Department of Education; Perriman (Third Party)
 (1996 S0149, 18 February 1997) 

This decision dealt with two 'reverse-FOI' cases.  The Information Commissioner determined that matter relating to the behaviour of two students attending a government school was information concerning their personal affairs under s.44(1), but that, on balance, it was in the public interest that a teacher, who had allegedly been assaulted by one of the students, be permitted to have access to the particular matter in issue.

 

The decision contains a detailed analysis of public interest considerations weighing for and against disclosure, and of factors affecting the relative weight of those public interest considerations.