Guille and James Cook University

Application number:
2001 S0049
Decision date:
Friday, Jun 29, 2001

Guille and James Cook University
(2001 S0049, 29 June 2001) 

This was a 'reverse FOI' application in which the applicant objected to the disclosure of two letters which he had written in his capacity as Queensland Secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union. (The NTEU was representing a lecturer in relation to the lecturer's dispute with the University). 

Assistant Information Commissioner Shoyer found that the letters did not qualify for exemption from disclosure under s.40(c), s.40(d) or s.41(1) of the FOI Act, as it was not possible to identify any significant public interest which would be harmed by their disclosure.  The Assistant Information Commissioner also found that the signature on each letter qualified for exemption under s.44(1) of the FOI Act, but that the balance of the letters did not qualify for exemption under s.44(1), as they concerned the NTEU member's professional affairs and not his personal affairs.