HIC and Queensland Police Service
(1996 S0034, 7 December 1998)
The applicant was a QPS officer who had been in charge of a two-person station but had voluntarily transferred to a larger station after concerns had been raised about his health. The Information Commissioner found that information obtained by the District Officer from the other officer at the station, for the purpose of considering the applicant's ability to carry out his duties, qualified for exemption under s.40(c) of the FOI Act.
The junior officer made it clear at the time he was interviewed by the District Officer that he was reluctant to provide any information concerning the applicant's general health and well-being, and only answered questions when he was directed to do so. The Information Commissioner found that disclosure of the matter in issue in the particular circumstances of the case could reasonably be expected to have a substantial adverse effect on the management by the QPS of its staff. The Information Commissioner went on to find that disclosure would not, on balance, be in the public interest, noting that a considerable amount of information had already been given to the applicant about how the QPS managed the issues raised by his illness.
