Mathews and The University of Queensland
(210206, 10 October 2007)
Section 35B – Application fee – information concerning the applicant’s personal affairs
The applicant sought review of a decision requiring him to pay an application fee under section 35B of the FOI Act. During the external review process the University identified four documents it considered did not contain information concerning the applicant’s personal affairs. Acting Commissioner Rangihaeata applied the principles established in Stewart and Department of Transport (1993) 1 QAR 227 in determining that one document, an email concerning the applicant’s website, did not concern the applicant’s personal affairs. However, Acting Commissioner Rangihaeata found that the applicant was not required to pay an application fee under section 35B of the FOI Act, as the document did not fall within the scope of the specific terms of the applicant’s FOI access application.
