North Mackay Bowls Club Inc. and Department of Innovation and Information Economy, Sport and Recreation

North Mackay Bowls Club Inc. and Department of Innovation and Information Economy, Sport and Recreation
(2002 S0031, 28 June 2002)

This was a ‘reverse FOI’ application by the Club, which objected to the Department's decision to disclose to an FOI access applicant, a number of documents relating to the Club's successful request for a grant to assist in the construction of a covered bowling green.  The Club contended that the matter in issue, which included specifications for the green, technical reports, and information about the operation of the Club and its fundraising activities, was exempt from disclosure under s.41, s.44, s.45 and s.46 of the FOI Act.

The Deputy Information Commissioner found that the only matter which qualified for exemption (under s.44(1) of the FOI Act) was the private telephone number of a member of the Club.  He decided the balance of the matter in issue did not concern the personal affairs of any person; that its disclosure could not reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the Club's commercial affairs; and that there was no evidence that the matter in issue, some of which was already available to the public under statute, was communicated to the Department in confidence.  He also decided that the public interest in accountability of the Department for the proper and prudent allocation of grant monies warranted a finding that disclosure would, on balance, be in the public interest.