O'Connor and The University of Queensland

O’Connor and The University of Queensland
(210136, 7 April 2008)

Sufficiency of search

The applicant applied to the University of Queensland (University), his previous employer, for access to certain leave application forms. The University located documents in response to the applicant’s freedom of information (FOI) application and granted the applicant full access to those documents.  On external review, the applicant questioned the sufficiency of searches undertaken by the University.

During the course of the external review, the University agreed to release additional leave application forms to the applicant, which it had initially claimed were not within scope of the applicant’s FOI application.

In applying the principles set out in Shepherd and Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning (1994) 1 QAR 464, Acting Information Commissioner Rangihaeata found that there were no reasonable grounds to believe that any further documents falling within the scope of the applicant’s FOI application were in the possession or under the control of the University.  Acting Information Commissioner Rangihaeata also found that the searches conducted by the University had been reasonable in the circumstances of this review.