Scott and Department of Corrective Services

Scott and Queensland Corrective Services
(2005 F0597, 27 March 2007)

Sufficiency of search

The applicant sought access to audio intercom recordings from the Detention Unit at Woodford Correctional Centre (WCC).  Based on information provided by both the applicant and Queensland Corrective Services (QCS), and in particular the workings of the intercom system that was in place at WCC at the time, Assistant Commissioner Corby found there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the recordings ever came into existence.

In the unlikely event the recordings did come into existence, AC Corby found that they had most likely been destroyed or taped over in accordance with WCC’s rotational recording process developed pursuant to a disposal authority, approved by Queensland State Archives.  AC Corby found there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the recordings continued to exist in the possession or under the control of QCS and that the searches conducted by QCS were reasonable in the circumstances of the review.