Sharples and Department of Police

Sharples and Queensland Police Service
(2000 S0030, 23 February 2000) 

The applicant sought review of a deemed refusal of access by the respondent on the basis that the respondent had not processed his FOI access application within the requisite time limits provided for in the FOI Act. 

The respondent requested an extension of time within which to process the application, as provided for in s.79(2) of the FOI Act.  The Information Commissioner took into consideration the number of divisions of the respondent which would have to conduct searches to locate documents falling within the terms of the applicant's FOI access application, as well as the number of consultations required pursuant to s.51(1) of the FOI Act, and exercised the Information Commissioner's discretion to grant the respondent an extension of time under s.79(2) of the FOI Act.