Snape v Commissioner of Police [2021] NSWCATAD 206

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Snape v Commissioner of Police [2021] NSWCATAD 206 Hearing dates: 18 June 2021 Date of orders: 16 July 2021 Decision date: 16 July 2021 Jurisdiction: Administrative and Equal Opportunity Division Before: C Mulvey, Senior Member Decision: (1) The decisions made by the Respondent on 11 February 2021 and 23 March 2021 are affirmed. (2) The application is otherwise dismissed. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — freedom of information — personal information — Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 — disclosure Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 (NSW) Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) Cases Cited: Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force v Camilleri (GD) [2012] NSWADTAP 19 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ronald Phillip Snape (Applicant) Commissioner of Police (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J McDonnell (Respondent)

Solicitors: Applicant (self-represented) Crown Solicitor (Respondent) File Number(s): 2021/00059569 Publication restriction: Nil

REASONS FOR DECISION 1. This is an application by Mr Ronald Snape, seeking administrative review of a decision of the Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force (the Respondent), to not grant to him information contained in records held by the Respondent concerning complaints he has made about a neighbour, pursuant to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act). 2. Mr Snape submits that the correct and preferable decision is to grant him access to information in COPS event report E77276740 and redacted information in COPS record IASUWT12. 3. Mr Snape, in written submissions and during the hearing, said his motivation for obtaining the information was so he could identify the correct name of his neighbour and bring a private Apprehended Violence Order (AVO). He contends that the Respondent has refused to bring an AVO on his behalf.