EMC v The University of Sydney [2021] NSWCATAD 234

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: EMC v The University of Sydney [2021] NSWCATAD 234 Hearing dates: 2 November 2020; Written submissions by 16 March 2021 Date of orders: 16 August 2021 Decision date: 16 August 2021 Jurisdiction: Administrative and Equal Opportunity Division Before: M Wall, Senior Member Decision: The Tribunal Orders that: (1) The decision under review dated 2 April 2020 is varied to the following effect: (a) Items [1.7], [3], [4], [5], and [6] listed in the Schedule be released to the Applicant within 28 days of these orders. (b) the decision under review is otherwise affirmed. (2) Pursuant to s 64 of the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 disclosure of: (a) the material filed by the respondent on a confidential basis, (b) those paragraphs of these reasons identified as [NOT FOR PUBLICATION], (c) the submissions made in private before the Tribunal, and (d) the record of that part of the proceedings conducted in private pursuant to s 49 of the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013, is prohibited. That material is not to be released to the Applicant or the public. (3) Pursuant to s64(1)(a) of the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) (a) The Applicant is to be identified by the pseudonym 'EMC' at all times in this decision and in the proceedings generally. (b) The identity of the Applicant is not to be disclosed by the Respondent, or by any other persons and she is to be referred to as 'EMC.' Catchwords: GOVERNMENT INFORMATION PUBLIC ACCESS – information for which there is a conclusive public interest against disclosure (privileged information) - client privilege –in-house lawyers –independence -–improper purpose. Non-disclosure order – anonymisation order. Information for which there is an overriding public interest against disclosure (cl 1(e), (f) and (g) and cl 3(a) and (b) and of the table to s 14(2) of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009). Balancing public interest considerations. Allegations of misconduct - failure to exercise in good faith - function conferred on officer –s112 referral to Minister. Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 (NSW) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Freedom of Information Act 1989 (NSW) (repealed) University of Sydney Act 1989 (NSW) Cases Cited: Esso Australia Resources Limited v Commissioner of Taxation [1999] HCA 67 Commissioner of Australian Federal Police v Propend Finance Pty Ltd (1997) 188 CLR 501 Grant v Downs [1976] HCA 63 Perazzoli v BankSA, a division of Westpac Banking Corporation Limited [2017] FCAFC 204 Hurst v Wagga City Council [2011] NSWADT 307 Transport for NSW v Searle [2018] NSWCATAP 93 Destination NSW v Taylor [2019] NSWCATAP 123 Seremetis v Commissioner of Police; Seremetis v Department of Communities and Justice [2020] NSWCATAD 317 Forbidden Foods Pty Ltd v Rice Marketing Board of New South Wales [2020] NSWCATAD 18 Taylor v Office of Destination NSW [2018] NSWCATAD 195 Page v Commissioner of Police [2020] NSWCATAD 163 Meacham v Commissioner of Police [2020] NSWCATAP 107 Griffin v Sydney Trains [2020] NSWCATAD 234 ; EGR v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2020] NSWCATAD 94. CVV v United Resource Management Pty Ltd (URM) [2016] NSWCATAD 271 Mr X v Teachers Mutual Bank Limited [2020] NSWCATAD 218 ACE v State of NSW (TAFE Commission and DET (No 2) [2011] NSWADT 77 LD v Director-General, Dept of Education and Training [2009] NSWADT 14 Re VC and Australian Federal Police (1985) 8 ALD 587 AIG Australia Ltd & NM Insurance Pty Limited v Commissioner of Police [2020] NSWCATAD 84 Searle Australian Pty Ltd v Public Interest Advocacy Centre (1992) 36 FCR 111 Frugtniet v Administrative Decisions Tribunal (Appeal Panel) [2003] NSWCAT 257 O'Grady v Sutherland Shine Council [2020] NSWCATAD 50 Turner v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2017] NSWCATAD 183 Walker v NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet [2018] NSWCATAD 178 Danis v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2020] NSWCATAD 138 Fisher v Commissioner of Police [2021] NSWCATAD 44 Betzis v Commissioner of Police [2020] NSWCATAD 71 Webb v Port Stephens Council (No 3) [2018] NSWCATAP 286 NuCoal Resources Ltd v Department of Premier and Cabinet [2017] NSWCATAD 245 ECN v Commissioner of Police [2020] NSWCATAP 267 Transport for NSW v Robinson [2018] NSWCATAP 123 Jackson v University of New South Wales [2019] NSWCATAD 224 Rich v Harrington [2007] FCA 1987 Archer Capital v Sage Group (No 2) [2013] FCA 1098 P v Western NSW Local Health District [2016] NSWCATAD AWB Ltd v Cole [2006] FCA 571 Holman v Warringah Council [2015] NSWCATAD 215 Dalleagles Pty Ltd v Australian Securities Commission (1991) 4 WAR 325; Three Rivers District Council v Governor and Company of the Bank of England (No 6) [2005] 1 AC 610 at 683 Balabel v Air India 1988] Ch 317, 330; Commissioner of Taxation v Pratt Holdings Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 122 at [87]; DSE (Holdings) Pty Ltd v InterTAN Inc [2003] FCA 1191 Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd v Pacific Equity Partners Pty Limited (No 4) [2014] FCA 796 Hall v Arnold Bloch Leibler (a firm) [2020] FCA 1495 AIN v Medical Council (NSW) [2015] NSWCATAP 241 Friday v Minister for Primary Industry and Resources [2020] FCA 984 Howell v Macquarie University [2008] NSWCA 26. Burrup Fertilisers Pty Ltd (Receivers and Managers Appointed) v Oswal (No 7) [2012] FCA 1185 Barrett v Department of Planning, Industry and Environment [2020] NSWCATAD 196 ECN v Commissioner of Police [2020] NSWCATAD 153 McGuirk v Director-General, Attorney General's Department [2006] NSWADT 265; Franks v Warringah Council [2006] NSWADT 124 Saggers v Director General, Department of Premier & Cabinet Ministerial & Parliamentary Services [2008] NSWADT 164 Schreuder v Murray (No 2) [2009] WASCA 145 Barnes v Commissioner of Taxation [2007] FCAFC 88 Westgate Finance v May [2012] NSWSC 806 Kreutzer v University of Sydney [2015] NSWCATAD 270 Kang v Kwan [2001] NSWSC 698 Hastie Group Ltd (in liq) v Moore [2016] NSWCA 305. Re Global Advanced Metals Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1545 Tavcol Pty Ltd v Valbeet Pty Ltd [2016] NSWSC 1002 Seven Network Ltd v News Ltd [2005] FCA 142; Tebbutt v Minister for Lands and Water [2015] NSWCATAD 95; Gauci v Commission for Fair Trading NSW [2015] NSWCATAD 218). Generate Group Pty Ltd v Sea-Tech Automation Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 1261 Seven Network Ltd v News Ltd [2005] FCA 142 Gaynor v Chief of the Defence Force (No 2) [2015] FCA 817 JY v Commissioner of Police [2008] NSWADT 306, Rae v Commissioner of Police [2020] NSWCATAD 189 McKean v Attorney-General & Justice [2015] NSWCATAD 176 EGR v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2020] NSWCATAD 94, APD v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2012] NSWADT 42 Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force v Barrett [2015] NSWCATAP 68 Danis v Commissioner of Police [2021] NSWCATAP 23 Polden v University of Sydney [2016] NSWCATAD 201 Thomson v Commissioner of Police [2021] NSWCATAD 53 Luxford v Department of Education and Communities [2016] NSWCATAD 118 Cameron v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2014] NSWCATAD 13 Pemberton v Macquarie University [2014] NSWCATAD 76 Noble v University of New South Wales [2017] NSWCATAD 2 Department of Education and Training v Mullett (No 2) [2002] NSWADTAP 29 Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force v Camilleri [2012] NSWADTAP 19 DQN v University of Sydney [2019] NSWCATAD 159 McKinnon v Blacktown City Council [2012] NSWDAT 44 Commissioner of Police (NSW) v Field [2016] NSWCATAP 59 Vice-Chancellor, Macquarie University v FM (No.2) (GD) [2004] NSWADTAP 37 Lonsdale v University of Sydney [2016] NSWCATAD 176 Anderson v Tweed Shire Council [2017] NSWCATAD 61 Warren v NSW Trustee and Guardian [2014] NSWCATAP 20; Alam v Insurance and Care NSW [2020] NSWCATAP 215; Zonnevylle v Department of Justice [2019] NSWCATAP 44 Turner v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force [2016] NSWCATAD 303 Watson & Anor. v. McLernon & 26 Ors.Watson v. McLernon & 27 Ors. [2000] NSWSC 19 Applicants v Commissioner of Police [2015] NSWCATAD 22 Texts Cited: The Information Commissioner's Guideline 4 – Personal information as a public interest consideration under the GIPA Act. Category: Principal judgment Parties: EMC (Applicant) The University of Sydney (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C Trahanas (Respondent)