Wojciechowska v Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice [2021] NSWCATAD 298

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Wojciechowska v Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice [2021] NSWCATAD 298 Hearing dates: 16 September 2021 Date of orders: 16 September 2021 Decision date: 15 October 2021 Jurisdiction: Administrative and Equal Opportunity Division Before: M Gracie, Senior Member Decision: 1. In respect of the decision made on 16 September 2021 to dismiss the jurisdictional challenge made by the applicant, see [9]-[29] of these reasons. 2. In respect of the decisions made on 16 September 2021 refusing the applicant's requests that the Tribunal disqualify itself, see [30]-[42] of these reasons. 3. Affirm the respondent's decision dated 10 March 2021. Catchwords: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW - access application – freedom of information - review of decision of a government agency - information not held – reasonableness of searches – deletion of CCTV footage - CCTV retention periods CONSTITUTIONAL LAW – jurisdiction of the Tribunal - whether application for administrative review of a reviewable decision of an agency under the GIPA Act is a matter between a State and a resident of another State – Tribunal not a Chapter III court - question whether Tribunal is exercising federal jurisdiction - whether Tribunal exercising judicial power or administrative power on administrative review under the GIPA Act PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – apprehended bias – principles - applications for disqualification Legislation Cited: Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 (NSW) Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) State Records Act 1988 (NSW) Cases Cited: Amos v Central Coast Council [2019] NSWCATAD 226 Bienstein v Bienstein [2003] HCA 7; (2003) 195 ALR 225 Burns v Corbett [2018] HCA 145; (2018) 265 CLR 304 Camilleri v Commissioner of Police (NSW) [2012] NSWADT 5 Concrete Pty Ltd v Parramatta Design & Developments Pty Ltd [2006] HCA 55; (2006) 229 CLR 577 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy [2000] HCA 63; (2000) 205 CLR 337 Johnson v Johnson [2000] HCA 48; (2000) 201 CLR 488 Klaric v Commissioner of Police [2020] NSWCATAP 153 Luton v Lessels [2002] HCA 13 Miriani v Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police [2005] NSWADT 187 NSWCATAP 179 Polsen v Harrison [2021] NSWCA 23 Reid v Commercial Club (Albury) Limited [2014] NSWCA 98 Robinson v Commissioner of Police [2014] NSWCATAP 73 Wojciechowska v Blue Mountains City Council [2021] Wojciechowska v Commission of Police (No 2) [2021] NSWCATAP 311 Wojciechowska v Commissioner of Police [2020] NSWCATAP 173 Wojciechowska v Commissioner of Police [2021] NSWCATAD 210 Wojciechowska v Commissioner of Police [2021] NSWCATAD 284 Wojciechowska v Commissioner of Police (No 2) [2020] NSWCATAD 310 Texts Cited: None Category: Principal judgment Parties: Paulina Wojciechowska (Applicant) Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice (Respondent) Representation: Self-Represented (Applicant) Department of Communities and Justice (Respondent) File Number(s): 2021/00129993 Publication restriction: None