Law Society of New South Wales v General Manager, WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (No 2) (GD) [2005] NSWADTAP 33

Appeal Panel - Internal

CITATION: Law Society of New South Wales v General Manager, WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (No 2) (GD) [2005] NSWADTAP 33 APPELLANT PARTIES: Law Society of New South Wales RESPONDENT General Manager, WorkCover Authority of New South Wales FILE NUMBER: 049005 HEARING DATES: 15/02/2005 SUBMISSIONS CLOSED: 02/15/2005 DATE OF DECISION: 06/23/2005

Law Society of New South Wales v General Manager, WorkCover Authority [2004] NSWADT 4 DECISION UNDER APPEAL: BEFORE: O'Connor K - DCJ (President); Needham J SC - Judicial Member; Blake C - Non Judicial Member CATCHWORDS: access to documents - confidential material - access to documents - internal working documents - access to documents - secrecy provisions - Freedom of Information Act - access to documents - confidential material - Freedom of Information Act - access to documents - internal working documents - Freedon of Information Act - access to documents - secrecy provisions MATTER FOR DECISION: Principal matter FILE NUMBER UNDER APPEAL: 033135 DATE OF DECISION UNDER APPEAL: 01/12/2004 Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997 Casino Control Act 1992 Children (Detention Centres) Act 1987 Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 Community Welfare Act 1987 Evidence Act 1958 (Vic) Freedom of Information Act 1966 (US) Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) Freedom of Information Act 1989 Freedom of Information Act 1992 (Qld) LEGISLATION CITED : Local Government Act 1993 Mines Inspection Act 1901 Mining Act 1992 Ombudsman Act 1973 (Vic) Retirement Villages Act 1999 Royal Commission (Police Service) Act 1994 Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) Valuation of Land Act 1916 Workers Compensation (General) Amendment (Costs in Compensation Matters) Regulation 2003 Workers Compensation (General) Amendment (Costs) Regulation 2001 Workers Compensation (General) Regulation 1995 Workers Compensation Regulation 2003 Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 Attorney-General (Cth) v Breckler (1999) 197 CLR 83 Commissioner of Police v NSW District Court (Perrin's case) (1993) 31 NSWLR 606 Corrs Pavey Whiting and Byrne v Collector of Customs (Vic) (1987) 74 ALR 428 DZ v NSW Police Service [2002] NSWADT 274 Eyes v Wyong Shire Council [1999] NSWADT 139 Glenister v Dillon [1976] VR 550 Harris v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1984) 51 ALR 581 (Fed Ct FC) Harris v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1983) 50 ALR 551 Law Society of New South Wales v General Manager, WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2004] NSWADTAP 40 Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (1992) 175 CLR 1 N (No 4) v NSW Police Service [2002] NSWADTAP 10 Nationwide News Pty Ltd v Wills (1992) 177 CLR 1 CASES CITED: Re Dillon & Department of the Treasury (No 1) (1986) 10 ALD 366 Re Eccleston and Department of Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs [1993] QICmr 2 Re Howard and Treasurer of Commonwealth of Australia (1985) 7 ALD 626 Re Tony Lianos and Secretary To The Department Of Social Security (Unreported, AAT, 19 February 1985) Re Chapman & Minister for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Affairs (1996) 43 ALD 139 Rogers v Jordan (1965) 112 CLR 580 Rosewood Advertising Pty Ltd v Hannah Marketing Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 1034 Saleam v Director General, Department of Community Services and ors [2002] NSWADT 41 Shanahan v Scott (1957) 96 CLR 245 Signorotto v Nicholson [1982] VR 413 Simpson v Director General, Department of Education and Training [2000] NSWADT 134 St Vincent Welch v Casino Control Authority [2001] NSWADT 89 Tunchon v Commissioner of Police, New South Wales Police Service [2000] NSWADT 73 REPRESENTATION: J Griffiths SC with A Searle of counsel instructed by Law Society of New South Wales M Allars of counsel instructed by G Mahoney, Crown Solicitor's Office ORDERS: 1. The respondent's determination is set aside; 2. The respondent is to grant access, pursuant to section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act 1989, to all the documents in dispute.