University of New South Wales v Gerard Michael McGuirk [2006] NSWSC 1362

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : University of New South Wales v Gerard Michael McGuirk [2006] NSWSC 1362

HEARING DATE(S) : 19.09.06, 20.09.06, 25.09.06, final written submissions: 23.10.06

JUDGMENT DATE : 8 December 2006

JUDGMENT OF : Nicholas J

DECISION : Para 105

CATCHWORDS : ADMINISTRATIVE LAW – Administrative Decisions Tribunal - procedural fairness – admission of fact made by defendant – whether Tribunal should inform parties and give opportunity to adduce evidence if it decided not to act on the admission – whether plaintiff denied procedural fairness. - STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – construction of s 55 Freedom of Information Act 1989 and s 124 Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997 – whether these provisions affect powers and functions of the Tribunal under s 63 Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997 – whether Tribunal has a discretion to order access to documents which are exempt documents under Freedom of Information Act 1989

Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997, s 63, s 75, s 89, s 113, s 114, s 119, s 124, LEGISLATION CITED : Administrative Decisions Legislation Amendment Act 1997 Freedom of Information Act 1989, s 5 s 6, s 16, s 17, s 24, s 25, s 28, s 45, s 53, s 55, s 61, Sch 1, cl 6, cl 20 Interpretation Act 1987, s 33 Protected Disclosures Act 1994, s 4, s 8, s 9, s 14, s 25

CIC Insurance Limited v Bankstown Football Club Limited (1995-1997) 187 CLR 384 Comcare v Fiedler [2001] FCA 1810 Dovuro Pty Ltd v Wilkins (2003) 215 CLR 317 Ibrahim v Commissioner of Police [2004] NSWADTAP 8 CASES CITED : Mangoplah Pastoral Co Pty Ltd v Great Southern Energy [1999] NSWADT 93 Neary v the Treasurer NSW [2002] NSWADT 261 Network Ten Pty Ltd v TCN Channel Nine (2004) 218 CLR 273 Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb [2005] NSWCA 208 Tuite v Administrative Appeals Tribunal (1993) 40 FCR 483 Vigolo v Bostin (2005) 221 CLR 191