From 1 July 2019 OVIC commenced publishing de-identified FOI review decisions made by the Information Commissioner and the Public Access Information Commissioner (the Commissioners) under section 49P of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) (FOI Act) on both OVIC’s website as below and on the Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII) website.
We publish a selection of all decisions made which show the breadth of reviews conducted by the Commissioners and provide insight into the Commissioner’s interpretation for the FOI Act. Please note, it is open to the relevant parties to appeal the decisions made by OVIC’s Commissioners and some of the decisions published may have been subsequently subject to review by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal or other relevant jurisdictions.
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‘FG8’ and Central Highlands Region Water Corporation (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 70 (29 June 2023)
Decision information
Date of decision: 29 June 2023 Applicant: 'FG8' Agency: Central Highlands Region Water Corporation Citation: 'FG8' and Central Highlands Region Water Corporation (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 70 (29 June 2023) Headnote: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – contract – agreements – concluded contract – Agency not engaged in trade and commerce – disclosure would not be reasonably likely to expose an undertaking unreasonably to disadvantage – unreasonable disclosure of personal affairs information Sections in the FOI Act: 33(1), 34(1)(b), 34(4)(a)(ii) Download this file: FG8 and Central Highlands Region Water Corporation Freedom of Information 2023 VICmr 70 29 June 2023 1 - PDF (474 KB) -
Melbourne Activist Legal Support and Victoria Police (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 72 (27 June 2023)
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – training documents – speaking notes – file pathways – Operation names – internal communication methods
Decision information
Date of decision: 27 June 2023 Applicant: Melbourne Activist Legal Support Agency: Victoria Police Citation: Melbourne Activist Legal Support and Victoria Police (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 72 (27 June 2023) Headnote: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – training documents – speaking notes – file pathways – Operation names – internal communication methods Sections in the FOI Act: 31(1)(d), 33(1), 25 Download this file: Melbourne Activist Legal Support and Victoria Police Freedom of Information 2023 VICmr 72 27 June 2023 - PDF (1 MB) -
Melbourne Activist Legal Support and Victoria Police (Freedom of Informa?on) [2023] VICmr 71 (27 June 2023)
Decision information
Date of decision: 27 June 2023 Applicant: Melbourne Activist Legal Support Agency: Victoria Police Citation: Melbourne Activist Legal Support and Victoria Police (Freedom of Informa?on) [2023] VICmr 71 (27 June 2023) Headnote: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – training documents – Evidence Gathering team – Public Order response team – powerpoint slides – images of Agency officers – images of third parties – descriptions of methods and procedures – police Operation names Sections in the FOI Act: 31(1)(d), 31(1)(e), 33(1), 25 Download this file: Melbourne Activist Legal Support and Victoria Police Freedom of Information 2023 VICmr 71 27 June 2023 1 - PDF (2 MB) -
‘FF9’ and Office of Public Prosecutions (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 62 (23 June 2023)
Decision information
Date of decision: 23 June 2023 Applicant: 'FF9' Agency: Office of Public Prosecutions Citation: 'FF9' and Office of Public Prosecutions (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 62 (23 June 2023) Headnote: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – witness statements – criminal proceedings Sections in the FOI Act: 33(1), 35(1)(b) Download this file: FF9 and Office of Public Prosecutions Freedom of Information 2023 VICmr 62 23 June 2023 - PDF (414 KB) -
‘FG1’ and Department of Treasury and Finance (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 63 (19 June 2023)
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – ministerial briefings – Budget Sector Debt Portfolio Interest Rate Risk Management – school bank balances 2021 – commercial passenger vehicle industry COVID-19 compliance support funding
Decision information
Date of decision: 19 June 2023 Applicant: 'FG1' Agency: Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) Citation: 'FG1' and Department of Treasury and Finance (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 63 (19 June 2023) Headnote: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – ministerial briefings – Budget Sector Debt Portfolio Interest Rate Risk Management – school bank balances 2021 – commercial passenger vehicle industry COVID-19 compliance support funding Sections in the FOI Act: 28(1)(ba), 28(1)(d), 30, 34(4)(a)(ii) Download this file: FG1 and Department of Treasury and Finance Freedom of Information 2023 VICmr 63 19 June 2023 - PDF (617 KB) -
‘FF7’ and Department of Treasury and Finance (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 60 (14 June 2023)
Decision information
Date of decision: 14 June 2023 Applicant: 'FF7' Agency: Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) Citation: 'FF7' and Department of Treasury and Finance (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 60 (14 June 2023) Headnote: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – Next Generation Ticketing – Victorian Funds Management Corporation – Proposed bonus Scheme Government Projects – document prepared for the purpose of briefing a Minister in relation to issues to be considered by the Cabinet – disclosure of decisions or deliberation of Cabinet - disclosure would not likely lead to confusion or promote ill-informed debate Sections in the FOI Act: 28(1)(ba), 28(1)(d), 30, 33(1), 34(1)(b), 34(4)(a)(ii) Download this file: FF7 and Department of Treasury and Finance Freedom of Information 2023 VICmr 60 14 June 2023 1 - PDF (907 KB) -
‘FF3’ and Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 56 (8 June 2023)
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) – board meeting – minutes of meeting – Board deliberations – disclosure of deliberative material contrary to the public interest – prejudice proper administration of the law – Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority Act 2004 (Vic)
Decision information
Date of decision: 8 June 2023 Applicant: 'FF3' Agency: Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority Citation: 'FF3' and Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 56 (8 June 2023) Headnote: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) – board meeting – minutes of meeting – Board deliberations – disclosure of deliberative material contrary to the public interest – prejudice proper administration of the law – Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority Act 2004 (Vic) Sections in the FOI Act: 30, 31(1)(a), 31(1)(d), 25 Download this file: FF3 and Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority Freedom of Information 2023 VICmr 56 8 June 2023 - PDF (1 MB) -
‘FF5’ and Victoria Police (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 58 (5 June 2023)
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – CCTV footage taken in public venue – assault – police investigation –criminal proceedings concluded – third party personal affairs information – disclosure not unreasonable – balancing victim’s rights with third party privacy rights – exceptional and personal reasons for disclosure – section 25 – deletion of irrelevant information practicable
Decision information
Date of decision: 5 June 2023 Applicant: 'FF5' Agency: Victoria Police Citation: 'FF5' and Victoria Police (Freedom of Information) [2023] VICmr 58 (5 June 2023) Headnote: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – CCTV footage taken in public venue – assault – police investigation –criminal proceedings concluded – third party personal affairs information – disclosure not unreasonable – balancing victim’s rights with third party privacy rights – exceptional and personal reasons for disclosure – section 25 – deletion of irrelevant information practicable Sections in the FOI Act: 33(1), 25 Download this file: FF5 and Victoria Police Freedom of Information 2023 VICmr 58 5 June 2023 - PDF (296 KB)