Read a selection of the Ombudsman’s Freedom of Information external review determinations.

These determinations show the types of external reviews regularly conducted by the Ombudsman, and provide insight into the Ombudsman’s interpretation of the Freedom of Information Act 1991.

January

Attorney-General's Department and Department of the Premier and Cabinet (2015/08536; 2015/09132) (PDF, 290.8 KB)
Consideration of sufficiency of search, clauses 1, 4, 6 - 9, 13.

Environment Protection Authority (2014/08985) (PDF, 178.6 KB)
Consideration of clauses 4 - 6, 12, 13, 15 and 16.

Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (2016/09030) (PDF, 43.4 KB)
Consideration of clause 12 - where disclosure of a document would constitute an offence against an Act.

April

Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (2016/07112) (PDF, 84.3 KB)
Application of section 18 of the FOI Act.

TAFE SA (2016/07951) (PDF, 135.9 KB)
Consideration of clauses 1, 2, 4, 5 6, 7 10 and 16. Clause 1(1)(e) considered in significant detail.

June

Department of State Development (2016/04164) (PDF, 171.8 KB)
Consideration of clauses 6, 7, 9, 10 and 13, as well as discussion of the public interest.

July

Yorke Peninsula Council (2017/04401) (PDF, 112.1 KB)
Consideration of exemption due to legal professional privilege.

August

Department of State Development (2017/02620) (PDF, 62.6 KB)
Consideration of clause 13(1)(a) - breach of confidence.

September

Attorney-General (2016/09259) (PDF, 133.6 KB)
Consideration of clauses 2, 6, 7, 9 and 10.

Department of State Development (2017/05526) (PDF, 55.0 KB)
Applicability of Parliamentary privilege.

Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation (2017/00863) (PDF, 83.7 KB)
Consideration of the 'public interest'.

October

Department of State Development (formerly the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (2017/00990) (PDF, 125.7 KB)
Consideration of clauses 1, 7, 9, 13, 14 and 16.

November

Adelaide City Council (2017/05525) (PDF, 81.7 KB)
Consideration of clauses 4 and 6.

Department of State Development (2017/05319) (PDF, 64.0 KB)
Consideration of clause 1. Application of section 39(12), commentary as to why the agency might release the information notwithstanding its exempt status.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure (2017/05339) (PDF, 170.7 KB)
Consideration of clauses 4, 6 and 16.

December

Adelaide Hills Council (2017/09234) (PDF, 68.0 KB)
Requirement to take reasonable steps to assist an applicant to amend their application so it would not be an unreasonable diversion of agency resources.

Central Adelaide Local Health Network (2016/08100) (PDF, 224.0 KB)
Consideration of clauses 7, 12 and 13.

Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (2016/08734) (PDF, 129.7 KB)
Consideration of clauses 4, 6, 7, 9 and 13.