Chapman & Another v Minister for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Affairs

(1996) 43 ALD 139
(1996) 23 AAR 142

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Thomas Lincoln Chapman and Wendy Jennifer Chapman v
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

Tribunal:

Member: McDonald G L, DP

Subject References:
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
applicant sought access to letter of Minister to the Prime Minister under freedom of information legislation
question whether document exempt on grounds of 'class' or on basis that an internal working document of Government
consideration of meaning of 'deliberative processes' and 'public interest'

Legislative References:
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) - 3(1); 16; 22(1); 34; 36(1); 5; 6; 42; 61(1); 64(1)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth) - 9(1); 10(1)(a); 10(1)(c); 10(1)(d); 10(4); 15
Freedom of Information Act 1966 (US) - Exemption 5
Freedom of Information Act 1992 (Qld) - 41(1); 41(2)
Freedom of Information Act 1989 (NSW) - 59A(a)

Case References:
Chapman and Others v Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Others - (1995) 133 ALR 74
Tickner v Chapman and Others - (1995) 133 ALR 226
Air Canada and Others v Secretary of State for Trade and Another - [1983] 2 AC 39
Somerville v Australian Securities Commission and Others - (1995) 131 ALR 517
The Commonwealth of Australia v Northern Land Council and Another - (1993) 176 CLR 604
The News Corporation Ltd and Others v National Companies and Securities Commission - (1984) 5 FCR 88
Day v Collector of Customs - (1995) 38 ALD 264
The Queen v Anderson; Ex parte Ipec-Air Pty Ltd - (1965) 113 CLR 177
Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Limited v The Commonwealth of Australia and Others - (1977) 139 CLR 54
Re Waterford and Department of the Treasury (N 2) - (1984) 5 ALD 588
Harris v Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Others - (1984) 51 ALR 581
Montrose Chemical Corporation of California v Train - (1974) 491 F(2d) 63
Mapother v Department of Justice - 3F.3d 1533 (D.C. Cir. 1993)
Environmental Protection Agency v Mink - (1973) 410 US 73
Mead Data Central, Inc. v Department of the Air Force - 566 F.2d
Eccleston and Department of Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs - (unreported: Decision N 93,002, Queensland Information Commissioner, dated 30 June 1993)
Commonwealth of Australia v John Fairfax and Sons Ltd and Others - (1980) 32 ALR 485
Re Howard and Treasurer of the Commonwealth - (1985) 3 AAR 169
Veale and Town of Bassendean - (unreported: Decision N D00494, Information Commissioner of Western Australia, dated 25 March 1994)
Murtagh v Federal Commissioner of Taxation - (1984) 54 ALR 313

Hearing date: 20 December 1995
Decision date: 26 June 1996

Melbourne

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ORDER

Decision: Paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12 and 15 of the letter the subject of the application should be released, and the decision under review is varied accordingly. Otherwise the decision under review is affirmed.