Information Consultants Pty Ltd
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Freedom of Information Resources Welcome to my Freedom of Information (FOI) pages, where you will find helpful information for FOI practitioners. For example, there are comparative tables showing analogous provisions in Australian FOI legislation to assist in searching for precedents in other jurisdictions. Over time this will be expanded to cover the major English-speaking FOI jurisdictions internationally, with direct links to the legislative source. The links page lists FOI sites around the world. The training page gives details of upcoming FOI training courses. Below is an excerpt from my book about the application of the public interest balancing test. FOI practitioners (people who handle FOI matters professionally, in or out of government) are invited to e-mail me with comments or questions at any time. As noted on the "what's new? page, change is underway in several Australian FOI regimes. My Queensland course materials have been rewritten to support decision-makers in applying the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTIA), which commenced on 1 July 2009. For New South Wales, I have rewritten my two-day FOI course to cover the requirements of the Government Information (Public Access) Act (GI(PA)), which commenced on 1 July 2010. For the brochure for the next GIPA courses on September 26 and 27, click here; for more details, see Training Courses. Tasmania's new Right to Information Act also commenced on 1 July 2010. I have also provided training in the reforms to the federal FOI Act, which came into effect on 1 November 2010 and May 2011. If you are reading this page because you are planning to make an FOI request, see my page for members of the general public. It now includes a list of specific links for FOI requesters in Australia. I hope it will set you on the road to finding the specific person or organisation who can answer your questions. Megan Carter |
Freedom of Information: Balancing the Public Interest
by Megan Carter and Andrew Bouris
Second Edition
May 2006
ISBN 1 903 903 50 5
copyright 2006 by The Constitution Unit, UCL, and Information Consultants Pty Ltd
The first edition of “Balancing the Public Interest” was commissioned by the Office of the Information Commissioner (UK) and written by Meredith Cook of The Constitution Unit, University College London, in 2003. It has been the Unit’s top-selling title ever since. Megan Carter (an Honorary Senior Research Fellow of The Constitution Unit) is an FOI practitioner and trainer with over twenty-five years’ experience in Australia, Ireland, and UK FOI matters. Her co-author, Australian barrister Andrew Bouris, has over twenty years' experience in administrative law.
They have completely overhauled and revised this book so that it provides support for FOI decision-makers in all Westminster-style jurisdictions.
386 relevant cases are analysed in terms of their public interest arguments, with reference to 57 more. The main jurisdictions studied include the
United Kingdom, Scotland, Ireland, Australia (federal and two states), Canada, and New Zealand. Tables of cases listing public interest
arguments, further references, and a detailed index are intended to make this a useful cross-jurisdictional resource for FOI practitioners.
The book is offered for sale as a 330-page printed book with an accompanying electronic copy provided in PDF format on CD-ROM. Of the 635 footnotes,
over 500 include web links which can easily be clicked from the PDF to the full text of decisions and other FOI resources. This flyer (1.1 MB PDF) provides information on how to order
the book from UCL. Before ordering you may wish to look at the table of contents and introductory pages (324 K PDF).
Plan for updates: This edition is as current as was practical; for example, UK and Scottish cases are complete through April 2006, and the Australian chapters include discussion of the
WorkCover decision in the New South Wales Court of Appeal (24 April 2006). The authors are currently preparing an updated international and Australian edition; all comments, corrections, and suggestions are welcome.
Copyright Notice: The material on this website is subject to copyright.
Apart from any use as permitted under the
Copyright Act 1968,
no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission.
Inquiries should be directed to Information Consultants Pty Ltd,
P.O. Box 1777, Ashfield, New South Wales 1800, Australia.
