Home -> Law Blog Directory -> International Law Blogs -> Open and Shut

OR PHONE (866) 635-1838 for Bankruptcy Help, (866) 635-6190 for Divorce,
(866) 635-2689 for Personal Injury or (866) 635-9402 for Criminal Defense

Find a Local Lawyer

Bankruptcy (866) 635-1838
Divorce (866) 635-6190
Personal Injury (866) 635-2689
Criminal Defense (866) 635-9402

International Law

: Open and Shut

WA Premier says charge changes needed to curb Opposition FOI appetite

ADVERTISEMENTS

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett cried foul in The Australian today about Opposition use of the Freedom of information Act for "frivolous and wasteful" fishing expeditions and threatened changes to the charging regime in response. But this line:

"Mr Barnett said the state's FOI system was something for new special counsel to the state government, former director of public prosecutions Robert Cock QC, to consider."

may represent a narrow view of what's needed, given the fact that the West, along with Victoria and South Australia seems entirely unmoved to date on the need for fundamental re-examination of access to government information laws to meet contemporary expectations . Special counsel?

Charges in WA are generally in line with elsewhere (for non-personal requests $30 application fee and $30 per hour for processing but no charge for time spent to locate relevant documents) and no other jurisdictions are talking about an increase. NSW recently enacted the 1989 rates in the new Government Information (Public Access) Act making it that much harder for changes.Here is a reminder of the pre and post election statements about FOI in the West. Sven Bluemmel was appointed Information Commissioner in May.

Full post as published by Open and Shut on August 26, 2009 (boomark / email).

Lawsuits and Settlements

Man Awarded $600,000 for Curb Accident Which Caused a Fracture
Curb Accident Which Caused a Fracture Results in $600,000 Settlement

Wesley A. Snyder et al.
alleging the consultants perpetrated a Ponzi scheme by encouraging borrowers to lend more than they needed.

NCAA and Ticketmaster
alleging they have a monopoly on college sports events and charge non-refundable fees to enter a lottery for the rights to purchase tickets to the sporting events.

Related Searches