Kline v. Official Secretary to the Governor General and Anor

Lower Court Judgment

19/12/2012 Federal Court of Australia (Keane CJ, Besanko and Robertson JJ)

[2012] FCAFC 184

Catchwords

Administrative law – Freedom of Information – Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (“the Act”) – Request for access to documents – Documents concerning appointments to the Order of Australia – Under s 6A documents that relate to matters of an administrative nature are exempt from the Act – Whether documents that relate to powers and functions of Governor General in administering the Order of Australia relate to matters of an administrative nature – Meaning of “administrative nature”.

Words and phrases – “of an administrative nature” – “substantive power or function”.

Short Particulars