Public servant travel docs can be FOIed: Information Commissioner

In a decision that could create a precedent for other requests for such documents, Commissioner Angelene Falk said there was "strong public interest" in the disclosure of such documents.

The case relates to a request by Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick over travel documents lodged by a Defence Department staff member within a particular time period. Defence identified three documents as part of the request, but refused to release the documents, citing the personal privacy exemption in the legislation.

In other news: Rape oval and rock spidering: Court hears what went on at 'notorious' ANU college

That argument was rejected by Ms Falk, who found that because the documents detailed government expenditure, they should be able to be released.

"There is a strong public interest in the disclosure of documents that include information on the actions taken by public servants in the service of the Commonwealth, particularly with respect to the expenditure and the use of Commonwealth resources," the decision said.

"Disclosure of such documents would further transparency and accountability which are fundamental to Australian democracy and to the Australian Public Service."

Ms Falk said "disclosure of the documents would do no more than reveal work-related expenditure that the named individual undertook in the ordinary course of their duties".

"I am not satisfied that the department has established that disclosure would result in an unreasonable disclosure of personal information in this case."

The Defence Department must now re-consider Senator Patrick's request for the documents.

Senator Patrick said, "It's really important from a transparency and accountability perspective that any official that is using public money understands that they can be subject to scrutiny not just by their superior but by anyone who wishes to FOI them."

In other news: ACT doctors call for urgent COVID-19 testing for all elective surgery patients

Spending on credit cards doesn't undergo the same internal prior scrutiny as procurement decisions, Senator Patrick pointed out, and some senior bureaucrats were given wide boundaries within which spending could be made.

"Unlike a procurement order which is assessed by several officials, a credit card can be used by a single person at their own discretion and is open to abuse," he said.

"We know that there has been and there will likely be fraudulent use of government credit cards and the utility of this decision is it gives someone who might be doing the wrong thing an extra thing to be concerned, about. It's not just superiors who can conduct scrutiny, now any member of the public can."