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This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'I would like to know how many motorists are complaining about the speed camera in Torrens Creek August 2023'.


 
 
 
 
 
Our ref 
RTI-4053 
 
Your ref 
 
Department of  
Enquiries Helen 
Adcock 
Transport and Main Roads 
 
 
 
23 February 2024 
   
 
Ms Leslie Haighway 
 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
 
 
Dear Ms Haighway 
 
Right to Information Access Application - Decision on non-compliant application - 
RTI-4053 
 
I refer to your request received on 22 January 2024 seeking information held by the 
Department of Transport and Main Roads (department) which was considered as an 
access application under the Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld) (RTI Act) requesting: 
 
The number of complaints the department has received about the speed camera 
deployed at Torrens Creek in August 2023. 
 
I also refer to my letter of 22 January 2024 in which I advised that your application was not 
valid as it did not comply with the requirements of section 24(2) of the RTI Act.  
 
My letter provided you with an opportunity to consult with the department with a view to 
making your application in a manner which complies with section 24(2) of the RTI Act. A 
response to this notice was due within 10 business days of you receiving my letter.  
 
In your response dated 26 January 2024 you asked why a fee is required to access public 
information when government is funded by all tax/rate/vehicle registration payers. Further 
information on accessing information held by the Queensland Government is available via 
Accessing information held by Government | Office of the Information Commissioner 
Queensland (oic.qld.gov.au) 
 
Whilst you responded to my letter your response did not satisfy the legislative requirements 
and by my calculations the 10 business day time period has lapsed. 
 
Decision 
 
On 23 February 2024 I made a decision under section 33(6) of the RTI Act to refuse to deal 
with your access application as it does not comply with all relevant legislative requirements. 
Details of my decision are provided in my Statement of Reasons (Attachment A). 
 
Office of Corporate Counsel 
Telephone  07 3066 0709 
RTI, Privacy and Complaints Management 
 
Website 
www.tmr.qld.gov.au 
61 Mary Street Brisbane Queensland 4000  
 
Email  
xxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx  
GPO Box 1549 Brisbane Queensland 4001 
 
ABN 39 407 690 291 
 

In addition, I had regard to the Human Rights Act 2019 (HR Act) including the right to seek 
and receive information in section 21 of that Act. I consider that in applying the RTI Act to 
your application, I am acting compatibly with human rights as required by section 58 of the 
HR Act. 
 
If you are not satisfied with this decision, you can apply for a review under the RTI Act. 
Please refer to Attachment B for complete details regarding your rights of review. 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
 
Helen Adcock 
Principal Advisor (RTI and Privacy) 
 
  
 
 
Page 2 of 8 
ATTACHMENT A 
 
 
Statement of Reasons 
for a decision under the 
Right to Information Act 2009 
 
 
 
Reference Number:   
RTI-4053 
 
Applicant:  
 
Leslie Haighway 
 
Decision Maker:  
Helen 
Adcock 
 
 RTI, Privacy and Complaints Management Team 
    Department 
of 
Transport 
and 
Main 
Roads 
 
Authority: 
By delegation under section 30(2) of the Right to Information Act 
2009 (Qld) 
 
Date of Decision: 
 
23 February 2024 
 
 
The following is a Statement of Reasons for the decision to refuse to deal with a request 
under the Right to Information Act 2009 (Qld) (RTI Act). 
 
Legislation references 
 
Sections of legislation referenced in this Statement are provided in Attachment C. 
 
Scope of request 
 
On 22 January 2024 the Department of Transport and Main Roads (department) received a 
request for access to the below information which was considered as an access application:  
 
The number of complaints the department has received about the speed camera 
deployed at Torrens Creek in August 2023. 
 
Requirements for a valid application 
 
Section 23 of the RTI Act gives a person a right to access documents held by the 
department subject to other requirements as set out in Chapter 3, Part 2 of the RTI Act. 
 
Part 2, Section 24(2) of the RTI Act sets out the minimum requirements for a valid 
application, more specifically: 
 
(2) The application must— 
 
(a)  be in the approved form and be accompanied by the application fee; and 
(b)  give sufficient information concerning the document to enable a responsible 
officer of the agency or the Minister to identify the document; and 
(c)  state an address to which notices under this Act may be sent to the applicant; 
and 
Page 3 of 8 
(d)  state whether access to the document is sought for the benefit of, or use of 
the document by- 
(i)  the applicant; or 
(ii)  another entity; and 
 
Example for paragraph (d)(ii)- 
A journalist makes an access application for a document for use of the document by an 
electronic or print media organisation.  
(e)  if access to the document is sought for the benefit of, or use of the document 
by, another entity other than the applicant – the name of the other entity. 
 
I did not consider that the original access application met these minimum requirements as 
payment of the application fee was required in addition to confirmation in writing on whether 
the applicant was seeking access to the information for the use or benefit of another person, 
company or body.  
 
Prerequisites before refusal to deal with an application 
 
Section 33 of the RTI Act sets out the requirements for what an agency must do when 
dealing with an invalid application. More specifically, section 33(2), (3) and (7) of the RTI Act 
state: 
 
(2)   The agency or Minister must make reasonable efforts to contact the person within 15 
business days after the purported application is received and inform the person how 
the application does not comply with a relevant application requirement. 
 
(3)   An agency or Minister must not refuse to deal with an application because it does not 
comply with all relevant application requirements without first giving the applicant a 
reasonable opportunity to consult with a view to making an application in a form 
complying with all relevant application requirements. 
 
 (7)  In this section— 
 
relevant application requirement, for an access application, means a matter set 
out in section 24(2) or (3) that is required for the application. 
 
Consultation 
 
On 22 January 2024 I wrote to the applicant stating that I had formed the view that 
the application was not valid and that a written response providing the additional 
information was required within 10 business days of receiving this notification. In the 
applicant’s response she failed to provide the additional information required for the 
application to be considered valid.  
 
Refusal to deal with an application 
 
I consider that by the steps set out above, I have undertaken all of the requirements set out 
in section 33(2) and (3) of the RTI Act prior to making a decision on this access application. 
 
Section 33(6) of the RTI Act sets out the time frame within which an applicant must be 
notified of the agency’s decision. More specifically:  
 
(6)   If, after giving the opportunity mentioned in subsection (3) and any consultation, an 
agency or Minister decides the application does not comply with all relevant 
application requirements, the agency or Minister must, within 10 business days 
after making the decision, give the applicant prescribed written notice of the 
decision. 
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Section 191 of the RTI Act sets out the requirements for a prescribed written notice and I 
consider these requirements have been met in this statement of reasons. 
 
I consider that the response time of 10 business days to be a reasonable opportunity for the 
applicant to respond to my letter either providing the additional information required or to 
undertake further consultation.  
 
As the applicant’s response did not provide the required information I consider it appropriate 
to make a decision on whether or not to deal with this application. 
 
Decision 
 
After consideration of the above, I have decided under section 33(6) of the RTI Act to refuse 
to deal with this access application as it does not comply with all relevant legislative 
requirements. 
 
Page 5 of 8 
ATTACHMENT B 
 
Right to Information Act 2009 
 
REVIEW RIGHTS 
 
If you are dissatisfied or aggrieved with the decision of this department made under the Right to 
Information Act 2009 (Qld) (RTI Act), you can apply for an internal or external review of the decision. 
 
An application for internal review must be in writing (detailing your grounds for appealing), state an 
address to which notices under the RTI Act may be sent and be lodged with the Department within 20 
business days of the date of the written notice of this decision. Any personal information you provide 
in your application for an internal review will be managed in accordance with the Information Privacy 
Act 2009 (Qld). Applications for internal review should be forwarded: 
 
By Post to: 
 
 Director 
 
RTI, Privacy and Complaints Management 
 
Department of Transport and Main Roads 
 
GPO Box 1549 
 
BRISBANE QLD 4001 
 
OR 
 
By Email to: 
 
 Director 
 
RTI, Privacy and Complaints Management 
 
Department of Transport and Main Roads 
 xxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx 
 
Your internal review application will be referred to another officer of this agency who is at least as 
senior as the original decision-maker and who will consider the matter afresh. You will be notified of 
the decision within 20 business days after the agency receives your internal review application. Using 
the internal review option gives the agency an opportunity to consider additional evidence or 
information that is raised in an internal review application and conduct any necessary further 
searches.   
 
You do not have to request an internal review to be eligible to apply for an external review by the 
independent Information Commissioner. You may apply for external review by the Information 
Commissioner under section 85 of the RTI Act. External reviews may take 4‐5 months to complete.  
 
An application for external review must be in writing (detailing your grounds for appealing), state an 
address to which notices under the RTI Act may be sent and be lodged with the Information 
Commissioner within 20 business days of the date of the written notice of this decision. Under the 
RTI Act and the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 (Qld), you are taken to "receive" this decision on the day 
on which you should receive it in the ordinary course of post.  
 
An application for external review can be forwarded to the Office of the Information Commissioner by 
the following methods: 
 
 
In person: 
Level 11, 53 Albert Street, Brisbane 4000 
 
Post:   
PO Box 10143, Adelaide Street, Brisbane Qld 4000 
 Email: 
 xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx 
 Online:  https://www.oic.qld.gov.au/about/right-to-information/apply-for-external-
review-of-an-access-or-amendment-decision 
 
If you have any questions about submitting an external review, you can contact the Office of the 
Information Commissioner on 07 3234 7373. 
Page 6 of 8 
ATTACHMENT C 
Right to Information Act 2009 
 
23 Right to be given access to particular documents 
(1) Subject to this Act, a person has a right to be given access under this Act to— 
(a) documents of an agency; and 
(b) documents of a Minister. 
 
Notes— 
1 See part 2 for how to exercise this right to access. 
2 Exclusions of the right are provided for under part 4 (which provides particular circumstances 
where an entity may refuse to deal with an application) and section 47 (which provides grounds 
on which an entity may refuse access). 
3 A limitation on the right is set out in section 73 (which provides that, in particular circumstances, 
an entity may delete irrelevant information from a document before giving access). 
 
(2) Subsection (1) applies to documents even if they came into existence before the commencement 
of this Act. 
Note— 
Section 27 deems an access application to apply only to documents that are, or may be, in 
existence on the day the application is received. 
 
24 Making access application 
(1) A person who wishes to be given access to a document of an agency or a document of a 
Minister under this Act may apply to the agency or Minister for access to the document. 
 
Notes— 
1 Minister is defined to include a Parliamentary Secretary—see schedule 6. 
2 Section 25 provides for access applications by parents for children and section 190 clarifies the 
powers of those acting for others. 
3 For an application made for a person, the person (and not the agent) is the applicant—see 
schedule 6, definition applicant. This may be particularly relevant for section 66 (Applicant under 
financial hardship). 
 
(2) The application must— 
(a) be in the approved form and be accompanied by the application fee; and 
(b) give sufficient information concerning the document to enable a responsible officer of 
the agency or the Minister to identify the document; and 
(c) state an address to which notices under this Act may be sent to the applicant; and 
(d) state whether access to the document is sought for the benefit of, or use of the 
document by- 
(i) the 
applicant; 
or 
(ii)  another entity; and 
Example for paragraph (d)(ii)- 
A journalist makes an access application for a document for use of the document by an electronic or 
print media organisation.  
(e) if access to the document is sought for the benefit of, or use of the document by, 
another entity other than the applicant – the name of the other entity. 
 
(3) Also, if the application is for access to a document containing personal information of the 
applicant, the applicant must provide with the application or within 10 business days after making 
the application— 
(a) evidence of identity for the applicant; and 
(b) if an agent is acting for the applicant—evidence of the agent’s authorisation and 
evidence of identity for the agent. 
Examples of an agent’s authorisation— 
• the will or court order appointing the agent to act as the applicant’s guardian 
• the client agreement authorising a legal practitioner to act for an applicant 
• if the application is made in reliance on section 25, evidence the agent is the child’s 
parent 
 
(4) The application fee mentioned in subsection (2)(a) may not be waived. 
Note— 
However, an application fee must be refunded if a deemed decision is made—see section 46(1). 
 
(5) In this section— 
evidence of identity means the evidence of identity prescribed under a regulation. 
Page 7 of 8 
30 Decision-maker for application to agency 
(1) An access application to an agency must be dealt with for the agency by the agency’s principal 
officer. 
 
(2) The agency’s principal officer may delegate the power to deal with the application to another 
officer of the agency. 
 
33 Noncompliance with application requirement 
(1) This section applies if— 
 
(a) a person purports to make an access application for a document to an agency or 
Minister; and 
(b) the application does not comply with all relevant application requirements. 
 
(2) The agency or Minister must make reasonable efforts to contact the person within 15 business 
days after the purported application is received and inform the person how the application does 
not comply with a relevant application requirement. 
 
(3) An agency or Minister must not refuse to deal with an application because it does not comply 
with all relevant application requirements without first giving the applicant a reasonable opportunity 
to consult with a view to making an application in a form complying with all relevant application 
requirements. 
 
(4) The applicant is taken to have made an application under this Act if and when the application is 
made in a form complying with all relevant application requirements. 
 
(5) If, after giving the opportunity mentioned in subsection (3) and any consultation, an agency or 
Minister decides the application does not comply with all relevant application requirements, the 
agency or Minister must, within 10 business days after making the decision, give the applicant 
prescribed written notice of the decision. 
 
(6) In this section— 
relevant application requirement, for an access application, means a matter set out in 
section 24(2) or (3) that is required for the application. 
 
191 Contents of prescribed written notice 
If an agency or Minister must give a person a prescribed written notice of a decision under this Act, 
the notice must be in writing and state the following details— 
(a) the decision; 
(b) the reasons for the decision; 
Note— 
See the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 27B (Content of statement of reasons for 
decision). 
(c) the day the decision was made; 
(d) the name and designation of the person making the decision; 
(e) if the decision is not the decision sought by the person—any rights of review under this 
Act in relation to the decision, the procedures to be followed for exercising the rights and 
the time within which an application for review must be made. 
 
 
 
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