LAWS8243 Freedom of Information and Privacy

LAWS8243 is only available under certain award programs.

Offered By	Law
Academic Career	Graduate Coursework
Course Subject	Laws
Offered in	Summer Session, 2010 and Winter Session, 2011
Unit Value	6 units
Course Description	We are living in the Information Age! Governments and the private sector collect and hold vast amounts of information and we each disclose information about ourselves on an almost daily basis. Do we, as individuals, have any control over information that relates to us? In the interests of openness and accountability, do we have access to government held information? On what grounds can information be shared, released, withheld and stored? The aim of this course is to explore the way in which information is regulated in Australia by the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). The key themes of collection, access, amendment and disclosure of information will be explored from the perspective of: citizens exercising their access and amendment rights government agencies and private sector organisations who have certain responsibilities in terms of the way information is managed; and those who make decisions and administer the FOI and Privacy Acts.
Learning Outcomes	At the conclusion of this course students should be able to: demonstrate a working knowledge of the FOI and Privacy Acts understand the procedure for making a FOI request and the decision making process that follows understand the procedure for gaining access to, and amending, personal information make arguments in support of granting, and refusing, access to information apply case law and legislation to factual scenarios comment on, and critically discuss, the future directions of FOI and privacy law in Australia
Indicative Assessment	There will be two pieces of assessment - one with a FOI theme and the other with a privacy theme. The assessments will have equal weighting. Students must rely on the Approved Assessment which will be posted to the course homepage on the ANU Law website, prior to the commencement of the course.
Workload	26 Contact Hours (Intensive Delivery) Click here for the 2010 timetable
Course Classification(s)	AdvancedAdvanced courses are designed for students having reached 'first degree' level of assumed knowledge, which provide a deep understanding of contemporary issues; or 'second degree' and higher levels of knowledge; or for transition to research training programs. and SpecialistSpecialist courses are designed for students having reached 'first degree' level of assumed knowledge, which provide for the acquisition of specialist skills; or 'second degree' and higher level of knowledge; or for transition to research training programs; or knowledge associated with professional accreditation.
Areas of Interest	Law
Requisite Statement	LAWS8153 Introduction to Legal Reasoning and Research (non-lawyers); LAWS8568 Fundamentals of Government and Commercial Law (non-lawyers)
Recommended Courses	It would be helpful, but not compulsory, for students to have completed an Administrative Law course prior to commencing this course.
Prescribed Texts	Nil. Students are encouraged to have access to an up-to-date consolidation of the FOI and Privacy Acts as they will be needed for in-class exercises.
Preliminary Reading	The preliminary reading required for this course will be available from the course home page at least one week prior to the commencement of the course.
Indicative Reading List	A reading guide will be available on the Course home page.
Programs	Graduate Diploma in Government and Commercial Law, Master of Legal Studies, and Master of Government and Commercial Law
Other Information	Click here for fee and census date information
Academic Contact	Natalie Butler and Graduate Administration

The information published on the Study at ANU 2010 website applies to the 2010 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2009 website.