Boardman and Secretary, Department of Social Services (Social services second review)

This matter concerned an interlocutory application for a confidentiality order over documents before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, brought by the applicant, Boardman, against the Secretary of the Department of Social Services. The Senior Member, Chris Puplick AM, presided over the proceedings.

The central legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the applicant had demonstrated sufficient harm or disadvantage to justify departing from the general principle of public hearings and granting a confidentiality order over the documents.

The Tribunal reasoned that no good reason had been advanced to warrant the imposition of any form of confidentiality. The general principle of open justice, which favours public access to proceedings and documents, was therefore upheld. Consequently, the application for a confidentiality order was refused.