DQV v University of New England
[2021] NSWCATAP 208
At a glance
Source factsCourt
NCAT Appeal Panel
Decision date
2021-01-22
Before
Dr J
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Judgment (11 paragraphs)
REASONS FOR DECISION
- This appeal concerned the lawfulness of a university collecting the personal information of prospective overseas students and others for the purpose of conducting a pre-visa assessment of the prospective student.
- The appellant, DQV, was a sponsor of his brother's student visa application. The respondent, the University of New England, collected the appellant's personal information for the purpose of making a pre-assessment of his brother's visa application as part of an arrangement between the University and the Commonwealth to streamline student visa applications of prospective overseas students.
- The appellant and his brother unsuccessfully sought "external review" by the Tribunal of the conduct of the University, in collecting their personal information and that of their families, asserting that that conduct contravened the Privacy and Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW). The Tribunal found that there had been no contravention. The appellant contended on appeal that the Tribunal had erred in various ways, including by finding that the University's collection of his personal information was lawful.
- We have found that the Tribunal made an error of fact, being that the collection of the appellant's personal information for the purpose of conducting a pre-visa assessment of his brother was "directly related" to its functions of providing courses to students and developing admission policies. However, we have not granted leave to appeal on this ground, because the collection purpose was directly related to the University's activity of assessing visa applications (and so permissible under the privacy legislation). In these circumstances, a grant of leave would serve no useful purpose and would not be consistent with the application of the Tribunal's guiding principle.
- The appellant has not persuaded us that the Tribunal has made any other error and we have decided to dismiss the appeal.