About Melanie

Melanie acts for government clients in public and administrative law, with a particular expertise in freedom of information (FOI) and privacy. Melanie has appeared or instructed in numerous proceedings before tribunals and courts in these areas. She also provides regular and wide-ranging advice to government clients on their statutory powers and duties and the operation of legislation affecting their activities.

Experience

  • FOI & privacy

    Melanie regularly advises on FOI matters and appears in FOI proceedings at VCAT. Examples of cases in which she has achieved a successful outcome include Willner v City of Port Phillip [2015] VCAT 1320 (CCTV footage), PJE v Department of Education & Training [2016] VCAT 751 (complaint and investigation documents), Coulson v Freedom of Information Commissioner [2016] VCAT 1521 (internal working documents and legal professional privilege), Kweifio-Okai v Swinburne University of Technology [2018] VCAT 671 (job application) and Chopra v Department of Education & Training [2019] VCAT 986 (power to order further searches).

  • FOI & privacy

    Melanie also regularly advises on privacy issues, privacy policies and collection statements, privacy impact assessments, and responding to data breaches. She also appears in privacy proceedings at VCAT, and was involved in one of the first privacy decisions, which concerned CCTV, Ng v Department of Education [2005] VCAT 1054.

  • FOI & privacy

    Melanie is the author of the Victorian FOI and Privacy Chapters in the Lawyers Practice Manual, and regularly presents at Leo Cussen’s annual FOI and Privacy Conference.

Online Access