QUT students await decision on 18C case

A long-running legal fight by two former students unsuccessfully sued for racial discrimination may soon be drawing to an end.

Two former university students who were unsuccessfully sued for racial discrimination may be a step closer to finding out how the Human Rights Commission handled their case.

Calum Thwaites and Jackson Powell, who were last year taken to court by Queensland University of Technology staffer Cindy Prior, had their final hearing against the federal Information Commissioner in Brisbane.

As well as seeking $250,000 under section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, Ms Prior also complained to the Human Rights Commissioner (HRC) about the pair and a third student, Alex Wood.

That came after they posted comments on social media about the university's indigenous-only computer lab in 2013.

Mr Thwaites and Mr Powell later made a Freedom of Information request for files in their case, but the HRC refused their application.

According to the HRC there wasn't enough time or resources to sort through the many documents.

The pair appealed to Information Commissioner Timothy Pilgrim and he found five months later that the HRC had done the right thing because there were no documents.

The students' lawyer, Anthony Morris QC said the case was about finding out what went on with the HRC.

Following a procedural hearing on Tuesday, Federal Circuit Court Judge Michael Jarrett said a date for decision would be set down later.


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Source: AAP



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