Legislation sought on privacy

Press, 26 July 1976, Page 5

Legislation sought on privacy

A pledge that the New Zealand section of the International Commission of Jurists would continue to press for legislation to define unlawful interference with privacy, and to provide a remedy through the courts, is contained in the annual report of the section’s council. The section has worked, for several years with the! relevant Ministers of Justice! on the subject, and has prepared several model' billsj which successive govern-: ments have considered. The section was active! last year as regards pro-1 posed legislation covering! the law-enforcement data, system, and also made submissions on the Listening! Devices Bill and the Privacy! Commissioner Bill. None of I these measures was’ enacted; bj' the Labour Government. ■ The retiring chairman (Mr G. E. Bisson) indicated the jurors’ deep interest in the projected introduction of a Human Rights Commission in New Zealand. "Earlier this year, the council was privileged to have the chairman of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (Dr T. H. B. Svmons) attend its meeting,” Mr Bisson said. “In view of the New Zealand Government’s intention to introduce, such a commission in this! country, the council welcomed the opportunity to! hear first hand of the work! of the commission in Ontario, it having been in’

r existence for 14 years.” 1 The Ontario human rights! ■ code provided protection i i from discrimination on the, ■ grounds of race, creed, col-i • our, sex, marital status, nat- • tonality, ancestry, or place i of origin. “Extensions to in- • elude physical disability and sexual orientation are under li consideration,” Mr Bisson 11 said. 11 He regarded it as inter- ■! esting that Ontario had only ijrecent’y created the office of ■1 Ombudsman. “This is quite I separate from the Human i Rights Commission, as in •I Alberta, where each has acted as a watchdog on the i; other.” The council recommends, jthe establishment of a re-; !| search and charitable trust I fund. The intention is to I, provide “for the promotion ■ of studies in the principles . of the rule of law and of , cognate educational subjects, ! and in the promotion and ! dissemination of knowledge ( of such principles and subjects.” Other matters under con-; ! sideration by the jurists are: I , The preparation of a written constitution for New Zealand. A draft is being l prepared for detailed exam- ■ inati'on, but the matter has . not reached the stage where J a recommendation can be j made. ■ | Contempt of court. The 1: council wrote to the Govern-; ilment seeking a right of apI peal from the Magistrate’s, JCourt to the Supreme Court,'

: freedom of expression on matters not going to trial, ! maximum penalties and confirmation of procedure. In i his reply, the Minister of Justice (Mr Thomson) indicated that the right of appeal sought would be included when the Summary Proceedings Act is amended, probably later this year. Official Secrets Act. A thorough review of this act was sought because it “does not reflect a correct balance between the protection of confidential Government information and the adequate protection of freedom of expression.” The Minister’s reply indicated that this task had no special priority, the report said.