Information bill scorned

Press, 11 June 1977, Page 20

Information bill scorned

PA Wellington A Freedom of Information Bill, giving the general public increased access to official information was introduced in Parliament by the Opposition member for Auckland Central (Mr R. W. Prebble). Government members allowed the bill to be introduced, but described it as a political ploy which would bring about a complete change in the pattern of relations between the Public Service and the Government. The bill provides for Government agencies and local and other organisations to make available to the public a register of official information. However, certain official information would not he available to the general public, including deliberations of the Executive Council, Cabinet documents, communications between Ministers, personal records, documents concerning the security of New Zealand, intelligence

systems, trade secrets, and medical records. The individual had as much right to information about the Prime Minister’s Department as about his local pest destruction board, said Mr Pebble. New Zealand was lagging behind the rest of the world in freedom of information. He said he intended referring the legislation to the Statutes Revision Committee to get a “workable” act. However, this intention was later defeated by the Government in a votei The legislation would also have a great effect on the news media in New Zealand, Mr Pebble said. The public and the media were not entitled to information on many key issues, and in reality the news media were thus not entirely free. Mr M. J. Minogue (Nat., Hamilton West) said he could not look upon Mr Pebble’s hill as a responsible document. “I cannot share his naive approach.” There had been more

than 200 law suits seeking disclosure of information after the passage of the Freedom of Information Act in the United States, and the bill would make non-disclosure of information more the rule than it was now. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) said that Mr Minogue had been “parading up and down the country’, entertaining Rotary clubs,” on the subject of freedom of information and open government but was now “singing a different tune.” Describing Mr Minogue s speech as “ungracious ami snivelling," Mr Rowling ‘■aid Mr Pebble had put a lot of work into the bill, and should be commended. The bill is scheduled lor a_second reading on June Table tennis.—Graham Lassen ■and Angela Brackenridge, bolt members of the Nev. Zealand table tennis team to the world championships earlier this rear bad to R?--t bard for their Ain k tß’.d <lo-ed , fiairp’onshiot singles titles over Quern - Bi-th-<la\ week-end Roth had Io ‘ ir tin five. setter* for their wins.