Press freedom not threatened: Minister

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 7

Press freedom not threatened: Minister

PA Wellington The Minister of Justice (Mr McLay) disputes any suggestion that the freedom of the press is under any attack in New Zealand. In an address to the Commonwealth Press Union's editors' conference in Wellington. Mr McLay said that in New Zealand, subject only to defamation laws and certain security provisions, there was little to limit the press other than propriety and good taste. “To draw such an inference from the fact that politicians of whatever colour will occasionally attack the media for what they regard as unfair, biased or inaccurate reporting, is neither logical nor correct." The Government's responses to proposals for more open government pointed in the other direction. he said.

Mr McLay noted that although the ’ conference was

closed to media, he had released copies of his speech. He firmly believed that there should be a freer flow of information between the Government. Parliament and the general public. However, he said, there were valid reasons why some information could not be made available to “every curious individual."

Mr McLay said he was disappointed by the response to the 3 1 2-monih-old freedom of information policy adopted by his department.

“the blunt truth is that the policy seems to have had little impact. Very few requests are being made outside the obvious categories where information has always been readily provided.

"When I announced my departments information policy I appealed to the news media io respond constructively and with understanding. A similar spirit will be even more necessary in rela-

tion to the whole range of Government information that is likely to be encompassed by legislation on lhe Danks Committee report." A freedom of information act would call for change in very ingrained attitudes. On the question Of freedom of infonnation, Mr McLay struck one note of caution — that any policy of freer access to official information had its tangible price, in terms of resources.

The sort of regime envisaged by the. Danks Committee, he said, would call for reforms of filing systems if it was to work properly and any systematic declassification of security files could be beyond our physical capabilities al present.