Info. Authority reports

Press, 21 August 1984, Page 6

Info. Authority reports

PA Wellington The Information Authority wants to see fewer refusals for personal information under the Official Information Act, according to the authority’s annual report The report from the chairman of the authority, Sir Alan Danks, has been tabled in Parliament Sir Alan said the authority “has some reservations about the considerable number of refusals made for access to personal information where there are few legal reasons to justify refusal.” . , .

The question would be taken up with departments to find whether some practices and procedures, or even parts of the act, needed revision. “In the normal event, the authority hopes to see fewer such refusals, although deletions of possibly sensitive matters will doubtless continue to be necessary.” Reports from officials showed there had not been a significant increase in requests. But the nature of many requests was such that more senior staff were involved in decision-making, which raised some concern

about the priority that should be given to handling requests in relation to other duties. The act was working well to “facilitate a freely flow-, ing release of official information.” “There is no reason then to believe that a progressive increase in the availability of official information will not continue. “Doubtless there may be further teething problems, but the signs are that officials are willing to commit themselves to fulfulling the spirit and intent of the legislation.”