| OIA report could have serious ramifications |
Posted 8th Dec 2015
Filed under: Open Government |
Labour has serious concerns about the wide ranging and potentially chilling effect on the flow of government information following the release Beverley Wakem’s report, Labour’s Open Government spokesperson Clare Curran says.
“Today’s report by the Chief Ombudsman into the Official Information Act shows government departments are being encouraged by Minister’s offices to withhold material for political reasons. This is further delaying the release of information.
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“The report also highlights the falling quality of public debate because the Government is failing to follow the requirements of the Act.
“While some findings in this report should send a signal to the Government to improve its performance, there are a number of concerning comments by Beverley Wakem that may have the opposite result.
“The suggestion that media and politicians could be charged for information could set a dangerous precedent. There is a long standing convention that agencies don’t charge media or politicians because it would stifle the free flow of information which is in the public interest.
“A further suggestion that agencies should rely more on legal provisions allowing them to refuse requests due to the administrative burden could also restrict access to information.
“This inquiry was sparked by John Key’s lack of transparency and admission last October that the Government sometimes delays releasing information right up to the deadline for political purposes.
“Beverley Wakem has admitted (see letter attached) she had no jurisdiction to interview the Prime Minister or Ministers as part of this inquiry. The report is poorer for that.
“The free flow of information is vital to a functioning democracy and must be maintained,” Clare Curran says. |
| John Key should be part of OIA inquiry |
Posted 19th Oct 2015
Filed under: Open Government |
The Chief Ombudsman’s description of the Prime Minister’s attitude to releasing public information as “cavalier” and “a disregard for the law” reinforces growing concerns that democratic principles are being consistently undermined, Labour’s Open Government spokesperson Clare Curran says.
Labour has today written to Dame Beverley Wakem requesting John Key be interviewed as part of her wide-ranging review of Official Information Act practices across the public sector.
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“We also believe the role political advisers in Minister’s offices play by blocking the release of information is a critical part of this inquiry.
“It sends a dangerous message if the Prime Minister shows a disregard for the law. This flows down through his Ministers, advisers and the attitudes of top public servants.
“How can middle ranking public servants respond objectively to OIA requests if their political masters expect them to delay, redact or block it?
“Given John Key’s lack of transparency and regard for the law was called into question last October – when he admitted the Government sometimes delays releasing official information right up to the deadline for political purposes – this inquiry must place emphasis on his words and attitude.
“The Ombudsman has a very important role to keep our Government honest and ensure the public has access to information. There is no other body in New Zealand which can do that.
“Labour supports the proactive release of Cabinet and other papers being made publicly available on a dedicated website,” Clare Curran says. |
| Customs seeks big brother powers |
Posted 5th Mar 2015
Filed under: Open Government |
A proposal giving New Zealand Customs powers to compel anyone to provide passwords and encryption keys to their electronic devices is another step towards a surveillance society and should be strongly resisted, Labour’s ICT spokesperson Clare Curran said today.
“There are existing powers in search and surveillance law and other legislation which provide compulsion to disclose a password if someone passes through Customs and is under suspicion.
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“This is another example of New Zealand falling into line with its five eyes partners, the US, Australia, Canada and the UK and is another step towards the erosion of civil liberties and privacy.
“It’s also a disturbing new piece of evidence that encryption as a business model is under threat.
“In January, UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s suggestion that a new Tory government would ban messaging apps that use encryption was described by the international tech industry and security experts as ‘living in cloud cuckoo land’ with a massive detrimental effect on the IT industry.
“In New Zealand it could lead to stifling innovation of new businesses which provide encryption services and even dissuade people from travelling to a country with such draconian laws,“ says Clare Curran.
“It is over the top and unwarranted. If the law already provides for the requirement to provide passwords and encryption keys when someone is under suspicion. Why does Customs need wholesale powers to compel all travellers?” |
| Ombudsman probe targets Ministerial integrity |
Posted 16th Dec 2014
Filed under: Open Government |
John Key is on notice that the entrenched cynical and manipulative abuse of official information requests by his Government will no longer be tolerated, Labour’s Open Government spokesperson Clare Curran says.
“The announcement by the Ombudsman of a wide-ranging review of Official Information Act practices across the public sector includes all Ministerial offices.
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“It will undoubtedly lay bare the widespread and systematic practice of avoidance, delay and lack of accountability to requests for what is public information.
“This is where the rubber hits the road for John Key’s lack of transparency. In October he admitted the Government sometimes delays releasing official information right up to the deadline for political purposes.
“Labour revealed a year ago that most ministers deliberately and systematically wait until the last minute to release information or extend the deadline and then heavily redact documents, requiring a complaint to the Ombudsman which can take months, sometimes more than a year to resolve.
“As a result many issues of high public interest are unable to be addressed because crucial information has not been released.
“Requests are also frequently turned down on the basis they need substantial research and collation, when they don’t.
“John Key’s chickens are now coming home to roost. He, his Ministers and all government departments and agencies involved in the review, must fully comply with the Ombudsman’s review of OIA practices.
“Labour looks forward to working with the Ombudsman through this review to clean up and streamline OIA processes so that all New Zealanders have access to the information they need,” Clare Curran said. |
© 2018 Authorised by Clare Curran
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