9. Official Information Act—ReformBRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of JusticeOfficial Information Act—Reform9. BRETT HUDSON (National) to the Minister of Justice: What reform is he planning to make to the Official Information Act 1982?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice): The Act is almost 35 years old and the public's expectations about access to official information are greater now than ever before. [Interruption] And for the benefit of the members opposite the Official Information Act is the responsibility of the Minister of Justice. As stated in the Speech from the Throne this Government will foster a more open and democratic society—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I do want to ask—you know I've just indicated that my left ear is not the strong one but I'm having trouble using my right ear to hear that member. Can we have a little more hush. Thank you.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I'll try to use my outside voice Mr Speaker. It will strengthen transparency around—Brett Hudson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I just note that the Minister in his response claimed that the Act was under the responsibility of the Minister of Justice. I refer that Minister and your good self to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) website which is very clear in the delegations for the Associate Minister of State Services (Open Government) that all matters of official information and the Official Information Act are under the delegations for that Minister.Mr SPEAKER: And I'm going to deal with that. It was a matter that was referred to because it was a question about where the question was going. The Act is administered by the Minister of Justice and I think now I want to ask the Minister of Justice whether he's said enough or whether he wants to add something.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I'm happy to move on to the supplementary questions Mr Speaker.Brett Hudson: Under his planned reform will it be the norm for the Chief Ombudsman to have to make a recommendation in order for documents to be released?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The approach that this Government has taken to official information is to look to the report of the Law Commission in 2012 which the previous Government did nothing about; the recommendations of the Chief Ombudsman in 2015 which the previous Government did nothing about; and to look to questions of attitude and behaviour because that is the way we will change the effectiveness of the Official Information Act.Brett Hudson: Will he and the Hon Clare Curran be in the meeting with the Chief Ombudsman to discuss the Chief Ombudsman's recommendation with respect to the 33-page coalition document?Mr SPEAKER: Order! That's not an area of responsibility.Dr Duncan Webb: Can he point to any examples where the Government has released information proactively?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Yes Mr Speaker. This Government—Mr SPEAKER: Order! No no. I'm in a similar way ruling that out. The proactive releases as opposed to a review of the Act—it is an area that is quite different and doesn't flow from the original question.Brett Hudson: Does he support the Chief Ombudsman's recommendations with respect to the release of the 33-page coalition document?Mr SPEAKER: Order! I'm going to rule that out again as I did for Ms Bennett earlier in the week for the same reasons.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I hesitate to say that I'm looking for clarification—Mr SPEAKER: Well I'll repeat what I said earlier on. I'm yet to be convinced and I have seen no evidence for the assertion made that there is a 33-page coalition document and there is certainly not a document for which this Minister has ministerial responsibility and—Brett Hudson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr SPEAKER: I'm just really hoping that Mr Hudson is not going to challenge me.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. With regard to your uncertainty about the 33-page document does that mean that you are not convinced by the admission to the House by the Rt Hon Winston Peters that such a document exists?Mr SPEAKER: As I indicated earlier in the week and I think what everyone was aware of there is a document. What I have not been—no one has provided me any evidence that it is a coalition document that is a responsibility of the Government.Hon Nikki Kaye: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Just on this issue of delegation—I'd ask the Speaker to have a look at the delegation on the DPMC website. It says all work around official information". It's very clear so—Hon Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr SPEAKER: Well—Hon Chris Hipkins: I think I can probably help. I have the wording in front of me here which says that the Associate Minister is responsible for all work around official information and the Official Information Act under the purview of the State Services Commission.Mr SPEAKER: Thank you."