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Section 63 - Protection in respect of offences

Guidelines

Protection from criminal offences

1.1

A person who authorises access, and a person involved in giving access, to a document under the Act is not guilty of a criminal offence only because they authorised or gave access to a document under the Act. For example, a person authorised under section 26 to make FOI decisions for an agency is protected under this section.

1.2

This protection applies where:

  • an agency or Minister gives access to a document under the Act;
  • the Act required or permitted access to the document;
  • the access was authorised by a Minister, a council, or an authorised officer, who honestly believed the Act required access be given to the document.

See section 62 – Protection against actions for defamation or breach of confidence for more information on what ‘requires’, ‘permits’ and ‘bona fide’ means and when the protection applies.

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Last updated 9 January 2024

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