Open AccessFree and Frank Advice and the Official Information Act
Author(s) -
Andrew Kibblewhite,
Peter Boshier
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
policy quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2324-1101
pISSN - 2324-1098
DOI - 10.26686/pq.v14i2.5088
Subject(s) - cabinet (room) , advice (programming) , government (linguistics) , agency (philosophy) , work (physics) , public administration , relation (database) , political science , law , business , public relations , sociology , engineering , computer science , mechanical engineering , social science , linguistics , philosophy , database , programming language
Concern exists that New Zealand hasn’t struck the right balance between two potentially competing principles of good government: officials should provide free and frank advice to ministers, and the public should have opportunities to participate in decision making and hold the government to account. Steps we have taken to address this include: strengthening constitutional underpinnings for free and frank advice (Cabinet Manual changes and issuing expectations for officials); a work programme to improve government agency practice in relation to the Official Information Act; and the Office of the Ombudsman reducing uncertainty about when advice can be withheld by issuing new principles-based guidance and providing more advisory services.