New guide – The OIA and parliamentary privilege

The Chief Ombudsman has published a new guide in response to questions about the impact of the Parliamentary Privilege Act (PPA) on the OIA.

The new guide explains that the PPA does not provide a reason for withholding parliamentary proceedings. Justification for withholding parliamentary proceedings has to be found in the usual withholding grounds. It also confirms that the PPA does not prevent the Ombudsman from investigating and reviewing complaints about the withholding of parliamentary proceedings.