Northern Territory Bills Northern Territory Bills[Index] [Search] [Download] [Related Items] [Help]
This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
Serial 156
Public
Information Amendment Bill 2016
Ms
Manison
A Bill for an Act to amend the Public Information Act
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
PUBLIC INFORMATION AMENDMENT ACT 2016
____________________
Act No. [ ] of 2016
____________________
Table of provisions
2A Object
of Act
Part
1A Standards for
giving of public information
5A Ensuring public information is factual
5B Comment
by Agencies
NORTHERN
TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
____________________
Act No. [ ] of 2016
____________________
An Act to amend the Public Information Act
[Assented to [ ] 2016]
[Second reading [ ] 2016]
The Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory enacts as follows:
This Act may be cited as the Public Information Amendment Act 2016.
This Act amends the Public Information Act.
After section 2
insert
The object of this Act is to ensure that public information meets at least one of the following criteria:
(a) the information serves to do any of the following:
(i) maximise compliance with the laws of the Territory;
(ii) achieve awareness of a new or amended law;
(iii) improve public safety or personal security;
(iv) encourage responsible behaviour;
(v) preserve order in the event of an emergency;
(vi) promote awareness of rights, responsibilities, duties or entitlements;
(vii) encourage usage of, or familiarity with, government products or services;
(b) the purpose of the information is to do any of the following:
(i) report on performance in relation to government undertakings;
(ii) communicate functions of government (for example, education campaigns, recruitment, community engagement, expressions of interest, future plans);
(iii) communicate on matters of social cohesion, civic pride, community spirit or tolerance.
After section 5
insert
Part 1A Standards for giving of public information
5A Ensuring public information is factual
A public authority giving public information must ensure:
(a) all facts (including comparisons) and statistics are presented accurately and objectively; and
(b) all arguments are presented objectively; and
(c) the source of all data is indicated or a means for identifying the data source is provided.
An Agency must not, in giving public information, do either of the following:
(a) comment on the views, policies or actions of a particular political party or politician;
(b) attack the views, policies or actions of a particular political party or politician.
(1) Section 6(2)(c)
omit
comments.
insert
comments; or
(2) After section 6(2)(c)
insert
(d) is an advertisement that includes an image of the holder or occupier of the office of a minister.
(3) Section 6(3), after "regard to the"
insert
object of this Act and any
(4) After section 6(4)
insert
(5) The Auditor-General may determine this Act is not contravened by the use of a photograph of a Minister, or a Minister's message, in the giving of public information if:
(a) the primary audience for the giving of public information resides outside of the Territory; and
(b) the Auditor-General is satisfied that the use was intended to increase the effectiveness of the communication.
(6) The Auditor-General may also determine this Act is not contravened by the use of a photograph of a Minister, or a Minister's message, in the giving of public information if:
(a) the information is given to the public in a time of emergency; and
(b) the Auditor-General is satisfied that members of the public would be likely to expect demonstrated leadership from government ministers at such a time.
(1) Section 7(3)(a)
omit
or
insert
and
(2) After section 7(3)(a)
(aa) if the review was conducted on the request of an Assembly member – give a copy of the report to the member; and
(3) Section 7(3)(b), after "include"
insert
a copy of
(4) Section 7(4)
omit
This Act expires on the day after it commences.
[Index] [Search] [Download] [Related Items] [Help]