Revised Draft of Bill & Public Interest Override

Meeting report

JOINT AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE OPEN DEMOCRACY BILL
15 December 1999
REVISED DRAFT OF BILL & PUBLIC INTEREST OVERRIDE

Documents Handed Out
Open Democracy Bill [B 67-98]: Public Interest Override: Comparison With Freedom Of Information Legislation Of Other Jurisdictions (OPD94)
Open Democracy Bill (Revised Draft- 15 December 1999) (OPD95)

SUMMARY
The two documents, OPD94and 95 were handed out to committee members.
Ms Van Schoor, the drafter, discussed the new changes, options and amendments included in the latest draft of the Open Democracy Bill and why they had been included in the Bill. There were a few areas which still needed some amendments following the discussion of the past few days. The members would be supplied with these few further amendments during the course of the recess via the PMG website. Mr De Lange thanked the members for all their time and hard work.

Committee programme
12 - 14 January: Review of the suggested revisions to the Open Democracy Bill
The Chair noted that he intends for the committee to sit past 5pm
17 -19 January: Continued review of the Bill with finalisation of the draft
20 & 21 January Debate & voting on Bill
24 January: Consideration of the Whistleblower Act in anticipation of
debate & voting in early February.