Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I agree with Senator Mansergh. I have some experience working these things, both as an official and as an ombudsman. There are vexatious complainants just as there are vexatious litigants from whom the courts occasionally have to refuse to accept actions. It is an exercise in judgment. The trouble is that requests might be off the wall in 98 cases, but the next request might not be so. Like Senator Mansergh, I do not believe any evidence has been produced from anybody's experience of public servants having unduly used this.

There needs to be some protection against people simply going on fishing expeditions and inordinate cost is a sufficiently reasonable response to these. People who are really interested and have boned up on the subject will know the questions they want to ask and these are generally answered. This section does not seem to limit the scope of the original Act in any way. I would be inclined to let it go.