6. Problems with the FOI Act

There can be a large cost to public bodies. Staff have to be paid to respond to requests from the public and to find the requested information.

Many requests under the FOI Act are made simply out of curiosity or to cause an annoyance. This causes an increased workload on public organisations and the extra financial implications discussed above.

If a business has a contract with a public body then details of that contract and business terms can be made publically available. This can give an unfair advantage to other firms who plan on tendering for a new contract.

Organisations have to maintain a large archive of information. People can request information created before the Act was passed and organisations are now obliged to provide that information. Thus, they have to ensure that they have it available.

 

challenge see if you can find out one extra fact on this topic that we haven't already told you

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