An ACC client requested access to all of the information it held about him. The information was contained in a number of claim files dating back over 20 years. The client asked for a full photocopy, but the ACC declined to provide this because of the amount of information involved. The client was invited to view all the files and the ACC offered to photocopy any parts the complainant wanted to take away.

The right of access to personal information is subject to Part V of the Privacy Act (ss 33-45) which sets out procedural provisions relating to access to personal information.

Section 42 provides that where a person requests access to personal information in a document, it may be made available in a number of ways, including giving the person a reasonable opportunity to inspect the document, or by providing a copy.

Section 42(2)(a) provides that agencies have to make information available in the way preferred by the person requesting it unless to do so would 'impair efficient administration'.

I accepted that in these circumstances providing the client with complete copies of the files would impair the ACC's efficient administration. Their offer to allow the client to inspect the files and to make copies of particular parts as required was reasonable in this case.

December 1997

Indexing terms: Access to personal information - ACC - Manner in which information made available - Copying large amount of material would 'impair efficient administration' - Privacy Act 1993, s 42 - Information privacy principle 6