A suite of reports written by consulting firms are still under wraps more than three months after the big announcement of the Dunedin Hospital rebuild.
The Ministry of Health turned down the request on the basis the reports would be available "soon", citing a section of the Official Information Act that allows information to be withheld on that basis.
But this week, three months after the initial request, a ministry spokeswoman was still unable to say when they will be released.
Requested soon after the August announcement in Dunedin by then Prime Minister Bill English about the rebuild, the reports were written by an array of consulting firms.
The new Labour-led Government has promised to speed up the build and has guaranteed a central city site, but will likely rely on the same reports.
A spokeswoman for new Health Minister Dr David Clark said she was looking into it but was unable to say what had caused the hold-up.
Prof Paul Roth, of the University of Otago’s law faculty, said there was no definition of "soon" in information law, leaving it open to manipulation.
"This usually means that the Government uses the time to put their spin on the release.
"This practice used to be praised by the Ombudsman. I think the new Ombudsman isn’t too fond of the practice, so you might want to lodge a complaint with him."
Prof Roth was sceptical of the Government’s undertaking to be more open with information.
"Information will continue to be managed - that is the business of government."
The Otago Daily Times lodged a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday.
Hospital documents
• Services plan parts A and B; consulting firm: Sapere Research Group.
• Dunedin Hospital redevelopment model of care summaries; consulting firms: CMM Architects, Jacobs, Johnstaff.
• Dunedin Hospital ward block re-lifing; consulting firm: Proj-X
• Building condition report, Dunedin Hospital campus; consulting firm: Beca.
• SDHB feasibility study, utilisation of beds in Dunedin Hospital ward block; consulting firm: Warren & Mahoney.
